Unit 1. Research and Exploration

The Surrealist World

“Although the dream is a very strange phenomenon and an inexplicable mystery, far more inexplicable is the mystery and aspect our minds confer on certain objects and aspects of life.”

Giorgio de Chirico Signature

Summary of Surrealism

The Surrealists sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of the imagination. Disdaining rationalism and literary realism, and powerfully influenced by psychoanalysis, the Surrealists believed the rational mind repressed the power of the imagination, weighing it down with taboos. Influenced also by Karl Marx, they hoped that the psyche had the power to reveal the contradictions in the everyday world and spur on revolution. Their emphasis on the power of personal imagination puts them in the tradition of Romanticism, but unlike their forebears, they believed that revelations could be found on the street and in everyday life. The Surrealist impulse to tap the unconscious mind, and their interests in myth and primitivism, went on to shape many later movements, and the style remains influential to this today.

The Practice of Brainstorming

To determine the ideas and messages students want to convey through their artistic practice they need to consider overarching concepts and then narrow down the potential foci for their exploration and final artwork. In this unit, the overarching theme is Surrealism.

Students are also required to develop skills and methods to visually record their creative and critical thinking of their creative process using a combination of text, images, diagram and other graphic tools. This grows from ‘brainstorming’ ideas in response to teacher directed or personal sources of inspiration.

Suggestions for Mapping your Brainstorming

Art-ThemesDownload

Stage 1. Getting started…

  1. Devise a mind map with a number of different but related themes/concepts, looking at areas and ideas that provoke and inspire you. In this case your starting point is Surrealism.
  2. Create it by identifying artists and artworks; using photographs and other images, adding your own thumbnail drawings and other comments to initiate your ideas.
  3. Research historical and cultural facts and issues associated with your theme. Knowledge will create greater depth in your art so find out as much about your chosen area as you can. 
  4. Complete sketches from observation of the world around you that start to convey the visual attributes of your theme.  
  5. Identify art materials and techniques that have been used by artists to convey this theme in the past.
  6. Identify the materials and techniques you would like to explore, investigating traditional and contemporary approaches.
    This could lead straight into you making initial trials with your preferred materials and techniques.

Stage 2. Staying true to your theme…

  1. Visit online Art Galleries and Exhibitions.
    Collect images, review and critique the artworks and exhibition, draw from the artworks.
  2. Create a collection of inspirational photography – consider traditional and digitally manipulated imagery.
  3. Seek inspiration from nature – collect actual objects and take photos.
  4. Stay in tune with what is happening in the world through social media/news to connect to your ideas.
  5. Find quotes from other inspirational media and sources.
    Identify inspirational film, television or video art, Digital media – animation.
    Inspirational music – lyrics.
    Inspirational people – both living and historic figures.
    Inspiration from print media – including commercial photography/graphic design/advertising.

Examples of artistically created mind maps: MIND MAP ART