Surrealism: An Overview

Surrealism is a 20th century avant-garde art movement that aimed to tap into the unconscious mind and explore the art of the dream and the irrational. Emerged in Paris after World War I, surrealism was founded by French poet and critic Andre Breton. The original group included painters, poets and filmmakers, who studied various practices including psychoanalysis, automatism and creative writing. Surrealism originated from Dada, a nihilistic cultural movement that reacted to the irrationality of World War I and the bourgeois values of the bourgeoisie.

The Main Ideologies Of Surrealism

The surrealists believed that a higher reality existed which had been suppressed by the rationalism of the Enlightenment age, and sought to find a means to uncover this inner reality through the use of what they termed “psychic automatism”. They believed in a superiority of the subconscious over rational thought and sought to break through the boundaries of conventional perception to reach this hidden truth.

The artists employed techniques such as dream analysis, symbolic or psychic automatism, fantasy, metaphor and non-linear narrative in their work, in an effort to express the deeper levels of the unconscious. Through the embrace of chance and unpredictability they sought to unearth images and ideas that expressed the hidden depths of the mind. Symbolism and metaphor also played a significant part in enabling the artist to explore the unconscious and dreamlike states of the human mind.

Impact Of Surrealism

Surrealism had a profound impact on the art world and avant‐garde culture at large. Its influence was felt in literature, cinema, theatre, photography and TV, as well as in painting, sculpture and other visual arts. It opened up the possibilities for a new level of creative expression and experimentation, paving the way for a whole range of movements and forms including abstract expressionism, kinetic art, pop art and minimalism.

The philosophy and practice of surrealism continue to be a major source of inspiration for artists and writers today. Its influence extends far beyond the visual arts, providing a platform for challenging preconceived notions of reality and challenging the boundaries of accepted norms. In today’s ever-changing world, surrealism still has relevance, as it allows us to explore and question the mysterious nature of the human mind and of our own infinite potential.