First Exhibition In Switzerland Devoted To Surrealism Opens At Fondation Beyeler In Basel

 

A visitor looks at an artwork, titled The Artist's Atelier (1929), by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) during the press preview of the exhibition 'Surrealism in Paris' at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen near Basel, Switzerland, 30 September 2011. The exhibition opens to the public from 02 October 2011 to 29 January 2012. EPA/WALTER BIERI.

 

BASEL.-

"The Fondation Beyeler is devoting the first-ever comprehensive exhibition in Switzerland to Surrealism in Paris. On view will be major works by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Max Ernst, and many more who either belonged to the movement or were associated with it. The show will focus on the innovative forms of expression developed and employed by the Surrealists – especially object art, collage, photography and film.

        Surrealism was one of the most crucial artistic and literary movements of the twentieth century. After emerging in Paris in 1924, it unfolded a worldwide effect that continues to this day. Major modern artists belonged to the movement, were associated with it, or inspired by it. Its aim was radical change and expansion of the expressive means of art and poetry and their impact on society. Aspects of the psyche and creativity that had previously lay fallow were to be made fertile for artistic activity and human life as a whole.

           Profoundly shaken by the experience of the First World War and under the leadership of its chief theoretician, André Breton, the Surrealists developed innovative approaches and lent form to an art that tapped poetic imagination, the world of dreams, and the unconscious mind. Their idols included Sigmund Freud and many writers, such as the scandalous Marquis de Sade, the poets Charles Baudelaire, Comte de Lautréamont, and Arthur Rimbaud, Edgar Allan Poe, and the German Romantics.

        "Dalí, Magritte, Miró – Surrealism in Paris" comprises about 290 masterworks and manuscripts by about 40 artists and authors. These include approximately 110 paintings, 30 objects and sculptures, 50 works on paper, 50 photographs, 30 manuscripts and original editions, 15 pieces of jewelry and four films. The exhibits are arranged in the exhibition spaces partly by artist, partly by theme. The introduction is provided by Giorgio de Chirico, a pioneering predecessor of Surrealism whose cityscapes and interiors of the 1910s can be considered decisive forerunners of the movement. On view as well are valuable manuscripts and editions of Surrealist texts, including manuscript versions of Breton's manifestos.

        A further emphasis is placed on two major artists of the movement, Joan Miró and Max Ernst. Miró, who opened out entirely new spaces for modern art with his hovering dreamlike colored configurations, is represented by works such as Painting (The Circus Horse), 1927, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and Ernst by superb works such as the renowned Wavering Woman (The Slanting Woman), 1923, from the Kunstsammlung NordrheinWestfalen, Düsseldorf. Then follows a room devoted to Yves Tanguy, whose imaginary spaces populated by mysterious objects – as in the monumental The Last Days, 1944, from a private collection – represent one of the most poetic evocations in all Surrealism. The next space is devoted to a key Surrealist medium – the object. The works on view include Meret Oppenheim's famous Ma gouvernante - My Nurse - Mein Kindermädchen, 1936/1967, from the Moderna Museet Stockholm, and Hans Bellmer's major object The Doll, 1935-36, from the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris. Also brought together here are major drawings and paintings by Victor Brauner.

    A special feature of the exhibition is the inclusion of two superb private collections of Surrealism. The presentation of that of André Breton and his first wife, Simone Collinet, represents a premiere. The couple amassed the collection in the 1920s, and after they separated Collinet expanded her share. Among the works in the collection are Francis Picabia's large-scale painting Judith, 1929, and de Chirico's The Evil Genius of a King, 1914-15, now in the Museum of Modern Art, New York. On view in a second room are outstanding works from the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, including Max Ernst's The Antipope, 1941-42, which the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice seldom permits to travel.  These works constitute an ensemble within the exhibition in which the period of the Surrealists' New York exile during World War II is virtually distilled. In addition, the presentation of the two collections permits us to highlight key aspects of private stagings of Surrealist art.

       The artists prominently represented in further rooms include Hans Arp, and not least Pablo Picasso, who for a time was closely associated with Surrealism. On view is his highly Surrealist painting The Artist's Studio (The Open Window), 1929. This is followed by an outstanding group of works by the visual magician René Magritte. In an inimitable way, Magritte's art captures visual reality only to subvert it again. Fine examples are the early The Interpretation of Dreams, 1930, and later major works such as The Dominion of Light, 1962, both from private collections.

        A concise selection of outstanding Surrealist photographs, including works by Man Ray, Raoul Ubac, Dora Maar, and Eli Lotar rounds off the picture. A screening room presents key works of Surrealist cinematic art, including ones by Luis Buñuel and Man Ray.

        The exhibition concludes with the artist who is likely the most famous Surrealist of all, Salvador Dalí. A spectacular group of his masterpieces on view here includes The Enigma of Desire, 1929, from the Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, the outstanding Metamorphosis of Narcissus, 1937, from the Tate London, and Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee around a Pomegranate, one Second before Awakening, 1944, from the Museo Thyssen Bornemisza in Madrid.

        The exhibition links up with previous Galerie Beyeler and Fondation Beyeler projects. Ernst Beyeler early on devoted various exhibitions to Surrealism in his Basel gallery, including the 1947 "Surréalisme et peinture" and the 1995-96 "Surrealismus: Traum des Jahrhunderts," as well as to individual representatives of the movement, bringing his unique eye for this art into play. Accordingly, the Beyeler Collection now boasts key works by such artists as Arp, Ernst, Miró and Picasso. The Fondation Beyeler can likewise look back on shows of Surrealist art, including "Calder, Miró", 2004, "Picasso surreal," 2005, "René Magritte: The Key to Dreams", 2005, and, with some Surrealist works, "Giacometti", 2009. These were supplemented by thematic exhibitions in which Surrealist art prominently figured. The current extensive Surrealism exhibition provides a panoramic view of the movement as a whole.

       The exhibition is curated by Philippe Büttner, Fondation Beyeler Curator."

A visitor stands in front of an artwork, titled Vogeldenkmal (1927), by German artist Max Ernst (1891-1946) during the press preview of the exhibition 'Surrealism in Paris' at the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen near Basel, Switzerland, 30 September 2011. The exhibition opens to the public from 02 October 2011 to 29 January 2012. EPA/WALTER BIERI.

NOTE:  This is definitely a "lazy" re-post (first day of Q4; feeling fatigued), but I wanted to pass it along because it looks like an extremely worthwhile, enjoyable presentation of important 20th century art.  Given the contributions of the famous Swiss Surrealists Arp, Oppenheim and Bellmer, I am extremely surprised that Switzerland waited so long to accord Surrealism its "inaugural retrospective," but I'm glad they finally addressed this, better late than never.  And although I myself won't be attending the show, I'd like to think that by spreading the word, someone who might not otherwise be aware of it will.  The opportunity to see the integral Breton-Collinet collection alone would justify the excursion to Basel.  Here is a Link to the Fondation Beyeler website giving more details.  

Personally, if I were able to attend, I would plan my trip around Jane Birkin's live appearance at the museum on November 6th or, possibly, just plan to spend Christmas and New Year in the home of cuckoo clocks and Swiss chocolate. 

Mental travel is all very nice, and I can picture the exhibition in my head, but I would dearly love to fly to Basel and see the show in person.  I haven't been on a plane for a while, but last night watched "Inception" again and took that long, surreal, intensely moving plane and head journey.  

Following below to round out this communique are an atmospheric television interview with Max Ernst from 1959 and a link to "Bee Dream" by Peter Blegvad, a song and performance that definitely fit the Surrealist mood, style and method.

1.  Max Ernst interview.

2. Peter Blegvad: Bee Dream