Definition and History
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members. Surrealist works feature the element of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions and non sequitur; however, many Surrealist artists and writers regard their work as an expression of the philosophical movement first and foremost, with the works being an artifact. Leader André Breton was explicit in his assertion that Surrealism was above all a revolutionary movement.
The Surrealist art movement was dedicated to expressing the imagination in a method that was free from the control, convention, and reason. Surrealism began in the 1920’s and ended in the 1930’s. Surrealism was similar to Dadaism in that it was anti rationalist, but was different in that it was lighter in spirit. One of the major influences on the Surrealist movement was Freud’s model of the subconscious, and emerging theories on our perception of reality. Surrealism was founded in Paris in 1924 by Andre Breton who created a Manifesto of Surrealism. The aim of the movement was an attempt to discover a super-reality by interpreting dream and reality together; two conditions that often contradict one another. In essence, Surrealists love incongruity, spontaneity, and the randomness of life. Famous Surrealist artists include Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, MC Escher, Joan Miro, Rene Magritte, and Man Ray.
This surrealism painting is titled “When We Pray” and was done in April, 2010 using tempera paint. It is a simple piece with images created by spraying, dripping, splashing. It shows the image of three conjoined faces praying. Cool colours dominate the background with a few warm colours splashed over them. White is used to outline the face and the hands and creates simplicity.
Analysis
The elements of art were used to create this simplistic yet realistic surrealism panting. Cool colours colours such as blue, green, purple and their hues were used mostly with the intention to create a calming mood. The colors used to portray the human figure are different from how they would appear in real life. A few splashes of warm colours such as red and yellow creates contrast and movement. The white outlines of the human figure creates the effect of a shining light which is contrast with the dark colours tat dominates the rest of the painting. The space around the figures creates an environment unlike anything present on earth. It looks similar to that of outer space and its galaxies. Biomorphic shapes were used to create the three faces with eyes clothes in deep thinking and the two hands clasped. Various lines such as wavy, curved and broken lines were created from the plashes of cool coloured paints.
Interpretation
The meaning of this painting is what its title suggests. When we pray our eyes are closed and there is complete darkness. We who are praying are present in this darkness and are the light that is alive in this darkness. Our hands are clasped, eyes are closed, and face is calm as we are in deep thinking. Each face represents a different thought which is thanks, forgiveness or want. Our feelings vary in accordance to each though and this is represented by the variations in the positioning and size of each face. This painting is intended to appeal to all religeons who have something in common which is prayer.
The process of producing this piece of painting created several problems. One of these problems was mixing the right amount of paint and water in order for it to be sprayed from a spraying container. Another problem was to portray my idea in the piece which took several sketches and designs before I had the right combination.
All images © 2013 Nicholas Barrett
My second surrealism painting is titled, “Religeous Lactation”, created April 2010 using acrylic paint. It has images of three babies of different races feeding on a woman’s breasts as she lay on a bible floating in water at night. The images appear as how they would look in real life but their action is unrealistic. These unrealistic actions are someone laying on a bed size bible floating on water, a three breasted woman and three babies feeding simultaneous.
Analysis
The elements of art were instrumental in the creation of this piece. Colours were used to replicate the human body, the bible and the water as how they would appear in real life. Light colours and white was used to depict light and how it affected its surroundings while dark colours like dark blue, purple and brown were used to portray dark areas and shadows. There is a contrast between the dark colours of the water and the brightness created by light colours of the bible and the people laying n it. This contrast creates a location type focal point and our eyes are automatically drawn to the light areas while our mind block out the dark areas. The human body is created by lines that are formed to create the biomorphic shapes of the human figures. These biomorphic shapes occupy positive space leaving negative spaces around, under and over them. The size of those spaces was instrumental in drawing the figures in their correct proportions. The choice of colours and their amounts also created varying textures for the human body, the bible and the water. The painting creates a feeling of satisfaction and the idea that everything is under control.
Interpretation
The bible floats in the water symbolizing its pureness. The babies feeding on the female symbolizes the content of the bible which is fruitful and offers development for people no matter their race or sex. The woman does not spoon feed the babies but instead provided them with the proper resources then allow them to help themselves. This is symbolic of how people are not spoon fed by religion but are instead provided with the knowledge of god then left to make their own decision whether to believe or not. Like the sleeping woman who is the source of food for the babies, some religion portrays god as a powerful being who will awake on that special Day of Judgment.
Problems Encountered
I encountered several problems during this exercise. One of these problems was getting the correct images as reference material to capture the details needed to make the human figures and bible appear realistic and have proper proportions. The position of the female and the babies had to be able to make a convincing composition of babies feeding. Another problem was the handling of the material and tools such as the paint, water and brush respectively. This included mixing the correct shades, colours and their hues as well selecting the correct size brushes for specific painting purposes.
