Surrealism - Te Papa - Wellington

 

"The red model III" (detail) Rene Magritte

"Couple with their heads full of clouds" Salvador Dali

"The Couple" Max Ernst

"The Face of War" Salvador Dali

The Face of War" (detail) Salvador Dali

Anneke posed for a classic Magritte image - "Not to be reproduced"

"Not to be reproduced" Rene Magritte.

We visited a unique, world famous collection of Surrealist art at Te Papa, Wellington.  The exhibition runs until 31 October 2021.

The 180 fascinating pieces include major works by artists such as Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Leonora Carrington, René Magritte, and Marcel Duchamp.  

The renowned collection is  from Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam and includes sculpture, furniture, paintings, graphic design, prints, and photography. Yes, we saw the big red lip sofa.

Surrealist artists tried to create a new kind of reality which was centred around dreams, the unconscious, and the irrational. They used playful, subversive techniques and materials to shock and surprise their audiences.