The Secret Surrealist: The Paintings of Desmond Morris

by Desmond Morris

Excellent Book

Genres: Art

112 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Desmond John Morris (24 January 1928 - 19 April 2026) was an English zoologist, ethologist and surrealist painter, as well as a popular author in human sociobiology.
He is known for his 1967 book The Naked Ape, and for his television programmes such as Zoo Time.

After the death of his wife in 2018 he lived with his son and family in Ireland. Morris died in Naas, County Kildare, on 19 April 2026, at the age of 98.

abridged from Wikipedia

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surrealism goes in and out of fashion, but Morris’ work has stood the test of time. Yes, as of 2021, Desmond Morris is still alive. The man known most widely for his zoological books (e.g. The Naked Ape) has been a noted surrealist painter who has exhibited with Joan Miró at the London Gallery.

Having painted for at least 70 years, he may still be at it now.

This book of quite good reproductions takes the reader from his early efforts to the mid 1980s. The introduction by Oakes reflects on their time together in the Granada TV Zoological Society Film Unit. And Oakes supplies the explanation for why Morris refers to his surrealistic creatures as “biomorphs.” “(B)ecause they are biological in concept, but not representing a specific animal.”

There is a wide variety of scenes and they provoked different responses for me. No regrets for the time I spent with this volume. I would go to an exhibit if and when that is safe to do. https://www.thesurrealistartgallery.com/

[Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting artwork that connects the personal and the environmental with the work that a surrealist painter creates. It's revealing how your studio space, your life-style informs the images you can see in your head.