Surrealism - André Breton

Surrealism is an artistic movement that emerged in the early 1900s. It abandons logical thought and celebrates unexpected combinations arising from the unconscious.

André Breton, the movement’s founder, defined it as "pure psychic automatism".

A characteristic technique of surrealism is automatic writing: writing for a few minutes without thinking, letting words flow directly from the subconscious.

From the Manifesto of Surrealism: "Have writing materials brought to you after settling in the place that seems most favourable to your mind’s concentration upon itself. Put yourself in the most passive, or receptive, state you can [...] Write quickly without a predetermined subject, fast enough not to hold yourself back or be tempted to reread."

You are invited to draw automatically for 15 seconds, letting go of thought.

DEBRIEFING Surrealism - André Breton

From the Manifesto of Surrealism: "Surrealism is based on the idea of a higher degree of reality associated with certain forms of association hitherto neglected, on the omnipotence of dreams, on the disinterested play of thought."

When you drew, you acted without thinking: it was an "automatic" movement, not guided by reason.

You explored thought without a particular purpose.

With automatic writing, you can reread what you wrote at the end with astonishment, disbelief and wonder. You created it automatically, without thinking: you only truly discover it when you reread it.

After drawing automatically, you observed the path you had created.

Did you draw curved or straight lines, short or flowing segments, symbols or random sketches?

Did you focus on a single area or explore the whole space?

Did you work quickly or calmly?

It was not a real experience: it was, precisely, surreal.