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| Salvador Dali "Slave Market and Disappearing Bust of Voltaire" |
What is surrealism in art? I thought I knew but wanted to do a little more research to understand its origins, its key ideas and the "why" behind how we see it interpreted in art. So, I thought I'd share what I found here with you and provide a few examples.
According to several different internet resources, the origins of surrealism are based in Paris with a small group of writers and artists who sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of imagination. Disdaining rationalism and literary realism, their thinking was that the conscious mind represses the power of the imagination. Officially founded in 1924, it has come to be seen as the most influential movement in twentieth century art.
In my words, if you can turn off the conscious mind and just let what's in your head flow out naturally....it may not make sense, but it is what it is.
Some historic names that you would associate with this type of art include:
- Salvador Dali-artist
- Man Ray-photographer
- Andre Breton-photographer
- Joan Miro-artist
- Marc Chagall-artist
- Alexander Calder-sculptor
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| "Tears" - Man Ray 1936 |
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| Joan Miro-"Summer" 1937 |
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| Marc Chagall |
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| Alexander Calder |
The concept is still alive and well in art today and with such tools as digital cameras and Photoshop the possibilities are endless. I have a few modern day artists that you may have never heard of but that I really enjoy and would like to share with you.
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| Nicoletta Ciccoli |
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| Tom Haney-Kinetic Sculptures...one of my favorites!! |
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| Mark Ryden |
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| Linda Herzog |
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| Greg Brotherton-Sculpture |
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| Abelardo Morell-Photographer. Turns whole rooms into Camera Obscuras. |
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| "Woman" - Jan Partain |
Other definitions I found:
Dictionary: Pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought.
Encyclopedia: Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of previously neglected associations, in the omnipotence of dream, in the disinterested play of thought.
Wow, aren't you glad I cleared THAT up! Whatever the definition, the work is often intriguing, whimsical, eerie and thought provoking.
So, those odd thoughts you have that you think nobody else could possibly have.....maybe they're just unexpressed art.....hmmmmm.
As always, thanks for stopping by! I enjoy reading your comments below.
Jan
Jypsy Studio on Etsy
