Real Surreal At The V & A....

[molly bloom]

The weird and wonderful realm of surreal design is opened up at the Victoria and Albert Museum in a new exhibition:

While many exhibitions have explored Surrealism as a movement in literature and the fine arts, Surreal Things will be the first to examine its impact on architecture, design and the decorative arts. It will present a new approach to the subject, focusing on the creation of surrealist objects, whether unique works of art or examples of modern design.

From the sensuality of Dali’s Mae West Lips sofa to Schiaparelli’s disturbing Tear dress, Surrealism produced some of the most extraordinary objects ever created. This exhibition will bring together many of these rarely seen works for the very first time.

The exhibition will explore how Surrealism evolved from radical avant-garde beginnings to become one of the most influential movements of the century and a common visual language of modernity. It will trace the development of Surrealism from the creation of the first objects in the 1920s to its commercialisation after World War II, as the movement was absorbed into the worlds of fashion, commercial design, graphics and film.

Supported by the Friends of the V&A

http://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/future_exhibs/surreal_things/index.html

If you want to reserve a ticket, just give them a ring:

[Cort Haus]

molly, what do you think of Tom Paulin's take on surrealism, assuming you're familiar with it?

[laurentius]

It all sounds terribly interesting but I cant find any photos of the exhibits...

Would you happen have any more than just this one?

[Grandpa Troll]

Man Ray

Model wearing Vionnet evening gown with wheelbarrow by Oscar Dominguez
1937
Gelatin silver print
Copyright © Man Ray Trust/ADAGP, Paris and DACS, London 2006

Man Ray's photograph of a model wearing a Vionnet evening gown reclining in the Dominguez' wheelbarrow contributed to the lasting fame of the wheelbarrow. Crucially, it also helped to cement the association of Surrealist objects with glamour and fashion.

[Grandpa Troll]

Mae West Lips

Salvador Dalà and Edward James
Mae West Lips Sofa
1938
Wood carcass, upholstered in satin
86.5 x 183 x 81.5 cm.
The Trustees of The Edward James Foundation
Copyright © Salvador DalÃ, Gala-Salvador Dalà Foundation, DACS, London 2007

In June 1936 Salvador Dalà and his wife Gala stayed with Edward James at his London home and together they developed ideas for objects and furniture.

[Grandpa Troll]

Salvador Dali

Salvador DalÃ
Ruby Lips Brooch
1949
18-carat yellow gold, natural rubies, pearls
3.2 x 4.8 x 1.5 cm.
Primavera Gallery, New York
Copyright © Salvador DalÃ, Gala-Salvador Dalà Foundation, DACS, London 2007

Dalà wrote of this piece, 'Poets of all ages, of all lands, write of ruby lips and teeth like pearls. It remained for Dalà to translate this poetic cliché into a true Surrealist object'. The use of rubies for lips creates a tension between the sensuality of flesh and the hard allure of precious stones. The transposition of the lips from the mouth to the body accentuates the idea of fetishisation.

[Grandpa Troll]

Isamu Noguchi

'IN-70', Cloud-Form sofa and footstool, manufactured by Herman Miller
1948
Wood, foam rubber and textile
Sofa: 76.2 x 289 x 114.3 cm, Footstool: 38.1 x 134.6 x 78.7 cm.
Milwaukee Art Museum, Gift of Gilbert and J. Dorothy Palay M1990.60.1, .2
Copyright © DACS, London 2007

'IN-70' was one of the most ambitious designs Noguchi developed for the Hermann Miller company.

[Grandpa Troll]

I get a few of theses, but not the last...

Not sure what is so "surreal" about this foam set??

[Fake Boris]

They're shaped like ****

[laurentius]

There isnt anything particularly surreal to them now but the elders tell me that such shape language was quite futuristic at the time.

oh and thanks for the pics granpa...

[Grandpa Troll]

Originally posted by laurentius
There isnt anything particularly surreal to them now but the elders tell me that such shape language was quite futuristic at the time.

oh and thanks for the pics granpa...

Anytime my friend

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
molly, what do you think of Tom Paulin's take on surrealism, assuming you're familiar with it?

Can't say that I am.


Is it anything to do with the overt sexism (as he sees it)displayed in some of it ?

It all sounds terribly interesting but I cant find any photos of the exhibits...

There's also a review in The Guardian:

Many of the exhibits have come from the V&A's own collection, some of them never displayed before. The best known names of surrealism will all be featured including Salvador DalÃ, Rene Magritte, Elsa Schiaparelli, Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, Jean Arp, Max Ernst, Joan Miró and Isamu Noguchi. From Dalà will be his 1938 sofa in the shape of Mae West's lips, his Lobster Telephone and Aphrodisian Jacket.

In fashion there will be dresses by the leading Parisian designer Schiaparelli, her Tear dress and Skeleton dress and her hat that resembled a big shoe - as worn at the time by Singer sewing machine heiress Daisy Fellowes.

One of the biggest patrons of surrealism was Edward James, an eccentric millionaire who moved to Mexico in 1947 to grow orchids.

He turned his Lutyens-designed home, Monkton House in West Sussex, into a surrealist's dream with its purple exterior, padded walls and wolfhound print carpet. He also had loudspeakers attached to its chimneys so he could listen to the BBC Third Programme in his grounds.

The house is owned privately after the National Heritage Memorial Fund refused to help buy it for the nation in 1986, but the exhibition will feature photos of the exterior and interior.

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,1931605,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=6#article_continue

Robert Hughes also wrote about the new exhibition for Saturday's edition of The Guardian:

L'amour fou

Fur teacups, wheelbarrow chairs, lip-shaped sofas ... the fashion, furniture and jewellery created by the Surrealists were useless, unique, decadent and, above all, very sexy, says Robert Hughes

http://arts.guardian.co.uk/art/design/story/0,,2041396,00.html#article_continue

While you read, have a nice cheery cup of rosy lea...

[Cort Haus]

Originally posted by molly bloom
Can't say that I am.

ISTR he was ranting and raving about Dali once, saying that it was all about limp dickness. Maybe it was only Dali he didn't like.