Surrealism

by Ron Hall

Started in the 1920’s by French writer Andre’ Breton, surrealism (super-real or beyond realism) quickly spread to the visual arts as an expression of the unconscious mind and a love of the absurd.  It was also a protest to logic and the establishment.  Surrealist painters were inspired by dreams, and used automatism (art made without thinking (like doodling).  

The influence of surrealism today is anything that tries to break free of plain old reality with a little wildness, weirdness and joy.  Tap into your imagination to surprise and shock the viewer!

What are some of the things that make a painting surreal?

Twisted Laws of Nature – Live objects not alive, inanimate objects are alive (e.g. a face that breaks like an egg or a human torso with a window or a drawer in it).

Dislocation – Place items where they don’t typically belong (e.g. cabinet on the beach)

Juxtaposition – Put things together that don’t go together (e.g. lobster and telephone).

Double images– One form contains two or more images (e.g. ‘Slave Market with the Disappearing Head of Voltaire’ by Salvador Dali).

Levitation – Show objects in motion or levitation (e.g. ‘The Son of Man’ by Rene Magritte)

Unexpected/ Adventurous – Reverse the hardness and softness of objects (e.g. melting watches.)  Remove an item from a set that always includes it.  Change the scale.

Metamorphosis and dreamlike settings – An object is changed into something else (e.g. a man’s leg becomes a table.)

Transformation – Take something familiar and turn it into something unusual and disturbing (e.g. fur-covered teacup and saucer – ‘Luncheon in Fur’ by Meret Oppenheim).

Symbolism – Let the subconscious speak!  Dali used ants, crutches, grasshoppers, grand pianos and watches in his work.

“You have to systematically create confusion.  It sets creativity free.”  - Salvador Dali