Surrealism Beyond Borders at Tate Modern

Surrealism is the revolutionary art movement that sought to reimagine life by introducing unexpected elements into ordinary scenes. It has been explored at large, but usually with a strong focus on its nucleus, namely, 1920s Paris. After extensive research, Tate Modern has brought together an impressive body of work that covers a large geographical area and spans around half a century. Surrealism Beyond Borders includes works by headlining artists such as Dalí, Magritte, Mirò and many other figures usually associated with the movement, but it goes much farther. What renders the exhibition all the more exciting is that it highlights and celebrates the universality and wide reach of Surrealism. 

Artists from all over the globe – Buenos Aires, Cairo, Tokyo, Mexico City and of many other provenances – found that the surrealist approach resonated with their artistic needs. They all adopted it with equal zeal, and although they did so in different ways, there is an overall feeling of harmony upon seeing their art side by side. The majority of the works possess a dreamlike quality and exude magic. They do appear to emerge, as is often said, straight from the subconscious, which makes them unique and surprising.

While the artworks stem from the artists’ innermost selves, they are often a direct response to the social unrest surrounding them and affecting their lives. Artist Erna Rosenstein, for instance, adopted the style to process her personal traumas as a survivor of the Holocaust. In her painting Ekrany (Screens) she uses the canvas as a screen, she once stated, to project the painful thoughts in her head. Similarly, Ikeda Tatsuo used this liberating style to express his deep concern following the World War II tragedies in his native Japan.

Thus, Surrealism often acted as a link between the inside and the outside, serving as a way to channel fears provoked by sociopolitical affairs. However, it was not only a useful tool for artists as individuals: this exhibition clearly demonstrates that Surrealism was also a collective effort, a global conversation that is all the more clearly expressed when viewed now, retrospectively. The movement’s powerful impact and impressive reach is plain to see in bold colours and unexpected compositions that will leave the viewer transfixed and enraptured.

Mersa Auda

Surrealism Beyond Borders is at Tate Modern from 24^th February until 29^th August 2022. For further information visit the exhibition’s website here.