The hottest Surrealism Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Culture Topics

The Empire of Light Edition

Why is this interesting? • 301 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Surrealism Art market Painting Artists Exhibitions
  1. René Magritte's painting 'The Empire of Light' sold for over $120 million, setting a record for surrealist art at auction. This highlights the growing appreciation for surrealism in the art world.
  2. The painting depicts a street at night under a daytime sky, which is a unique and captivating imagery. It's part of a series that showcases Magritte's creative style and imagination.
  3. Magritte is now among a few elite artists whose works have crossed the nine-figure sale mark. This includes famous names like Leonardo da Vinci and Pablo Picasso.

Cases of Phobokenosis

The Lifeboat • 172 implied HN points • 19 Dec 24
📚 Literature Fiction Criticism Surrealism Psychological Dark humor
  1. Fear and fearlessness seem very different, but they are connected. Fearlessness can come from realizing that being afraid doesn’t help us in the end.
  2. In modern society, fear is often overlooked or normalized. The way we interact with fear can change how we live our lives.
  3. The concept of social criticism has lost its power. Today, it often feels like just entertainment rather than a meaningful discussion about important issues.

A Few Things You Won't Learn About Lee Miller From the Recent Biopic

Paris Unlocked Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Photography Surrealism Film History Biographies
  1. Lee Miller was a significant surrealist photographer, not just a model or muse. She created her own impactful art rather than just inspiring others.
  2. The biopic focuses on her role as a WWII photojournalist, but it doesn’t fully cover her complex legacy and contributions to art.
  3. Miller also documented the horrors of Nazi death camps, highlighting her important work in photojournalism during a crucial time in history.

In Flux with Robert Sahakyants

Animation Obsessive • 1345 implied HN points • 02 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Animation Surrealism Psychedelic
  1. Robert Sahakyants was an influential animator known for his surreal, psychedelic, and stream-of-consciousness style.
  2. He was unique in the Soviet animation scene for coming from Armenia and not the more common regions like Russia or Ukraine.
  3. Sahakyants creatively employed transformations in his work to create effects that were ahead of his time before the advent of computer animation.
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Top Links 383 America's grotesque Gaza policy, the UK impasse, Turkey's balancing act, China's satellites, a life in three colors.

Chartbook • 357 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Surrealism Painting
  1. The post discusses America's Gaza policy, the UK situation, Turkey's diplomatic role, China's satellite programs, and a life portrayed in three colors.
  2. The Chartbook Newsletter by Adam Tooze provides great links, images, and readings related to these topics.
  3. The content includes a mention of Dorothea Tanning's artwork 'Endgame' from 1944 and her desire to convey hidden aspects of life through surrealism.

Notes from what I guess counts as the bleeding edge of artistic possibility these days

RUINS • 137 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration AI Art Digital Art Fine Art Surrealism Creative Process
  1. AI art generators are advancing rapidly, with the ability to interpret text prompts and produce diverse imagery.
  2. There is a contrast between AI-generated art and human art in terms of process, risks, and meaning.
  3. The role of AI in art creation is debated, questioning whether it should supplement or replace human creativity.

Manus Lens

To Asra • 137 implied HN points • 15 Aug 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Photography Surrealism
  1. Portraiture in photography involves capturing the essence of a being which speaks to the artist, subject, and audience.
  2. Photographers in the 19th and early 20th centuries experimented with portraiture styles influenced by war, economic crises, and artistic movements.
  3. Artists like Adolf de Meyer, Alfred Stieglitz, and Florence Henri utilized hands in portraiture to convey depth, emotion, and symbolism.

Desire and Cinema

To Asra • 39 implied HN points • 11 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Films Desire Psychoanalysis Surrealism Gender Roles
  1. Buñuel's final four films explore human desire, repression, and societal civility through surrealistic storytelling.
  2. Jacques Lacan's theories on desire and pleasure are intertwined with Buñuel's filmography, creating a deep exploration of human experience.
  3. The gender dynamics and complexities of desire depicted in Buñuel's films echo the themes discussed by Lacan, showing the universal struggle with desire and relationships.

№.2 Determinative Nominism

AFFALÉ • 2 HN points • 15 Feb 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Brand identity Luxury Fashion Surrealism Fashion & Design
  1. Nominative determinism is a concept where a person's name is thought to influence their career, but it may not always hold true.
  2. Brand designers play a crucial role in creating meaning and identity for businesses through logos and branding strategies.
  3. Launching a new brand requires a compelling narrative to captivate audiences and create a lasting impression beyond just the products.

Physics vs Surrealism

Cybernetic Forests • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Photography Surrealism Physics Electronic Music Visual Arts
  1. Berenice Abbott used her art to make physics compelling and accessible, rather than using physics to create art.
  2. In the past, there was a fear in the scientific community that public engagement in science would corrupt the purity of science.
  3. Science communication should be seen as a form of research that extends understanding and application of knowledge, not just as PR for scientists.