Labyrinth of Dreams

The Surrealism exhibition offers an immersive journey into the artistic movement that began in 1924 with the publication of André Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto. Currently on show at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the exhibition will run from September 4th, 2024 to January 13th 2025, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of Surrealism. Featuring a wide range of paintings, drawings, films, photographs and literary works, it showcases iconic works by key Surrealist figures such as Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and Max Ernst, while also highlighting the contributions of female Surrealists such as Leonora Carrington, Dora Maar and Ithell Colquhoun.

With its labyrinthine design, the exhibition traces over four decades of Surrealist history, offering a thematic and chronological exploration of the movement’s development. Divided into 14 sections, the show highlights the literary influences that shaped Surrealism, with writers such as Lautréamont, Lewis Carroll and the Marquis de Sade.

At the heart of the exhibition is the original manuscript of Breton’s Surrealist Manifesto, a rare item on loan from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France. The manuscript is complemented by a multimedia presentation that explores its artistic and historical significance. The exhibition’s immersive design enhances its surreal atmosphere, evoking themes of dreams, the unconscious and the fluidity of reality.

As a travelling exhibition, Surrealism has already been shown in cities such as Brussels, Madrid and Hamburg, each time adapted to reflect the local cultural and historical context. In Brussels, the show explored the links between Surrealism and Symbolism, while in Madrid it focused on Iberian artists such as Dalí and Miró. The Hamburg edition highlighted the links between Surrealism and German Romanticism.

The exhibition’s final stop is Philadelphia, where it will examine the movement’s influence throughout the Americas, particularly in Latin American art. This travelling format enhances the exhibition’s global impact, bringing the rich legacy of Surrealism to diverse audiences around the world.