Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain neglected associations and the omnipotence of dreams. It aims to undermine other psychic mechanisms and replace them with how the mind functions outside of reason and morality. Surrealism asserts one's nonconformity and could justify a state of complete distraction from the real world. It uses techniques like automatism to express the unrestricted functioning of thought.
2. Dictionary : Surrealism, n. Pure psychic
automatism, by which one proposes to express,
Surrealism
either verbally, in writing, or by any other
manner, the real functioning of thought. Dictation
of thought in the absence of all control exercised
by reason, outside of all aesthetic and moral
preoccupation.
Encyclopedia: Surrealism. Philosophy.
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. It tends to ruin
once and for all other psychic mechanisms and
to substitute itself for them in solving all the
principal problems of life.
3. Places, Factors
and Dates
1 925 - La Peinture Surrealiste - The first ever Surrealist exhibition at
Gallerie Pierre in Paris. Displayed works by Masson, Man Ray, Klee, Mir¨®, and
others. The show confirmed that Surrealism had a component in the visual
arts (though it had been initially debated whether this was possible),
techniques from Dada, such as photomontage were used.
Galerie Surr¨¦aliste opened on March 26, 1 926 with an exhibition by
1
Man Ray.
Major exhibitions of the 1940s, '50s and '60s
1 942 - First Papers of Surrealism - New Y - The Surrealists again
ork
called on Duchamp to design an exhibition. This time he wove a 3-
dimensional web of string throughout the rooms of the space, in some
cases making it almost impossible to see the works.[28] He made a secret
arrangement with an associate's son to bring his friends to the opening of
the show, so that when the finely dressed patrons arrived they found a
dozen children in athletic clothes kicking and passing balls, and skipping
rope. His design for the show's catalog included "found", rather than posed,
photographs of the artists.[6]
1 947 - International Surrealist Exhibition - Galerie Maeght, Paris[29]
1 959 - International Surrealist Exhibition - Paris
1 960 - Surrealist Intrusion in the Enchanters' Domain - New Y ork
4. A r t is t
s
? The Bureau of Surrealist Research
(Centrale Surr¨¦aliste) was the center for
Surrealist writers and artists to meet, hold
discussions, and conduct interviews.
5. Ask Joseph Delteil:
"Alas! I believe in the virtue of birds. And a feather is all
it takes to make me die laughing."
10. Surrealism, such as I conceive of it, asserts our complete nonconformism clearly enough
so that there can be no question of translating it, at the trial of the real world, as
evidence for the defense. It could, on the contrary, only serve to justify the complete
state of distraction which we hope to achieve here below. Kant¡¯s absentmindedness
regarding women, Pasteur¡¯s absentmindedness about "grapes," Curie¡¯s
absentmindedness with respect to vehicles, are in this regard profoundly symptomatic.
This world is only very relatively in tune with thought, and incidents of this kind are only
the most obvious episodes of a war in which I am proud to be participating. "Ce monde
n¡¯est que tr¨¨s relativement ¨¤ la mesure de la pens¨¦e et les incidents de ce genre ne sont
que les ¨¦pisodes jusqu¡¯ici les plus marquants d¡¯une guerre d¡¯ind¨¦pendence ¨¤ laquelle je
me fais gloire de participer." Surrealism is the "invisible ray" which will one day enable us
to win out over our opponents. "You are no longer trembling, carcass." This summer the
roses are blue; the wood is of glass. The earth, draped in its verdant cloak, makes as
little impression upon me as a ghost. It is living and ceasing to live which are imaginary
solutions. Existence is elsewhere.