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This unit introduces you to Surrealism and explores surrealist notions through printmaking, drawing and painting.
Surrealism
Beginning in the mid-1920s, Surrealism captured the Modern imagination.
The Surrealists wanted to explore through poetry and prose the psychic dimension of the human mind. A huge source of inspiration was the groundbreaking work of Sigmund Freud.
Surrealist works feature the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur [doesn't make sense];
Surrealism style uses visual imagery from the subconscious mind to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibility.
From the 1920s on, the movement spread around the globe, eventually affecting the visual arts, literature, film, and music, of many countries and languages.
Some of the greatest artists of the 20th century became involved in the Surrealist movement, and the group included Giorgio de Chirico, Man Ray, René Magritte, and many others.
The greatest known Surrealist artist is Salvador Dali and equally well known female surrealist Frida Kahlo.
Contemporary Surrealists
Contemporary Surrealists
Not bound to a specific style, like their predecessors, contemporary surrealistic artists employ a wide variety of techniques to illustrate the fantastical mind of the artist. Contemporary surrealism still feature the element of surprise with random objects and unpredictable juxtapositions .
ACTIVITY 1 - Artist research
ACTIVITY 1 - Artist research
Go to this website and look at the galleries of the artists that were significant to the original surrealism. Select one [1] artwork and post a photo of the work into this padlet and write a short explanation as to why you chose it - what attracted you to the work? Include as the title the artwork and artist name [refer to examples on padlet].
Repeat this activity but selecting a contemporary surrealist artwork from the links provided below.
Surrealist Games
Surrealist Games
Chance was a crucial creative strategy for a wide number of artists associated with surrealism. It represented a release from the constraints of the rational world that had parallels with their interest in dreams. By developing new and individual ‘automatic’ processes they sought to reconcile opposing parts of human experience: the rational and the irrational, the conscious and the unconscious, reality and dream
GAME 1 - Synchronised drawing
GAME 1 - Synchronised drawing
Fold a piece of paper in half. You will draw on one half and a friend will draw on the other at the same time, mirroring your moves [watch the video to see it in action]. Swap over and mirror your friends moves. Some of you may be skilled enough to do this activity by yourself – drawing a mirror image with your left and right hand at the same time… give it a go!
check out this fun website which does mirror effect drawing. you can take a snapshot of your design if you like it and add it to your folio
GAME 2 - Dadaist Poem
GAME 2 - Dadaist Poem
Take a newspaper.
Choose an article as long as you are planning to make your poem.
Cut out the article. Then cut out each of the words that make up this article and put them in a bag. Shake it gently.
Then take out the scraps one after the other in the order in which they left the bag.
Copy conscientiously. [or glue down]
And here are you a writer, infinitely original and endowed with a sensibility that is charming though beyond the understanding of the vulgar.
GAME 3 - chance drawing
GAME 3 - chance drawing
roll a dice 5 times [here is a virtual die] take note of the numbers. refer to the table and create your image to illustrate
GAME 4 - Exquisite corpse
GAME 4 - Exquisite corpse
Exquisite corpse or Cadavre exquis is a method by which a collection of words or images are collectively assembled. It is based on an old parlour game known by the same name in which players wrote in turn on a sheet of paper, folded it to conceal part of the writing, and then passed it to the next player for a further contribution.
GAME 5 - Cubomania
GAME 5 - Cubomania
Cubomania is a method of making collages in which a picture or image is cut into squares and the squares are then reassembled without regard for the image.
Game 6- Decalcomania
Game 6- Decalcomania
Decalcomania is a process of spreading thick paint upon a canvas then—while it is still wet—covering it with further material such as paper or aluminium foil. This covering is then removed, and the resultant paint pattern becomes the basis of the finished painting. The technique was much employed by artists such as Max Ernst.
Dadaist Poem
Chance drawing
Equisite corpse
Cubomania
decalcomania
Collage
Collage
Collage is a technique of an art production, primarily used in the visual arts, where the artwork is made from an assemblage of different forms, thus creating a new whole.
A collage may sometimes include magazine and newspaper clippings, ribbons, paint, bits of colored or handmade papers, portions of other artwork or texts, photographs and other found objects, glued to a piece of paper or canvas. The origins of collage can be traced back hundreds of years, but this technique made a dramatic reappearance in the early 20th century as an art form.
The term collage was coined by both Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso in the beginning of the 20th century when collage became a distinctive part of modern art.
below are some interesting artists working with surrealist collage ..........
many more can be found here
Contemporary Collage.pdfTASK- humanimal collage
TASK- humanimal collage
anthropomorphism
noun
the attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object.
You will be creating a collage that combines human and animal attributes. Artist Holly Gaboriault has excellent examples of ways in which this can be done.
I recommend that you work on a couple of collages at the same time - 1 focus on starting with an animal and adding human attributes and 2- start with a human and add animal attributes.
Go beyond just sticking a head on a body! you need to consider replacing facial features and body parts. Play with size - large eyes, small head, add wings or horns, replace feet with fins etc...
Once you have combined your pieces [use blue tack to start] Glue down each piece thoroughly. Some exemplar student work is shown here.
TASK: NAMING YOUR CREATURE
TASK: NAMING YOUR CREATURE
In true surrealist fashion and to give your immaculate creature life, we need to come up with a glorious name for it! using the table, either close your eyes and randomly select one from each column or have a friend call out a number [ie 5, 13, 10, 6 would be The Thrilling Princess Bellindana Omato]. Make note of their name on your collage - this will also be the title of your print for editioning.
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