More than 100 authentic works of Surrealist masters are exhibited in China for the first time

　　Text/Picture Yangcheng Evening News reporter He Jing

　　2024 coincides with the 100th anniversary of the publication of the poet Andre Breton's first "Surrealist Manifesto." On February 2, Shanghai Pudong Art Museum joined hands with the National Gallery of Scotland for the first time to jointly present the new exhibition "A Hundred Years of Rhapsody: Surrealist Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Scotland".

　　Simon Grom, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the National Gallery of Scotland, said at the opening ceremony: "The National Gallery of Scotland is very pleased to cooperate with Pudong Art Museum to hold the first large-scale exhibition of Surrealist art in China. 'A Hundred Years of Rhapsody' It will provide audiences with new opportunities to explore the National Gallery of Scotland’s world-class collection, celebrating a century of Surrealism with a unique exhibition.”

　　More than a hundred works are on display this time, all from the collection of the National Gallery of Scotland, including the founders and pioneering masters of Surrealism, such as Salvador Dali, Reni Magritte, Max Ernst, Authentic masterpieces by more than 50 art masters including Joan Miró, Leonora Carrington, and Dorothea Tanning. All exhibits are exhibited in China for the first time and are presented in a variety of media such as paintings, sculptures, rubbings, collages, photography, manuscripts and books.

　　The exhibition is based on three time periods: "from Dada to Surrealism from 1916 to 1929", "the expansion period of Surrealism from 1930 to 1938" and "surrealism from 1939 to the late 20th century during the exile period and post-war". More than 100 representative works by more than 50 Surrealist masters are presented, showing what Andre Breton said is the "shocking beauty".

　　As one of the most famous works of Surrealism, Salvador Dali's "Lobster Telephone" highlights the unique artistic technique of "auxiliary readymades" by transforming everyday objects and giving them new symbolic meanings.

　　Rene Magritte built a surreal world with his unique realistic techniques. In his work "Magic Mirror", he explores the multi-layered nature of meaning through the complex relationship between words and images. By illustrating the two French words "corps humain" (human body) and integrating them into the painting, Magritte demonstrated the mysterious connection between image and text.

　　Max Ernst pushed artistic expression into a deeper and surreal realm through creative techniques such as rubbing and scratching. In the work "Ocean and Sun", he used wet paint to outline circles and lines, presenting a method similar to mechanical movement. The work not only displays the god-like presence of the sun, but also depicts its reflection in the sea as a dark, lifeless contrast.

　　In addition, this exhibition presents for the first time the works of several women and Surrealist artists who do not conform to gender stereotypes. For example, Dorothea Tanning's "Life Painting", Edith Rimington's "Bait", Leonora Carrington's "Max Ernst Portrait", etc.

　　This exhibition will last until August 31st.