‘It was so Surreal’, is a common expression of strange visual phenomena which may feel fantastical, absurdist, dream-or nightmare-like, or as if ‘reality’ is muddled with the bizarre. The genes of Surrealist art are widespread in contemporary art practices today, but also in visual culture at large, such as film and advertising; so much so, we take them for granted.

In honour of The Chartwell Collection’s 50th anniversary, Stop Making Sense showcases 15 of its examples: sculpture, photography, painting, and drawing. These artworks from The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki sometimes have pointed reference to Surrealism, while others have Surreal traits, such as unexpected juxtapositions of things or objects, imaginative mindscapes, and suggestively hybrid forms. Few artists today would call themselves Surrealists, however, its influence is pervasive. To further explore the theme of Surrealist legacies in (mostly) New Zealand art of the late twentieth century to today, further striking examples from our own and other collections provide other fascinating links to the themes and preoccupations of the European Surrealist (and Dada) artists.

Runs until 9th Feb 2025.
Image: Paul Hartigan, Against the Grain, 1980 (detail).