Unconscious Visions: Dreams on Paper

Hidden Gallery is thrilled to exhibit a one-of-a-kind exhibition of original and hand-signed prints by the major pioneers of Surrealism: Joan Miró, Salvador Dalí, René Magritte and Marc Chagall. This September marks the 101-year anniversary of the ‘Surrealist Manifesto’, a publication which established the beginning of one of Modern art’s most significant advancements. Hidden’s astonishing new collection of rare artworks, all available to purchase, promises to bring the heart of the movement to Bristol.

The Surrealists epitomised the avant-garde. Their contributions to literature, philosophy and fine art opened the public’s eyes to a rarely traversed world of unconscious thought. Through uncanny, poetic imagery – from melting clocks to never-ending dreamscapes – contributing artists aimed to unveil how rich our imaginations truly are. By extension, they hoped to inspire change in a world recovering from World War I. Their work continues to capture people’s imaginations and both artists and the public certainly turn to Surrealism during fractured times. There could therefore not be a more appropriate time to consider their profound influence.

Miró, Dalí, Magritte and Chagall were experts in printmaking and between them they produced some of the most important editions of the last century. They were each revolutionary in their approach to printmaking; Dalí used a musket to fire snail shells filled with ink at his printing plates, and Miró used the Surreal method of 'automatism' to create compositions without conscious thought. Hidden’s exhibition will explore each artist's fascinating printmaking practice through a hand-picked selection of museum-quality artworks, including 70-year-old lithographs by Chagall and a dazzling portfolio of Magritte artworks signed by his wife Georgette.

Hidden is one of Bristol’s leading art destinations and over the last decade has garnered a reputation for making extraordinary art accessible. The gallery’s latest acquisitions will enable visitors to immerse themselves in a remarkable era of art history – perhaps even taking home their very own surreal masterpiece.