surrealism theory
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8/6/2019 Surrealism Theory
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Brianna Baty , year 10 photography+digitalmedia
SURR EALISM; historical+critical
researchArtist 1: Jerry Uelsmann
American artist and photographer Jerry Uelsmann was born in Detroit on June 11, 1934. He
began art making as soon as he was able, and taught photography and became an art
professor during his career. Now retired from teaching, he lives with his wife, artist Maggie
Taylor, in Florida.
Many factors influenced Uelsmann·s art making. He lived through 2 World wars which heavily
involved his nation, and the art movement Art Deco was encroaching the art world.
ART EXAMPLE: Symbolic Mutation, 1961
Displayed in this work is a fist, which has been
mutated to also depict a woman·s face. It is
cropped closely, forming a strong focal point,
and the use of shadow, contrast, line and shape
provide emphasis to the image. This artwork·s
theme seems to be dark and enigmatic ²
perhaps representing opposites, mutation or
other sinister concepts.
The symbols encompassed in this work include
the fist, a symbol of strength, power,,
masculinity and negativity, and the young woman·s face, representative of innocence,
kindness, softness and femininity. In this black and white photograph, overlaying and
composite images have been utilised to form the image.
This artwork gives me a feeling of mystery and darkness, but this contrasts with the lighter
left side of the image depicting a woman·s face. I believe this image was crafted to draw a
contrast between masculinity and femininity by juxtaposing them ² one without the other is
nothing remarkable, but it is extraordinary how the two opposites fit together. I like theconcept in this artwork and the flawless execution, though I dislike the distracting lines in the
background near the face.
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ART EXAMPLE: Untitled, 1976
In this artwork, a desk sits abandoned in the
middle of a stately, elegant old-fashioned
room. The roof of this room is presumably
missing, instead, the dark and cloudy night skyis visible. The camera has been positioned at a
low angle, looking upwards from the corner of
the room. This is to ensure a well-cropped and
positioned image that includes the significant
detail of the missing roof. The themes
represented in this work include solitude,
beauty and vulnerability. The sky is symbolic of
freedom, but at night can look menacing. The
idea of menacing freedom is an interesting one.
Fireplaces convey warmth but in this image, the
fireplace is snuffed and overshadowed,
suggesting coldness. The desk in the middle of
the room is empty, though desks are usually a
symbol of human presence. The fact that the
desk is alone and without a roof over it is suggestive of vulnerability and imprisonment. This
black and white photograph made use of overlaying and composite images, as well as the
concepts of perspective, space, line, texture and tone, or shadow/highlights.
This photograph evokes a feeling of quietness and solitude, but with dark undertones of
danger and vulnerability. I believe this image is juxtaposing freedom with safety, in the waythat freedom can be achieved but with no roof over one·s head it is dangerous, and safety in
a room with walls but a result of imprisonment. I love the thought that has been put into this
artwork and the effort to make this concept as aesthetically pleasing as it is interesting.
http://www.uelsmann.net/
http://shutterbug.com/images/archivesart/0907uelsmann02.jpg
Artist 2: Erik Johansson
Erik Johansson was born on March 13, 1984, in Stockholm, Sweden. He began making art at
around 12 years old, teaching himself to draw over a period of 9 months. Since then, he
hasn·t stopped improving his art making skills. Erik is influenced by the world around him ²
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as a young adult in the digital era, Johansson has constant inspiration and influence from the
modern world.
ART EXAMPLE: Zip City, date unknown
The focus of this image is
on a patch of farm land with
tractors, being ¶zipped· up
by a city. An angled aerial
view of the scene gives the
viewer a higher perspective
to see what·s going on
below. Using concepts of
art such as line, shape,
texture and tone, this
artwork is as complex as itis intriguing. The themes
represented in this artwork
are the ever-growing cities
of this world, threatening to ¶zip· up farmland and nature throughout the world. The ever -
growing threat of uniformity looms on the tractors, which are positioned defencelessly. This
colour photomanipulation uses a myriad of techniques such as overlaying, warping,
distortion, and focal light.
I interpret this photograph as a comment on how urban growth and devel opment is
threatening to abolish nature in the world. This artwork makes me feel an incoming sense of doom, but also a ray of hope ² a zip can always be undone again. I like the entire concept, I
find it very intelligent, and I cannot find anything I parti cularly dislike about it.
ART EXAMPLE : Strange Forest, date unknown
In this work, it can clearly be seen that the basesof trees in a forest on a dark, gloomy day are
replaced on top by power lines. The lack of
other vegetation and the severity presented by
the appearance of only one bird gives a stark
contrast to the natural forests we see in our
world. A low-angle shot that is cropped to only
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reveal necessary details, the use of line, tone and space feature heavily in this piece. The idea
that trees are being replaced by power poles is a strong one in this photograph, wit h a
theme of human development and the destruction that it causes. Symbols include the dark
clouds, signalling a storm ² this represents an ominous feeling, or anticipation of doom.
Horizons signal infinity, or never -ending concepts ² so the power lines that disappear into
the horizon signify Johansson·s perception that once started, this technology will never
relent. It is a colour photo-manipulation that utilises techniques such as overlaying and
blending to achieve the desired effect.
This artwork gives me a foreboding feeling, one of resentfulness towards technology. The
lack of aesthetic value in this barren landscape causes me to think more carefully about my
consumption of technology and electricity. This image is based on Johansson·s fear that
nature will be overrun by technology ² this was also reflected in the previous example of his
work. I like the purity of the concept ² it is unmarred by distractions or tangents. This artwork
makes a point and pushes it towards the viewer.
http://extended.ericj.se/about
http://www.ericj.se/
http://www.alltelleringet.com/