As we mark the centenary of the Surrealist movement, Hauser & Wirth Monaco is now presenting Surreal Legacies, an exhibition celebrating the enduring influence of Surrealism in modern and contemporary art. 

The show, which runs from 26th September to 21st December 2024, explores the impact of the movement through a diverse selection of works by both pioneering figures and contemporary artists.

Launched in October 1924 with the first manifestos penned by Yvan Goll and André Breton, Surrealism revolutionised the way we perceive the modern self and the visual language of contemporary life. Surreal Legacies brings this transformative legacy to life, highlighting works from iconic artists like Louise Bourgeois, Luchita Hurtado, and Phyllida Barlow, alongside contemporary creators such as Camille Henrot, Hélène Delprat, Allison Katz, and Anj Smith.

Central to the exhibition is an exploration of women’s contributions to the movement. Though Surrealism initially emerged as a male-dominated group, the importance of women within and around the movement has gained increasing recognition. Surreal Legacies showcases how these artists, across generations, have continued to shape and evolve the movement’s core ideas of identity, sexuality, and the subconscious.

Hélène Delprat’s subversive and darkly humorous works evoke André Masson’s ‘dissident’ Surrealism, while Louise Bourgeois’s biomorphic sculptures and phantasmagorical imagery reflect the lingering influence of Surrealist techniques on her oeuvre. Luchita Hurtado’s exploration of identity and the natural world also recalls the roots of her engagement with Surrealist circles in Mexico in the 1940s.

Contemporary artists such as Camille Henrot extend these themes, with works like Bittersweet Mimicry (2023) delving into ideas of duality and transformation, central tenets of Surrealist thought. Meanwhile, Anj Smith’s meticulously detailed paintings blend the genres of landscape, portraiture, and still-life, using Surrealist-inspired abject imagery to engage with current environmental concerns.

Surreal Legacies not only highlights the movement’s historical relevance but also illustrates how Surrealist strategies and styles continue to resonate today. By linking Surrealism to feminism and later developments in contemporary art, the exhibition showcases the movement’s lasting vitality and its ability to inspire new generations of artists.

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Main photo: Installation view, ‘Surreal Legacies’ at Hauser & Wirth Monaco until 21 December 2024. © the artists / estates. Courtesy the artists / estates and Hauser & Wirth. Photo: Philippe Fitte