To commemorate Belgium’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and the 100th anniversary of the publication of the Surrealist Manifesto (1924), Beaux-Arts is celebrating 100 years of Surrealism with a unique exhibition dedicated to the Belgian avant-garde movement . .
In 1924, at the same time as in Paris, the adventures of Surrealism made its debut in Belgium in the bold pamphlet of poet Paul Nouget, which formed the central theme of this exceptional retrospective. The eccentric Belgian surrealist wants to go beyond pure aesthetics and transform the world with subversive art. Histoire de ne pas rire pays special attention to their international exchanges, political-historical context, and important women artists.
Surrealism was the most important artistic movement of the 20th century in Belgium, and its spirit lived on long after the deaths of Paul Nouget and René Magritte. This movement gave birth to at least three generations of artists and as many visions of reality.
The exhibition, whose title is a direct reference to Paul Nouget’s book (published in 1956 by Marcel Marien), is full of playful and often provocative humour.
Belgian Surrealists quickly distanced themselves from Parisian Surrealists, rejecting automatic writing and the role of the unconscious.
Paul Nouge did not seek fame or fame. He conducted experiments in the shadows with his accomplices. “Although Nouget appeared to be the thinker and conscience of the Brussels surrealist group, he never claimed to be its leader. In this sense he is the exact opposite of Andre Breton. ” explains the exhibition curator, Xavier Canon.
Histoire de ne pas rire features works by René Magritte, Jane Graverolle, Marcel Marien, Rachel Báez, ELT Messens, Léo Domen, Paul Delvaux, as well as Max Ernst, Salvador Dali, Giorgio de Chirico, and others. Approximately 260 paintings, objects, drawings, collages and photographs, as well as over 100 documents, magazines, posters and brochures, are exhibited in over 50 museums (Centre Pompidou, Tate Modern, Boijmans van Beuningen, Pinakothek Munich, Zurich). Museums, etc.) and are on loan from foundations. , art galleries and private collections.
The selection of works provides a representative view of 75 years of Surrealist activity and reflects the diversity of the movement. Conceived in a non-linear manner, the exhibition encourages ‘collisions’ and dialogue between works, also made possible by original scenography.
The original set design by Yves Malysse and Kiki Verbeeck of URA Architects was inspired by the Surrealist desire to disorient and disrupt established patterns of thought and vision. I will also touch upon Magritte’s reflections and the interplay between words and images. The artwork is displayed on temporary walls, and the surrounding permanent walls serve only as surfaces for text and quotations.
This amazing labyrinthine circuit reveals new resonances and dialogues.
Aiming at the conscious and environmentally friendly use of materials, these elements will be dismantled after the exhibition and integrated into one or more construction projects in the Brussels region.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Elena Vanoverbeek will present a new video work entitled “Violin” (2023).
Beaux-Arts has also developed a special artistic Muross Park around the Arts Center. Beaux-Arts has invited five artists – Annabelle Binarts, Valérie Muregen, Laure Prouvost, Gita Sukari and Salim Bayli – to create a surreal design floating in the Mont des Arts district, visible only in augmented reality. I created a text-based artwork.