Recently I had a very traumatic experience where I inadvertently bought a 13 book collection of world mythology which I spent the past two and a half months reading, only to discover they were made with AI. Actually, let's name and shame the series - https://beautifulbooks.info/arcturus-myths-legends/. I scrubbed them from my bookcase, and also from this blog, my reading record, and Goodreads, as I couldn't bear to have their insidious presence reminding me of the blunder. After this ordeal, I needed a palette cleanser, something to wipe away the bitter aftertaste. And what better way to combat AI than actual art, painted by real people. When I saw The Surrealist Menagerie in the art section of Waterstones, I picked it up immediately - Surrealism and zoology, my two favourite subjects in one book! I flicked through and saw representations of my favourite artists and paintings, it was an instant purchase.
Desmond Morris in his introduction states that this is the first time the topic has been tackled in a book, and it really is a surprise considering how well the two go together. Not only was this a perfect antidote to the AI books, but it would help me significantly with inspiration for my second novel, which is heavily involved in Surrealism. Indeed, since finishing this book, I have titled one of my chapters after a painting from it. Desmond is a very good writer, and knowing his background in zoology, I felt like I was in very good hands. He includes latin names for some species, which adds a layer of scientific authority to the collection. The introduction had me hooked and left me wanting to know a lot more about the original Surrealists, of whom I've always been fascinated. He arranges the book through the animal kingdom's phylums - invertebrates, cold-bloods, winged animals, carnivores, elephants, hoofed animals, and primates.
Notable artists who are represented include Victor Brauner, Leonara Carrington, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali (obviously), Max Ernst, Frida Khalo, Felix Labisse, Rene Magritte (obviously), Toyen, Varo Remedios, and many more. I was delighted to see old favourites like Dali and Magritte, more recent favourites like Tanning, Carrington, and Remedios, and brand new discoveries such as Labisse. The world of Surrealism is always a treat to discover. Morris has a good eye for details and makes astute, on-point observations about the animals' roles in the paintings. Some of his inclusions are a little dubious, and arguably more Cubist or Dada than Surrealism, and there were a few favourites exluded that I thought should definitely have made the cut. Sometimes an artwork is referred to which doesn't have an accompanying picture, so make sure to have your phone handy whilst reading. Highly recommended to lovers of art and nature. I really hope he works on a mythical creatures version next.
No comments:
Post a Comment