TWO MANIFESTATIONS OF 'BRITISH SURREALISM'

 I recently paid a visit to the Victoria Gallery in Bath to see the exhibition "When Dreams Confront Reality: Surrealism in Britain". (  https://www.victoriagal.org.uk/event/when-dreams-confront-reality-surrealism-britain) The works are mostly from the collection of the late Jeffrey Sherwin, a doctor and local tory politician in Leeds, so when the exhibition blurb claims that one will "Experience the magical visions of Surrealism – but from an unusual perspective" that may well be true.

Some of the works are indeed excellent, but the general feel of the exhibition is of nostalgia for the 30s, a surrealism largely shorn of its greater purpose, those nasty men, Breton and Mesens demanding poor artists to be more than whimsical fantasists. It is often as challenging as a nice cup of tea. (Such as that held by the figure in F.E. McWilliams' rather spiffing sculpture, above).

This cosy impression of the first half of the show is rather punctured by an awareness of the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War and a small leaflet on display seemed horribly contemporary:

The second half of the show had for me a note of personal nostalgia, with works by Conroy Maddox, Toni del Renzio and Tony Earnshaw, all of whom were friends. Toni del Renzio even joined the London Surrealist Group in 2005, making him by far the oldest member at 90, the youngest at that time being 16! The home video of Sherwin's visit to Conroy's flat was oddly familiar, very much like my own visit, seeing some of the same things. It also featured both Toni and Tony and Conroy's partner, Des Mogg. 

I don't want to overdo this impression of something old, warm and comfy, several works, back in the day, provoked severe reactions and demands that they should be destroyed, presumably from Daily Mail readers or their equivalent, and plenty of them still have a subversive charge and the power to disconcert, but the context of this exhibition gave me the sense that they'd been wrapped in cotton wool, the sharp edges all blunted. It's all rather nice...even when a tad naughty (Conroy's nuns etc.) 

At the same time that surrealism's past has been evoked in Bath, in Lancaster a possible future of surrealism has appeared in the form of the Lancaster Surrealist Group and their magazine "Vile Bird". 

https://lancastersurrealistgroup.wordpress.com/

 The group developed, as far as I can make out, from student societies at Lancaster University and improbable amounts of Pinot Grigio, somehow developed into an understanding of surrealism and thus to self-identify as surrealists and seek the surrealist adventure in the streets of Lancaster. The magazine is already sold out, although I think one might get electronic copies if you ask nicely.

When somebody is drawn to the orbit of surrealism, they are not there as a subordinate to the elders* of the movement, such a hierarchy is properly anathema and we meet on an equal footing. Caution on both sides is understandable, "Oh, I'm a surrealist" can mean so many things to different people and have very little to do with surrealism, so it's a bit premature to get too excited about a new group, although any new manifestation is more than welcome, and potentially something to get excited about. However, Vile Bird attracted a number of contributors outside the group, including myself, people who felt this is a worthwhile venture that we can support with some enthusiasm. I have seen so much that is so much worse than what the Lancaster group has manifested so far, and if I find that manifestation still not wholly matured or realised, I can't condescend (no, I really can't! let me finish!) given my own earliest attempts at surrealist activity and the number of people who were, nevertheless, willing to take me seriously.

My point is that we have here an activity in its early stages and that has already shown some real awareness of what surrealism is, has managed to get out there and relate to other surrealists, demonstrated knowledge and understanding and that is all rather exciting. I do feel the need to ring a note of caution, it is a new activity and in many ways still unproven and undeveloped, but their sense of rebellion is strong and their activity is growing. Given that I sometimes tend to get lost in deep deliberation on theoretical matters, I also find it refreshing to see a manifestation of surrealism that's fun! 

* Sorry, we don't have elders!