Exhibition Statement

​Introduction

Dada and surrealism were two of the most unique and impactful artistic movements of the early 20th century. Dada pioneered many different new artistic mediums such as found object construction and sound poetry, and surrealism’s eye catching juxtaposition of fantasy and realism influenced many later artistic movements and practices. What if, however, these two movements were to instead start in the present day? What would they look like? What would their messaging be? What societal conditions would lead to their beginnings? This project answers these questions in an exhibition featuring eight art pieces created by applying the artistic techniques and ideals of these two movements to two relevant issues in modern American society: consumerism and materialism. 

Literature Review

One of the main hallmarks of Dada is its use of unconventional art forms such as found object construction, with popular examples being Duchamp’s “readymades” such as Fountain and Bicycle Wheel (“Dada”). Audience involvement in the creation of art was also common, a practice dadaists saw as antithetical to traditional art (“Dada Movement”). Unlike Dada, surrealism was not opposed to traditional forms of art, with poetry and painting being popular mediums of the movement. Surrealism did pioneer some new mediums though, with Man Ray’s rayographs and forays into musique concrète seen in pieces such as Pierre Schaeffer’s “Etude aux casseroles.” However, surrealism’s defining trait and main connection to Dada was its use of absurd and fantastical imagery alongside everyday scenes and objects (“Surrealism”). This can be seen commonly in works by Salvador Dali such as Illuminated Pleasures and The Persistence of Memory as well as the aforementioned works by Ray and Schaeffer. The two movements also share commonalities in their origins. Dada formed as a means to artistically protest WWI and the nationalism believed to have led the war (“Dada Movement”). Surrealism also traces its roots back to WWI, instead blaming “rationalism” for the war, and attempting to reject this rationalism through its fantastical depictions of the human subconscious (“Surrealism”). 

Methods

Research preceding this exhibit was centered around movement ideology, with artistic techniques being viewed as consequent and secondary. Ideological and artistic inspiration was taken from a variety of artists including but not limited to Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp, Erik Satie, Pierre Schaeffer, Man Ray and Tristan Tzara. Artistic mediums used include sound art, digital art, found object construction and literature. The focus of this exhibit is mainly on small artworks of varying mediums, with the intent being to provide a holistic view of the two movements in a modern context. 

Audience & Impact

The goal of Surrealism and Dada in Consumerist America is to make relevant the themes and ideas of the Dada and Surrealist movements by presenting them in a modern context. By contextualizing these movements in the consumerism and materialism of the modern United States, a modern American audience will be able to gain appreciation for the ideologies of these movements, and understand the reasoning behind their artistic characteristics. 

References

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Surrealism". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Apr. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/art/Surrealism. Accessed 10 October 2022. 

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Dada". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/art/Dada. Accessed 1 November 2022. 

“Dada Movement Overview and Key Ideas.” The Art Story, 2023, https://www.theartstory.org/movement/dada/. 

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Heather Bremenstuhl and Harold Burgess for their consistently helpful feedback, as well as to my friend Levi Bloch for his help in brainstorming aspects of curation and overall presentation.