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It's the Surreal Thing

Episode 4 of 4

Arts series. Presenter Alan Yentob traces the history of Surrealism.

Surrealism has been described as one of the most successful revolutions of the 20th century, a revolution in perception that broke down the barriers between the world of dreams and the world of everyday reality. Its influence can be felt everywhere, in design and architecture, fashion and furniture, cinema and advertising. Even so, Surrealism is disdained by most contemporary artists, its ambitions regarded as overblown, its ideas out-moded and its greatest artists, like Magritte and Dali, dismissed as poster-art for teenage bedrooms.

In this programme Alan Yentob takes a personal and dream-like journey, from Sigmund Freud's couch, where the story of Surrealism begins, to the current Surreal Things exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Exploring the history of Surrealism and its legacies, he makes the case for the Surrealist conviction that the world is 'an immense museum of strangeness'.

Along the way he encounters people with direct links to the original Surrealist movement or whose work has been marked by its example. With contributions from singer and surrealist poet George Melly, designer Philippe Starck, film maker Michel Gondry and artist Grayson Perry.

40 minutes

Last on

Tue 29 May 2007 23:20

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Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Alan Yentob
Participant George Melly
Participant Michel Gondry
Participant Grayson Perry

Broadcasts