Surrealism's Centenary Marked by Global Exhibitions Amid Critical Reassessment

The centenary of Surrealism, celebrated due to the manifestos of Yvan Goll and André Breton in October 1924, has prompted significant exhibitions globally. Notable among these is 'Imagine! 100 Years of International Surrealism,' which features artists such as Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, and René Magritte, along with thematic displays in Fort Worth, Wakefield, and Munich. Individual exhibitions focus on artists like André Masson and Leonora Carrington. Breton's First Manifesto called for a blend of dream and reality, drawing from Freud's ideas. This anniversary also aligns with a reevaluation of the market, as Frieze Masters showcases 'marginalised' surrealists. Despite Dalí's appeal to youth, Magritte faces the danger of overexposure, while Surrealism's influence persists in film and literature, even as its critical recognition wanes.