Surrealism Now

About

Elza Kayal Gallery is excited to showcase a group of artists whose work are great representations of the contemporary surrealist scene. They tackle a wide range of themes and are prolific creators working across multiple mediums, including painting, drawing, sculpture, paper scroll, collage and much debated AI generated video.

In the first half of the 20th century, as a response to the madness of wars and devastation, inspired by Freud theories of the unconscious and study of dreams, Surrealism became a significant modern art movement. Today, with the many conflicts around the world, we see a psychological echo of that in the resurgence of Surrealism.

Surrealism, though, is a lot more than subconscious reflection on events. From the beginning, the Surrealists, including André Breton (author of the First Manifesto of Surrealism), Tzara and Max Ernst collected art from Africa, Oceania and Native American cultures. While many modernist groups rejected history, Surrealists embraced it, tracing a lineage through the past. These cultures were engaged in myth making, each through their own artistic traditions. There were African masks, Native American totems and gothic paintings. Mythology in general was collective and communal and tightly connected to the fabric of their lives. But some artists transcended their traditions and infused their art with surreal elements. Hieronymus Bosch, Paolo Uccello, William Blake or Gustave Moreao being just some of the early prime examples.

The surrealist artists in this new wave are extending the movement. But in many ways, they are also reaching back to the longer lineage. Their works aren't merely or even primarily intellectual nor are they entirely dream states. They continue the legacy of myth making, but they do so on a personal level. They do not start from a communal mythology, but reach into their own life experiences and perspectives — be it motherhood, nature, war, physical health, mental health or chaos — and weave a personal mythology that is deep and rich with detail, nuance and feeling. The tools of creation have been also expanded through the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which adds another dimension and complexity to the art movements.