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OBJETOS DE DESEO. SURREALISMO Y DISEÑO, 1924-2020 (2020)
OBJETOS DE DESEO. SURREALISMO
Y DISEÑO, 1924-2020
BARCELONA
CAIXA FORUM
JUN 01 2020 - SEP 27 2020
After its official introduction in 1924 with the publication of André Breton's Surrealist Manifesto, Surrealism quickly became an international intellectual and political movement whose members came from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, including writing, film and fine arts. Everyday design and objects were a great source of inspiration and played a crucial role in its evolution. Less well known, however, is the decisive impact of surrealism on design, which has played a major role in liberating design from functionalist dogma that "form follows function." In light of the growing criticism directed at rationalist design beginning in the 1930s, and especially after World War II, Surrealism opened up new avenues that addressed emotions, fantasies, fears, and other existential issues.
"Is the decisive impact of surrealism on design, which has played a major role in liberating design from functionalist dogma that form follows function"
The exhibition will shed new light on this fascinating and ongoing creative dialogue, juxtaposing surreal artwork and design pieces to reveal parallels that have rarely been studied. Paintings, sculptures, collectibles, posters, magazines, books and photographs will also be included, as well as historical films. Among the exposed artists are Gae Aulenti, Björk, Claude Cahun, Achille Castiglioni, Giorgio de Chirico, Le Corbusier, Salvador Dalí, Isamu Noguchi or Meret Oppenheim, among many others.
Roberto Sebastián Matta (Santiago, Chile, 1911 - Civitavecchia, Italy, November 23, 2002) studied architecture and interior design at the city's Catholic University. In 1933, Matta went to work for Le Corbusier in Paris, where his interest turned to painting. He made a series of surreal landscape drawings of particular interest whilst traveling Peru and Panama.
After serving as a Merchant Marine, Matta traveled through Europe and the USA to meet artists such as Salvador Dalí, André Breton, and Arshile Gorky. Breton, in particular, was a significant influence on Matta and introduced Matta to the work of many of the prominent European artists of the time. Matta's "inscape" series was conceived as a visual representation of his inner psyche. His early paintings are associated with bio-morphism, using shapes and patterns reminiscent of organic form. He became strongly associated with the Surrealists, contributing to the Surrealist journal Minotaure with illustrations and essays.
In the 1940s and '50s, the political situation in Europe influenced the introduction of mechanical forms and distressed figures in Matta's paintings. Although he began gaining recognition, Matta was expelled from the Surrealist group when he was accused of indirectly causing Gorky's suicide by having an affair with the artist's wife. After this break, Matta spent time between South America and Europe, painting semi-abstract canvases in a surreal style.
During the sixties, Roberto Matta ventured into furniture design after meeting the Italian designer Dino Gavina. In 1966, Matta designed the "Malitte Lounge Furniture" seats for the firm Gavina and the "Magritte" chair, a series of bronze chairs. The Malitte seats are part of the permanent collection of the MoMA in New York.
Matta dedicated his later years to political activism. He was an active supporter of Chile's Socialist government and the president Salvador Allende. He died in Civitavecchia, Italy on November 23, 2002.