I never really understood surrealism if I’m honest. Spoilt child art or so it seemed. Of course there were exceptions. The Dali melting clocks and hot lips sofa were intriguing as was some of Magritte’s work with fruit and headgear.
But generally there was a lot of weird sex, fish based cookware, paranoid landscapes and feitishised doodles.
Which proves I’m a philistine, irredeemably bourgeoise and incapable of painting my dreams.
There’s another word for that state of being. As well as dull. It’s normal.
Today the Textiliste and I visited the Tate Modern for their Surrealism: Beyond Borders looking at surrealism from its origins in Europe to the central and South American countries and back via post war America.
Really quite interesting.
Like a display of waterproof footwear would be to a rubber aficionado.
My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline.
I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy.
I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere.
These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.
Sounds lovely. I’m a fan of Dali and Bosch, but the flesh eating stuff is a bit hard to take like in the garden of earthly delights. Perhaps they were tripping when they worked. 😂😂
I was rather discombobulated when I first about Dali and the Great Masterbater. I was at an exhibition in Central London and didn’t know where to look. Well I knew where not to look..
Sounds like the best thing was the lunch! I do like Dali and Bosch but the rest reminds me of a bad LSD trip – not that I’ve taken one, but maybe the artists did.
I’ve never really got surrealism. Yes, some are very clever, but not something I would like on my walls to look at every day. Many are quite disturbing. But I suppose that’s the idea.
I do like Dali’s clocks, though, and Swans Reflecting Elephants is very clever. Now that one I would hang on my wall.
Yep other people’s dreams are like other people’s opinions. Kept at a distance. Like on laws too now I think about it. They can all disturb my happy equilibrium…
There is something to be said about a nice lunch. Also, how do you manage to take photos in the museum? Here they discourage it with truncheons. (It could just be the flash aspect. The pandemic has wiped my memory of museum visits) Does sound like a lovely day.
Some museums and Art Galleries allow photography as long as it’s not flash. Last weekend I visited, with husband and a long-standing friend, the Salford Museum and Art Gallery. We were allowed to take photos. At least there were no notices to say otherwise, and no-one came bearing truncheons to stop me when I did so.
I have my trouble with abstract art and surrealism. It rather scares me in some way. Of course, you look at it differently when you know the people behind it and even call them your best friends.
Have you ever heard of Vladimir Kush. The only surrealistic art that made me feel really good and inspired me. I actually stand in awe when I see his artwork. If you have time you need to check this out https://vladimirkush.com
There’s a great story about Dali. Apparently in later years, despite being hugely famous, he was short on cash. He ran up a huge bill on credit over many months at his favourite bar. Eventually, after the proprietor confronted Salvador and asked when he was intending to pay it.
“Now”, he replied and promptly pulled out a cheque book, safe in the knowledge that, while the cheque would certainly bounce, the proprietor would never attempt to cash it, because Dali’s autograph might ultimately be worth more.
I can’t bear Surrealism! I don’t see the point – it’s like a very bad dream that you’re incredibly glad to wake up from. Not sure of the point of revisiting it in waking hours. The only kind of paining I hate more is Banksy stuff and similar – art?? Depressing c**p.
Fun photo of you too, though!
Now I didn’t know you were anti Banksy… I find some of his juxtapositions very clever. And there’s another philosophical debate: is it art if its depressing crap? Hmm!
I am glad to see the Textiliste is willing to show up once again in your post. She looks anything but surreal! As for the surrealists, they got to seem more normal and less jarring after all the music album covers of my youth.
What a wonderful discussion, and wouldn’t it be even better if all of us could meet in person over lunch and chat in person. I would be in seventh heaven talking about art and writing instead of cars and covid.
Not year, but she came close to having an accident on a roundabout when she was out with Geoff on about her third drive. I drove straight over a roundabout in the rain that night and gave myself a nasty fright but went past today and there’s no reflectors or reflective paint on the roundabout or roundabout sign, so I’m vindicated.
Meanwhile, I’m questioning certain aspects about leaving lockdown and am not so sure I’m as enamoured with people as I used to
be. I’ve become more idealistic than I used to be, and let’s just say I’ve been “disappointed”.
Meanwhile, as you might’ve notice in my posts, J is off on the Young Endeavour sailing from Geelong to Sydney arriving this Wednesday. I can’t wait to hear how it’s gone.
J arrives home tomorrow, although we have been treated to a few phone calls. A few of the youthies were symptomatic and tested positive for covid and were promptly despatched. at this point the arrival has been scaled back a bit and my parents pulled out and our daughter is staying home. Youthies from Victoria being close contacts and in isolation are unable to fly and being bused home. We were already unable to go onboard. However, he’s had a wonderful time and apparently they’re planning to stay up all night, and I can’t blame them. It’s such an amazing experience, I’d be wanting to squeeze out every last drop as well.
TanGental 
Sounds lovely. I’m a fan of Dali and Bosch, but the flesh eating stuff is a bit hard to take like in the garden of earthly delights. Perhaps they were tripping when they worked. 😂😂
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I was rather discombobulated when I first about Dali and the Great Masterbater. I was at an exhibition in Central London and didn’t know where to look. Well I knew where not to look..
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😳😂
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Sounds like the best thing was the lunch! I do like Dali and Bosch but the rest reminds me of a bad LSD trip – not that I’ve taken one, but maybe the artists did.
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They paint like I write I suppose!!
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I never knew you wrote on LSD!
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I put it on my tab…
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I’ve never really got surrealism. Yes, some are very clever, but not something I would like on my walls to look at every day. Many are quite disturbing. But I suppose that’s the idea.
I do like Dali’s clocks, though, and Swans Reflecting Elephants is very clever. Now that one I would hang on my wall.
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Yep other people’s dreams are like other people’s opinions. Kept at a distance. Like on laws too now I think about it. They can all disturb my happy equilibrium…
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Hanging out with your best-gal, sounds surrealy nice to me!
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It was delightful.. the British Museum tomorrow I hope
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There is something to be said about a nice lunch. Also, how do you manage to take photos in the museum? Here they discourage it with truncheons. (It could just be the flash aspect. The pandemic has wiped my memory of museum visits) Does sound like a lovely day.
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There are signs if they don’t want photos and flash is banned. In this exhibition the ban was picture specific. It was a good day.
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Ah.Makes sense. Thanks for the answer.
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Some museums and Art Galleries allow photography as long as it’s not flash. Last weekend I visited, with husband and a long-standing friend, the Salford Museum and Art Gallery. We were allowed to take photos. At least there were no notices to say otherwise, and no-one came bearing truncheons to stop me when I did so.
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Times have changed for sure. Thanks, Viv.
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I have my trouble with abstract art and surrealism. It rather scares me in some way. Of course, you look at it differently when you know the people behind it and even call them your best friends.
Have you ever heard of Vladimir Kush. The only surrealistic art that made me feel really good and inspired me. I actually stand in awe when I see his artwork. If you have time you need to check this out https://vladimirkush.com
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I haven’t but will check him out
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Let mie know what you think!
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Now that I like. Never heard of him before, though.
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It is amazing what he sees and is able to put it on canvas. I am happy you like it too.
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I think you both deserved a lunch after that! …and breakfast and tea and supper too!!
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You’ll make me porky!!
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Only if you keep visiting the surreal !!
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I like the train coming out of the fireplace. That sort of makes sense to me. The rest are not quite my thing! I’d go for the lunch though.
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Yep that was Magritte’s. His work. Most don’t. Lunch was worth it
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Q. How may surrealists does it take to change a lightbulb?
A. A Fish
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No doubt looking for its bicycle…! V good!
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😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
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There’s a great story about Dali. Apparently in later years, despite being hugely famous, he was short on cash. He ran up a huge bill on credit over many months at his favourite bar. Eventually, after the proprietor confronted Salvador and asked when he was intending to pay it.
“Now”, he replied and promptly pulled out a cheque book, safe in the knowledge that, while the cheque would certainly bounce, the proprietor would never attempt to cash it, because Dali’s autograph might ultimately be worth more.
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I think that is a true sign of genius.
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I can’t bear Surrealism! I don’t see the point – it’s like a very bad dream that you’re incredibly glad to wake up from. Not sure of the point of revisiting it in waking hours. The only kind of paining I hate more is Banksy stuff and similar – art?? Depressing c**p.
Fun photo of you too, though!
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paining may have been a Freudian slip 😀 !
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You write from the heart… sometimes the spleen too but mostly the heart…
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Now I didn’t know you were anti Banksy… I find some of his juxtapositions very clever. And there’s another philosophical debate: is it art if its depressing crap? Hmm!
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I am glad to see the Textiliste is willing to show up once again in your post. She looks anything but surreal! As for the surrealists, they got to seem more normal and less jarring after all the music album covers of my youth.
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Album covers were just the business weren’t they.
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Some of it is fabulous but if they go too far beyond the pale, I’m singularly unimpressed … I’m probably half-philistine. 😀
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The worry is probably what the other half comprises, the one that understands the paintings…
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I hadn’t realized you were such an aficionado. I would enjoy this show as well.
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Oh the ultimate culture vulture, that’s me…
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What a wonderful discussion, and wouldn’t it be even better if all of us could meet in person over lunch and chat in person. I would be in seventh heaven talking about art and writing instead of cars and covid.
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Oh true. How are the lessons? Have you punched a hole in the floor with your brake foot yet?
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Not year, but she came close to having an accident on a roundabout when she was out with Geoff on about her third drive. I drove straight over a roundabout in the rain that night and gave myself a nasty fright but went past today and there’s no reflectors or reflective paint on the roundabout or roundabout sign, so I’m vindicated.
Meanwhile, I’m questioning certain aspects about leaving lockdown and am not so sure I’m as enamoured with people as I used to
be. I’ve become more idealistic than I used to be, and let’s just say I’ve been “disappointed”.
Meanwhile, as you might’ve notice in my posts, J is off on the Young Endeavour sailing from Geelong to Sydney arriving this Wednesday. I can’t wait to hear how it’s gone.
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Hope the sailing was as good as hoped. You’d never get me doing that..
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J arrives home tomorrow, although we have been treated to a few phone calls. A few of the youthies were symptomatic and tested positive for covid and were promptly despatched. at this point the arrival has been scaled back a bit and my parents pulled out and our daughter is staying home. Youthies from Victoria being close contacts and in isolation are unable to fly and being bused home. We were already unable to go onboard. However, he’s had a wonderful time and apparently they’re planning to stay up all night, and I can’t blame them. It’s such an amazing experience, I’d be wanting to squeeze out every last drop as well.
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