Art Movement - Surrealism

Referral Art Movement:  Surrealism

Referral Artist: Salvador Dalí

About Surrealism

One of the cultural movements that began in the early 1920s is surrealism, as it is well known for its visual artworks and writings.

It was also developed out of the Dada activities during World War I.

In addition, Paris was the most important center of this movement.

Surrealist was first created by Guillaume Apollinaire who first appeared in his play Les Mamelles de Tiresias, which was first performed in 1917 and written in 1903.


Surrealism style uses visual imagery from the subconscious mind to create art without the intention of logical comprehensibly. In addition, it has an element of surprise and unexpected juxtaposition. 


Definition of juxtaposition: the act of positioning close together (or side by side).


Also, imagination were set free by Freud’s work as his work dealt with the unconscious, dream analysis and free association. 

Surrealist learnt idiosyncrasy, while rejecting the idea of an underlying madness. 

However, Salvador Dalí mentioned, “There is only one difference between a madman and me. I am not mad.”

 The greatest known Surrealist artist is the world famous Salvador Dalí.

About Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí was born on the 11^th of May 1904 and would become the world’s most popular surrealist artist.

He was raised by his lawyer father and a encouraging mother.

He was also told that he was the reincarnation of his older brother, Salvador, who have died nine months before his birth as he grew up in Figures, Catalonia, Spain.

After his mother’s death in 1921, Salvador Dalí went to study in the School of Fine Arts in Madrid for a few years before he was expelled shortly before his graduation due to his declaration of no one on the faculty could be good enough to evaluate him.

He also collaborated in a short film with another fellow surrealist director, Luis Bunuel; illustrated a book called “The Witches of Liers”; met his future wife Gala; painted his most famous work “The Persistence of Memory”; joined the surrealist group in Paris and was praised by the community of surrealist artists by 1931.

Salvador Dalí’s work were also used as advertisements - Chupa Chups candy and Lanvin chocolates.

He was given the title of Marquis of Pubol in 1982, by King Juan Carlos of Spain. 

During this time, he was seriously ill as he was given unprescribed medicine which caused his nervous system to be damaged.

His wife, Gala, died in 1982, leaving behind ill Salvador Dalí distressed. 

On the 23^rd of January 1989, Salvador Dalí had died from heart failure and was buried in a crypt at his Teatro Museo de Figures, just steps from his childhood home.

Salvador Dalí is well known for his contribution not only to surrealist, but also to fashion, theatre, and photography. 

Salvador Dalí's Artwork

"The Persistence of Memory" was created in 1931 by Salvador Dali and it was one of his most recognizable works. 

It has been a collection by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City since 1934.

Elements of Design

Lines:                    Lines emphasizes the shapes and designs of objects in the painting.

Colours:                Colours ranges from bright to dark with many tones.

Values:                  Areas in the painting has different contrast to emphasizes different moods.

Texture:                 Textures are very smooth and sharp.

Shape:                   Dreamy-like shapes are used to boggle our minds.

Proportion:            Objects are approximately proportion to reality.

Eyes movement:    Eyes would most probably focus from left to right as we focus on the nearer object 
                               (pocket watch and creature) to the further object (landscape at the far right).

Principles of Design

Balance:       Painting is quite balanced.

Contrast:      Contrast shows the depth in the painting.

Harmony:     Paintings gives harmonious feelings.

Repetition:   Some repetition occurred as the "melted" pocket watch are present.

Variety:       A lot of varieties are used as there are landscape, clocks and creature. 

Unity:          Items in the painting shows connection.

Other Artworks

In 1952, Salvador Dalí created "Galatea of the Spheres" in Dalí Theatre and Museum, Figueres, Spain. The type of painting is oil on canvas. 

Salvador Dali also created "Tuna Fishing", considered one of his last great masterpieces, in 1967.

Theme: Environmentalism


Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrealism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persistence_of_Memory
http://www.surrealism.org/
http://www.surrealism.org/dali.html

Perceptual vs. Conceptual Drawings

Perceptual drawings are drawings which stimulates a person’s eyes, nose, and other sensory organs. An example of a perceptual art which stimulates a person’s eyes is called op art (optical art). To illustrate, when we look at this optical art, our eyes get stimulated by noticing that there is a depth this particular picture. Here's an example of Edeltraud Klöpfer's optical art:

On the other hand, conceptual drawings provokes thought as a person sees the drawings will start to think a lot trying to understand the drawings. A great artist named Yayoi Kusama is well known for painting polka dots on any surface. Her artwork consists of some attributes of surrealism, pop art, abstract art, psychological content and many more. Here's an example of Yayoi Kusama's art:

A Little Introduction =)

Today, 11/01/2012, marks another special day in my life  

as this is the first time I'm creating a blog. 

Here's a little introduction of myself. :)

I am Mark Ngoi Shinn Aan raised up from 

the little & humble town of Sitiawan, Perak.

I am currently doing my 1st Year, 3rd Semester in

Bachelor of Psychology degree program in HELP University.

I am also an newbie photographer and this is a sample the pictures I've taken so far. 

I named this picture "Angry Birds" as I had imagined these birds 

were lining up to get tossed just like in the game.

I like art; however, I am really bad at it. 

Also, I really do hope when I enroll for the "Introduction of Design" elective 

would let me seize the opportunity to improve and as well as 

to learn the correct methods of drawing and designing.

Cheers!
Thanks for visiting my blog
&
Have a great day!