Surreal Things: Surrealism and Design

29 Sep 2007
13 Jan 2008

In the first major exhibition of its kind, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen reveals the bizarre and shocking world of Surrealism in all its extravagant variety. No art movement has had a greater impact on our culture than Surrealism, launched in 1924 by André Breton.

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Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen houses a formidable collection of Surrealist art works. These masterpieces are shown alongside several hundred art works and objects from museums and private collections all over the world.

In the 1920s Surrealism unleashed a veritable visual and intellectual revolution. Based on Sigmund Freud's ideas about the interpretation of dreams and Karl Marx's social critique, the movement had a profound impact that continues to be felt today.

'Surreal Things' encompasses objects ranging from furniture, paintings, sculptures, fashion and jewellery to architectural models, ceramics, textiles, posters, photographs and films: from Man Ray's flatiron with nails and Yves Tanguy's painted earrings for Peggy Guggenheim to Meret Oppenheim's table with bird's legs and a dramatic skeleton dress by Elsa Schiaparelli.