This is still practiced today by contemporary artists by replicating real nature to get unrealistic impact. They aimed to allow the imagination to come forward through work. It causes the viewer to be active, by sending them in different directions in the same work.
The Sun Sets Sail – Rob Gonsalves
Artistically, Surrealism is pure psychic automatism through which the real function of thought is expressed. It is a level of reality which isn’t tangible, but is still real. Dreams, imaginings, thought processes are real though you can’t touch them.
It promotes the idea of chance painting, automatic drawing, expressing the real function of thought – completely uncontrolled expression of thought, independent of moral or aesthetic limitations. There are no longer worries about rules, or whether it’s artistic – it is a whole new level of reality, a new plane of artistic existence for the artists – unencumbered by reason. Cubist, Impressionist, Fauvist and even Neo-Plasticist artists were all heading in this direction – freedom from rules.
1949(?) – Memory of a Journey – Magritte – 1955
Surrealism is a direct descendant from Dada – grew out of Dada. They attempted to establish a new approach to art and life – chances didn’t have to be ignored, psychic coincidences, mental states, and dreams were all part of life. They used the incorrect logic of the mad-man. Childhood realities were investigated, as were dreams – they also experimented with these things – the unreal sense of the dream landscape.
The Surrealists recognised that subconscious thought patterns were very real. Metaphysical levels were investigated – Gods, etc were on different planes – there was a reality beyond the five senses – and different dimensions. They were aware of SciFi beliefs and metaphysics – the scientific side of SciFi. There was also Freud’s psychoanalysis of people’s psyche. (Body language nowadays). It opened up new realms, new interpretations of new realities, of the inner world and our inner selves.
House Angel (Triumph of Surrealism) – Max Ernst
Surrealism appears to be the artistic visual interpretation of subconscious – we look at the artist’s imagination, emotions, thought patterns – automatic drawing. Surrealism could be drug or alcohol induced, but not necessarily. The Surrealists wanted to shock and broaden the public’s mind. Fantasy is make believe – Surrealism is very believable, touching on realities.
Influenced by Kandinsky’s loss of image, development of abstraction freed the artist from needing image as Cubism freed them from a 3D image, Dada from specific standards, and Futurists from the sense of immobility. The artists had all the traditional academic rules broken, and were completely free to work on their art in whatever style they chose, and to use artistic elements in their own way. The artist dictated the rules.
Surrealism took two avenues – highly Abstract, and Figurative with startling clarity.
The Disquieting Muse – De Chirico – Geometric comp. with factory landscape
Giorgio De Chirico: was the founder of Surrealism, was a strong inspiration to Tanguy and Magritte, and produced both Figurative and Abstract Surrealistic works. He used strong perspective, chiaroscuro modelled gently with values, rigid architecture, unexpected objects clashing to create troubled atmosphere. Everything within his works was ever so slightly off, with metaphysical interiors symbolising the inner labyrinth of man. He usually had trains somewhere in his paintings. After the 1930’s he reverted to academic paintings.
This is not a pipe – Magritte – The Philosopher’s Lamp
Rene Magritte: painted Figuratively with conscious procedure, rather than by chance, with juxtaposition of everyday objects – subjects that stir uneasy feelings. His titles reinforce his message. He explored words as visual stimuli for paintings, he used words as symbols – “This is not a pipe”. He used them arbitrarily.
Indefined Divisibility – Tanguy – Melt
Yves Tanguy: saw the realities of the intuitive world, Abstract Surrealism. He used traditional means to express feelings of anxiety and unease (traced back to Munch) – Surrealism personified. It unnerved and attracted the viewer. he used spectral forms occupying real space – spacial recession with unreal occupants.
Carnival of Harlequin – Miro – Woman with Birds
Joan Miro: used a mixture of Abstract, Dada and Surrealism. He often worked in collage, he simplified shapes to mere curvilinear suggestions – organic and geometric shapes, using bright primary colours and black. He created spontaneous works with the brush leading the hand instead of the other way around. He appreciated the philosophy of the Surrealists, while creating works that were very simple, naive, and sincere.
Melting Watch – Dali
Salvador Dali: was an ideal Surrealist – his whole lifestyle was Surreal. He produced sets for theatres, movies, a 3D Art Room, paintings – he took Surrealism into everything, and was interested in Cubism, Futurism and Metaphysics. His early works were traditional and skillful, realistic techniques, replicating nature – works relating to the natural world. He began working with elements of form to create works that were startling. He was influenced by Leonardo, producing works from clouds, etc. He produced a visual association between unrelated objects. He was considered a Figurative Surrealist. Some of his shapes transmute from the real to the unreal, he creates frenzied patterns or minute correct detail, with an ideal sense of space. he was an excellent draftsman, and showmanship was part of his art.
Galatea of the spheres – Dali – 1952
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Jud House 5/10/2016
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