Contemporary Photographers Reinvigorate Surrealist Traditions with Digital Imagery
A fresh wave of photographers is carrying forward the Surrealist tradition, nearly a century after André Breton's 1924 manifesto. KangHee Kim produces collaged images that serve as "surreal escapism" amid travel limitations. Massimo Colonna, born in 1986, creates imaginative environments in his series such as Isolation and Global Warming. Priscilla Ong playfully arranges scenes, including hands knitting ramen noodles. Miguel Vallinas Prieto, born in 1971, captures daydreams in his Suppen series. Alex Mitchell, born in 1992, examines Surrealism through everyday items illuminated by careful lighting. These contemporary artists, including Aïda Muluneh, Erik Johansson, Sandy Skoglund, and Viviane Sassen, draw inspiration from trailblazers like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte to express unconscious thoughts and dreamlike realms.
Key facts
- Surrealism was defined by André Breton in his 1924 Surrealist Manifesto as "pure psychic automatism"
- The term "surrealist" was first coined by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917
- KangHee Kim uses photo collages as "surreal escapism" due to DACA travel restrictions preventing her from leaving the USA
- Massimo Colonna's Isolation series features stranded chairs and ladders in colorful rolling fields
- Priscilla Ong creates humorous assemblages with everyday objects like ramen noodles and parking tickets
- Miguel Vallinas Prieto's Suppen series visualizes imaginative daydreams with levitating objects and magical transformations
- Alex Mitchell explores Surrealism through everyday objects using strategic lighting and rich color schemes
- Surrealist pioneers include Salvador Dalí, Dorothea Tanning, René Magritte, and Dora Maar
Entities
Artists
- Guillaume Apollinaire
- André Breton
- Salvador Dalí
- Dorothea Tanning
- René Magritte
- Dora Maar
- Aïda Muluneh
- Erik Johansson
- Sandy Skoglund
- Viviane Sassen
- KangHee Kim
- Massimo Colonna
- Priscilla Ong
- Miguel Vallinas Prieto
- Alex Mitchell
- Meret Oppenheim
- Emma Jacob
Institutions
- Tate
- Setanta Books
- DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
Locations
- Paris
- France
- USA
- South Korea
- Italy
- Singapore
- Toronto
- Canada