Surreal People

by Alexander Klar

The web of friendships within the Surrealist circle was a key source of inspiration for this close group of artists and writers, and many of their greatest works stem from a collaborative approach to the creative process. "Surreal People" is a fascinating look at fifteen relationships between the main participants of Surrealism, among them Man Ray and Lee Miller, Jean Arp and Alberto Giacometti, Max Ernst and Joan Miró. This unprecedented look at these personal relationships reveals the often hidden iconography in many Surrealist artworks, from sketchy cadavre exquis (exquisite corpse) drawings to complete ballet productions.

Genres: Art

96 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published March 1, 2007

Reviews

[Juju · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet and strange. This is a good brief survey of the friendships, collaborations and love affairs between the more well known participants in the Surrealist movement. What was most illuminating about this book was the understanding of how the Surrealists flourished through collaboration and the exchange of wild, whimsical ideas as well as romantic partners. It was also interesting how essential the Paris cafe scene was to this experimental atmosphere, and how the movement became scattered by the encroachment of WWII.

[Evan Suttell · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not the most detailed work, it is an interesting glimpse at the relationships, both professional and personal, among the surrealist movement. Absolutely crucial in me developing a love of modern art, and it exposed me to wonderful artists such as Max Ernst and Maret Oppenheim.

[Aliff Awan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ia biasa saja; himpunan nama, himpunan karya. Orang akan ingat Max Earnst selepas membaca buku ini.