THE dreamlike artistic genre of Surrealism is alive and well, as a new exhibition opening at the Wyeside Arts Centre at Builth Wells on Wednesday, January 8, will show.

“Surrealism; Wellspring of the Imagination” features works by John Richardson and John Welson providing evidence of contemporary surrealist activity and of the continuing relevance of the surrealist critique of the dull world of the reality-principle, referred to in the First Surrealist Manifesto as ‘the unacceptable human condition’.

Surrealists seek to transform our view of ‘what is’ and ‘what can be’, and to reveal a deeper, hidden reality.

Opposing so-called common sense, capitalist ideology, religious delusions and the miserabilism of everyday life, with total revolt and an unfettered imagination suffused with the love of the irrational and the irrationality of love, surrealism is above all, an adventure of the mind.

The exhibition is on until Wednesday, April 1, but the artists will also be hosting evenings on surrealism as fundraisers for Wyeside, starting with “Surrealism, An Evening of Readings” on March 6.

This evening of readings by surrealists living in Wales, includes Jean Bonnin, Neil Coombs, David Greenslade, John Richardson and John Welson.

This highlights that surrealism was originally a movement of poets e.g. André Breton, Paul Éluard, Louis Aragon, Philippe Soupault and that its key precursors were writers such as Lautréamont and Rimbaud – without a bowler hat or melting clock in sight! The evening will include a short overview of surrealism with readings from each of the contributors of their own work and that of other surrealists.

The second event “Surrealism is Dead, Long Live Surrealism” will be held on Friday, March 20.

Tickets are available from the Wyeside’s box office on 01982 552555 or via their website at www.wyeside.co.uk