Surrealism Beyond Borders ★★★★★ Tate Modern | Feb 24 - Aug 29, 2022


When most of us consider surrealism, we think of a European movement and come up with a few, very familiar names such as Dali and Magritte. Here is a groundbreaking exhibition that is bound to dramatically expand your sense of this artistic approach and its impact on the world. Surrealism is often seen as a challenge to rationalism and the supremacy of the conscious mind; truth is found in objects and creations celebrating irrational juxtapositions with images dredged from the subconscious. However, the movement also attacks dominant personal, social, and political definitions. It speaks a language of the individual, the unconventional and the anti-colonial. This is an art of rebellion, even resisting such universal constraints as time and space. In parallel, the exhibition itself demonstrates both the ongoing and widespread power of the surrealist paradigm. With works from over 50 countries and spanning 60 years, Surrealism is a deeper, richer vein of expression than might have been previously considered. From Cecilia Porras and Enrique Grau's photographs of Colombia, to works from Sri Lanka and Korea, this is a global movement and extends into the present via works like Ted Joans' 36-foot drawing, Long Distance, created from 1976 to 2005. No one should miss this thoughtfully curated exhibition that will not only enlarge and broaden the visitor's sense of an artistic movement, but will also offer some fresh and provocative perspectives on how we comprehend our world.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Image: Eugenio Granell The Magical Blazons of Tropical Flight 1947. Colección Fundación Eugenio Granell, Santiago de Compostela © 2022 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / VEGAP, Madrid. Photo by Margen Fotografía

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: Bankside, London SE1 9TG, UK

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