Table of contents for Issue 10 in Jam Today

Volume 10 Surrealism, one of the most remarkable and influential movements of the twentieth century, is the captivating focus of the tenth issue of Jam Today. Through a series of works, we embark on a journey into the creators’ natural and surreal minds. Surrealism is dominated by its unique and thought-provoking nature. This issue is profoundly related to Surrealism's oration. It invites readers to delve deep into Surrealism's origins, complexities, and roots, sparking intellectual curiosity and stimulating the mind. More than just an art movement, Surrealism was a literary style that thrived from 1924 under the leadership of André Breton and extended well into the 1950s. Its champions aimed to produce works liberated from the constraints of reason and convention, instead utilising fantastical visual imagery from the subconscious mind. This…

Roberto Matta's arrival to Surrealism in 1938 may have been late, but it brought a seismic shift that unexpectedly expanded the movement's scope. While many Surrealists had drifted from the early techniques of Automatism, Matta found in it a powerful tool-not simply a method for free-flowing creation but a means to visualise complex inner worlds he called “psychological morphologies.” His approach was radical; he sought to illustrate the invisible dimensions of thought, emotion, and transformation, merging them into what he termed “the graphic trace of transformation,” a depiction of energies that shape and reshape the very essence of a subject. Matta's work also resonated deeply with the scientific explorations of his time, particularly Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. He was captivated by the idea that visual art could, like science,…

The word ‘Surreal’ has filtered into everyday language to describe the strange or bizarre, yet its origins are rooted in a movement that erupted in 1920 Paris. This movement championed the disputable force of dreams and desires and confidently demanded a new declaration of man's rights. Surrealism, often labelled as fantastical, bizarre, or otherworldly, is frequently associated with impossible visions that belong in the realm of dreams rather than reality. But is this perception genuinely accurate? Suppose we take a deeper dive into the core of surrealism. In that case, we uncover something more profound: surrealism is not distant from reality-it directly reflects it, albeit through abstract and unconventional forms. This art movement offers us an unfiltered glimpse into the human psyche, emotions, and experiences, more deeply connected to our…

Max Ernst's art in the late 1920s marked a profound shift in his creative approach, marked by the development of frottage, a technique born of the Surrealist practice of Automatism. Inspired by André Breton's First ‘Manifesto of Surrealism’ in 1924, Ernst used frottage—rubbing surfaces to create unexpected textures and forms—to unlock imagery from his subconscious. This technique found early expression in his ‘Natural History’ series of 1926, where he allowed shapes to emerge through chance and randomness, giving rise to surreal, organic forms. Ernst expanded this method further in his renowned ‘Forest’ series, a significant phase in his artistic evolution. The ‘Forest’ series, influenced by the Romantic landscapes of Caspar David Friedrich and others, was not merely an aesthetic choice for Ernst but an expression of a primal, enduring connection…

Surrealism acts as a transformative force, opening a gateway to a realm where perception is in a constant state of flux, and a single artwork holds multitudes. The initial glance at a surrealist painting may deceive us, luring us into a world that feels almost familiar. But with each lingering look, the image transforms, layers emerge, and perspectives multiply. We realise that the painting before us is far more than a scene or an object; it's a fluid experience, continually reshaping with each shift in gaze. Each element within the artwork interacts with others unexpectedly, creating a dynamic interplay that defies the boundaries of what we think we see. This makes surrealist art so uniquely captivating—it's never fixed, never a single story or straightforward narrative. Instead, it's a complex landscape…