Surrealism - The Coming of the Age of Dadaism

By Annette Labedzki

'Surrealism,' a graduated form of 'Dadaism,' is a cultural society and art style, which emerged and flourished in Europe, during the World Wars I & II. Introduced by the French artist Andre Breton in 1924, 'Surrealism' was developed after understanding the researches and the studies of the psychoanalytical works of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung & Austrian psychiatrist Sigmund Freud. 'Surrealism' believed in the use of visual imagery, rooted in the subconscious mind, to generate art sans logical and rational comprehensibility, in essence.

Primarily originating in Europe in 1920s and centered in Paris, 'Surrealism' fascinated several 'Dadaists' too. In fact, 'Surrealism' was more an extension of early 'Dadaism.' While 'Dada' art movement was a radical, non-conformist art form, intentionally surpassing the orbits of reasons with negation and denial, 'Surrealism' had a positive approach to revolutionary expression. According to the father of 'Surrealism' & the publisher of "The Surrealist Manifesto" (1924), André Breton, "Surrealism was a means of reuniting conscious and unconscious realms of knowledge so completely, that the world of dream and fantasy would be joined to the everyday rational world in an absolute reality, a surreality."

Relying on the theories of Sigmund Freud, Breton identified the unconscious mental faculty as the key site of creativity & imagination. Then, applying the Freudian methods of 'free association,' 'Surrealism' intruded the conventionally restricted zone of mind, to generate unprecedented, unadulterated, and astonishing imagery. This cerebral and the irrational doctrine of 'Surrealism' firmed up due to the quirky disregard for the rebellious tradition 'Dadaism' fostered a decade back.

Best described as a string of 'Abstract Art,' rather than 'Symbolism,' Surrealism' has two key types, 'Automatism' and 'Veristic Surrealism.' 'Automatism,' demonstrating 'action' artistry, was the only face of 'Surrealism,' the art critics approved of post war. 'Veristic Surrealism' on the other hand, was a result of fiddling with an artist's inner thoughts or subconscious, rather than the external visual reality, and still awaits acceptability as a traditional art form.

Some of the key preeminent twentieth century 'Surrealists,' among several others, included Giorgio de Chirico, Man Ray, and René Magritte. Some of the exemplary 'Surrealistic' works of high repute are "The Elephant Celebes" (1921) by Max Ernst, "The Red Tower" by Giorgio de Chirico (1913), "This is not a Pipe" by Rene Magritte, and "The Persistence of Memory" by Salvador Dali. In the due course of time, 'Surrealism' proliferated through the globe, strongly influencing several artistic realms, right from painting & sculpture to music & motion picture. In 1941, 'Surrealism' breathed its last.

Annette Labedzki received her BFA at the Emily Carr College of Art and Design in Vancouver, B.C. Canada. She has more than 25 years experience. She is the founder and developer of an online art gallery featuring original art from all over the world. It is a great site for art collectors to buy original art. Is is also a venue for artists to display and sell their art . Artists can join for free and their image upload is unlimited. Please visit the website at http://www.labedzki-art.com

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