Mythologies: Surrealism and Beyond - Masterpieces from Centre Pompidou

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Museum of Art, this exhibition designed especially for HKMoA will feature the greatest works by Surrealist artists in the collection of the Centre Pompidou and is curated by the worldwide authority in the field, Didier Ottinger. The curatorial concept illustrates all important stages and aesthetics through the lens of Mythologies, a concept that permeates the journey of surrealism. The Surrealist movement was born at the same time as many figures of modern mythology. From the creation of the movement in 1924, its founder André Breton formulated the idea of constructing a new myth capable of expressing a renewed vision of the world, at a time when nations were sinking into war and violent political ideology. Many of the artists and thinkers who founded the Surrealist movement were eager to replace the ancient myths who had led to this disaster with a modern mythology. The move begun in 1929 toward a second, more materialistic and political Surrealism led the Surrealists to reconsider the role of myth, replacing it at the heart of the movement. The Surrealists set about establishing the foundations of new mythologies: the enchanted city, the sublime point, crazy love… all of these contributed to the emergence of the Surrealist myth.