What do we mean by surrealism? This term actually evokes different situations. There is also an important difference between unreal and surreal. Surrealism is certainly an artistic current. Its theorist is Andrè Breton who, in 1924, published the first "Manifesto of Surrealism". A few years have passed since the publication of Freud's studies on the psyche and dreams; Breton immediately marries its artistic value.
The expolaration of a parallel world, of an art that aims to explore the unconscious. Passing through the works of Magritte by Dali and Picasso and the photographs of Smith and Halsman, we arrive at modern surrealism. They are images that elaborate the dream, created by making it settle. Reality in the waking state is used to explore the unconscious state. Here we find the difference between Surreal and Unreal. The unreal does not exist, the surreal is another real.
Surrealism often translates into an image that at first glance evokes humor. Seeing distorted reality generates this effect in all people. This is the key to attracting attention and at the same time to open the doors to imagination. Surrealism does not give answers, at most it creates questions.
Jeff Wade - Calm
Nicola Marongiu - The Judge
Fadhel Fajeri - At Centre
Carlo Ferrara - Little is Missing
Hengki Lee - Once In My Lonely Soul
Uelsmann also produced Surreal images. He superimposed negatives in the darkroom, cut and masked, to obtain amazing images. And if he did it in the dark room, now the software makes it user-friendly. However, the principle remains unchanged: the tool is at the service of the idea and the result must be satisfying. We find images that blend photography and graphics. A mix that helps the exploration of reality, modeled with the sentiment of the author.
Patrick Desmet - it's great to be a Belgian
Christine Von Diepenbroek - The roadsigners
Some images are defined as surreal due to the unusual location. So strange that it appears to come from a dream. Perhaps this is the reason that leads us to define it surreal.
Rodney Ee - Inside the Tasman
There are other variations of surrealism, which is sometimes confused with the abstract or the conceptual. The writer believes that all images are taken with a concept, otherwise there would be no magnificent images that we can admire on 100ASA.
Text and photo selection: Carlo Ferrara (100ASA curator)
Dariusz Klimczak - Motherhood: Twins
Ruth Franke - Surrealism
Patrick Desmet - Green Grass of Home