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Australian Art

Surrealism

Learning Resource

Secondary
Year 10
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A lesson plan to introduce students to the international Surrealist art movement of the 1920’s and its influence on a number of Australian artists who adopted it to convey their strong feelings about war, politics and philosophy in the early 20th century. Students will be able to identify the differences between conventional and Surrealist works of art, understand that Surrealism focuses on the exploration of the subconscious mind; through the use of subversion and juxtaposition, distorted imagery, symbolism and elements of dream-like fantasy.

Overview


Curriculum Connections

Cross-curriculum priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia Learning area: Visual Arts. General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, personal and social cabability, Intercultural understanding, Ethical understanding, Literacy

Themes

Surrealism, Dada, subconscious, dreams, responses to war

Art & Artists


Featured

James Cant

Objects in a landscape
1936

James Gleeson

The citadel
1945

Albert Tucker

Victory girls
1943

Joan Miró

Paysage [Landscape]
1927

Albert Tucker

Sunbathers
1944

Fred Williams

Silver and grey
1969-70

Clifford Bayliss

Man wearing a bowler hat
1945

Max Dupain

Surrealist study
1938

Max Dupain

Doll's head and goat's skull
c. 1937

James Gleeson

Spain
1951

James Gleeson

The attitude of lightning towards a lady-mountain
1939

Robert Klippel

not titled [P19, organic machine with suspended shape in electro-magnetic field]
1949

Sidney Nolan

Orphée
1948

Albert Namatjira, Western Arrarnta people

Ghost gum
c.1948

Max Ernst

Roi, reine et fou [King, queen and bishop]
1929-30

Related


Exhibition

The New Vision
A Revolution in Photographs 1920 – 1940

Past Exhibition

7 Feb 1987 – 7 Jun 1987

New Photography was developed during the interwar period, concentrating in the USSR and Germany, creating new forms of expression.

Exhibition

Surrealism
Revolution by Night

Past Exhibition

13 Mar – 2 May 1993

Australian Art

Sarah Contos: Nikola Tesla sends Theda Bara to Mars
Learning Resource

All resources

Online Learning Resources designed to connect with the Australian curriculum and to enhance creative thinking in students of all ages and abilities.

40th Anniversary

Surrealism revolution

Black rotary telephone with circular wheel finger dial with lobster claw as a the handset

Surrealism: Revolution by Night exposed Australians to new ideas and aesthetics and influenced the Gallery’s permanent collection forever.

Read Time 13 minutes
Australian Art

Jessie Traill: Stars in the River
Learning Resource

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Yuuma, Gurruburri

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