The Modern Art Museum in Fort Worth is kicking off “Surrealism and Us,” a new exhibit that draws from the history of surrealism in the Caribbean.
The show, organized by curator María Elena Ortiz, runs from March 10 through July 28. It takes inspiration from the essay 1943: Surrealism and Us by Suzanne Césaire. Visitors can expect to see dozens of artworks, including paintings, sculptures, and videos, dating back to the 1940s.
In an interview with The Art Newspaper late last year, Ortiz said the exhibit would explore “how Caribbean and black artists sparked a modern avant-garde” and express “the effervescent creativity of Caribbean and black artists and transatlantic networks.”
While it can be challenging to define, surrealism is often considered the artistic expression of an unconscious mind. Typically, resulting pieces can look unusual or even dreamlike.
“Centered on the intersection of Caribbean aesthetics, Afrosurrealism, and Afrofuturism, Surrealism and Us explores how Caribbean and black artists interpreted a modernist movement,” reads the exhibit description on The Modern’s website. “Artworks, framed within a pre-existing history of black resistance and creativity, illustrate how Caribbean and black artists reinterpreted the European avant-garde for their own purposes.”
The show coincides with the 100th anniversary of surrealism. Museums worldwide are expected to host exhibits highlighting the unusual artistic style.
While many people are familiar with Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, two well-known surrealist artists, fewer people are aware of the contributions made to the discipline by women and people of color. As curator of the event, Ortiz is helping raise awareness of these contributions.
Ortiz joined The Modern Art Museum in 2022. She previously worked in a similar capacity at the Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros in Mexico City, the Pérez Art Museum Miami, and the Horizon Art Foundation in Los Angeles.
