The Surrealists – Where Revolution is a Matter of Degrees: Never Absolutes.
Surrealist Art became the epitome and most recognized propaganda for the cultural movement known as Surrealism. The oeuvre of Surrealism began in Zurich in 1916 with the Dada pacifist movement of World War I. While Dadaism was antiwar (pacifist) the movement’s rejection of regime both inside and outside the arts made them somewhat anarchistic.
From 1916 until 1922 Dadaists ridiculed modern society in what it saw as a meaningless existence. Dadaism was a ménage of political and cultural notions that were made public through various media and activities: Such as public meetings, manifestos, demonstrations and of course the arts. Dadaism has prevailed over the years and was influential with regards to the development of New Realism, Pop Art and Punk, as well as Surrealist Art. Notably, it does seem that anarchism and modern artists have spent the last hundred years hand in hand.
Both Dadaism and Surrealism blamed the war upon the greed of a bourgeois and an over capitalist society. And that those values which centered life on money were ultimately worthless and so meaningless. Dadaism reached its height in Switzerland around 1922. Around 1920 the Surrealists of Paris became the center of anarchistic and revolutionary expression: Their philosophies, social theories and politics spreading rapidly around the world.
Surrealist Art of this era was dedicated to the idea and the concepts of Surrealism: The art was secondary – This was true for all Surrealist artists, poets and writers. During World War I, many artists and writers left Paris (the hub of European arts) and returned after the war. May feel this is why the Dada come Surrealist movement became centered in Paris not Zurich: And why both were so coherent if not inherent to each other philosophically.
While the philosophical concept of the work is of utmost importance to a Surrealist Artist, the main feature of the style is the element of surprise: Unusual juxtapositions of color, form and subject matter. Indeed with Surrealist Art we should expect the unexpected and prepare to imagine. The non sequitur is another element of Surrealist Art – An aspect of it than can be as confusing as it is humorous at times: But invariably this simply adds to the intrigue.
The leader and principal founder of the Surrealist Movement in Paris from 1920 was French Poet and professional psychiatrist André Breton: Indeed for Breton Surrealism meant revolution – And for most revolution means anarchy. It was his Manifeste du Surrealism written in 1924 that ultimately defined the Surrealists theories. In this manifesto Breton describes Surrealism as “pure psychic automatism”. That is art created from theories that reveal some essence of the inner psyche. That are in this was outside of rational control and therefore more random and less repressed.
A popular practice among Surrealist Artists was ‘Automatic Drawing’. A technique whereby the hand is allowed to move freely across the paper: Creating accidentals that express the subconscious mind. Mark making of this kind is very different to how classical artists would approach a drawing. Traditional drawing techniques are controlled, measured and governed by rational control: Both mentally and physically.
André Breton was among those Surrealist Artists who experimented with Automatic Drawing. As did the Spanish Artists Salvador Dali and in particular Joan Miró i Ferrà (both members of the Parisian Surrealists): As well as the French-German Artist Jean (Hans) Arp – Who was a member of the Parisian Surrealists and primary founder of the Dada Movement in Zurich. Many feel that Picasso’s etches created during the sixties were produced using the technique of Automatic Drawing. The results of this technique are sensitive, rhythmic and adhered to the unconscious mind.
Breton was a writer. The influence of Dadaism led him to experiment with Automatic Writing: Which like Automatic Drawing is spontaneous: Uncensored. Like Dali the work of Surrealist Writers reflected their dreams as well as theories and philosophies. The thing that really separated the Dadaists and the Surrealist was the approach. The Dadaists directly attacked and mocked society whereas the Surrealists took a more subtle tact: With the Surrealists revolution would be achieved through gradual changes in perspectives and understanding.
While significantly different, ultimately the aims of the Dadaists and the Surrealists were both revolutionary and against those prevailing values that made society what it was. Sigmund Freud’s analysis of dreams and the unconscious mind reflect the Surrealists ideas of free association: And indeed psychology and Surrealism have always seemed to work hand in hand. As the Surrealist Artist Salvador Dali one said - "There is only one difference between a madman and me. I am not mad."
