Conference Programme:
Day 1-Dec 12, 2023
9:45 Welcome and opening words
Roula-Maria Dib
Session 1—Surrealism between Architecture and Anthropology (10:00-11:15):
Moderator: Sade Jackson
Simon Weir, The University of Sydney
“Architecture and Surrealist Objects: Dalí and Magritte”
Noor Kassam, Architecture –Kassam Studio
“Surrealism, Art, and Architecture”
Ivan Levant, Sanctuary of Surrealism
“Insurgent Anthropology of Surrealist Observance”
Session 2—Surrealist Lenses: Photographic Journeys, Past to Present (12:00-13:00):
Moderator: Lina Almarestani
Eya Gharbi, Higher Institution of Fine Arts of Tunis“Surrealism in Photographic Art: From Man Ray to Contemporary Visionaries”
Dimitra Gounari, University of West Attica
“Photography and Surrealism”
Session 3—Ethereal Narratives: Surreal Reflections on Politics, Metamorphosis, and Posthumanism (17:15-18:30):
Moderator: Emmy Vye
Despoina Kotsi, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens
“A ‘Fragile Balloon’ in the House of Commons”
Efstathia Palyvou, PhD Candidate in University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece
“Analysing the Absurd Narrative and the ‘Humanimal’ Surrealism in Kafka’s Metamorphosis”
Simon Cook, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“The Scorpion-Man: Posthumanism in Buñuel’s L’âge d’or”
Session 4—Beyond Breton: The Transdisciplinarity of Surrealism (19:00-20:15):
Moderator: Paula Messina
Emmy Vye, Goldsmiths University London
“Works from ‘The Walls’: A Creative Process of Transformation”
Stuart Inman, Open University
“Surrealism’s Great Ambition And The Hermetic Bird”
Randy Fertel, Independent scholar, Last taught at The New School Uni
“Surrealism and the Rational”
Day 2—Dec 13, 2023
Session 5—Surrealist Brushstrokes: Multidimensional Expressions (10:00-11:15): Moderator: Sade Jackson
Ihab Hanafy, Al-Zahra College for Women
“Surrealist-Inspired Portrait Sketch”
Leon Coward, Independent researcher
“Cinematic Dreams: Transformations and False Solutions”
Jay Horan, Te Pūkenga—the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology
“Intangible Artefacts from Triangulating Art, Music and Poetry”
Session 6—Jungian Arts-Based Research in Surrealist Writing (12:00-13:15):
Moderator: Lina Almarestani
Cassie Fielding, University of Essex
“The Matter with Poetry: Surrealist Poetry Writing as an Alchemical Practice”
Rachel Newsome, Independent Academic
“Write Your Undiscovered Self – Synthesising Surrealism, Creative Writing & Jungian Active Imagination”
Roula-Maria Dib
“The Surrealist Language of the Psyche: Dream Poems as Jungian Arts-Based Research”
Session 7—Mind and Body between Film and Photo (17:15-18:30):
Moderator: Emmy Vye
Karina Vasudeva, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“Surreal Journeys: Illness, Cyborgism, and the Disabled Experience”
Subhasree Biswas, Goldsmiths Alumni
“The Mother of Surrealism and the other Mediumistic Women Artists”
Elena Salvaterra, National Coalition of Independent Scholars
“Consciousness through Photography”
Session 8—Text and Textile: Surreal Explorations of the Mind (19:00-20:15):
Moderators: Paula Messina
Carly Palmer, C.G. Jung Institute of Chicago
“The Art of Aesthetics: Symbolism Revealed Through Objects of Fashion”
Emma Spies, UCLA
“A Feeling for Nature: Surrealism’s Boundless Queer Alterities”
Joan Leotta, Independent Writer
“Freeing the Mind–Responding to Surreal Art with Poetry”
Surrealism and Arts-Based Research:
Bridging the Imagination and Reality Divide
Conference Dates: December 12-13, 2023
Location: Online
Proposal Deadline: November 13, 2023
Conference fee: 90 GBP
Call for Papers
André Breton, one of the founding figures of Surrealism, emphasizes the transformative and disruptive power of Surrealist art and thought in his famous quote:
“Beauty will be convulsive, or it will not be at all.”
And this is precisely what we are inviting you to explore with us!
We are delighted to announce our forthcoming conference, Surrealism and Arts-Based Research: Bridging the Imagination and Reality Divide, where we will delve into the captivating and enigmatic world of Surrealism across multiple disciplines. This transdisciplinary conference invites scholars, creatives, researchers, and practitioners to explore the enigmatic, the dreamlike, and the fantastical in their respective fields through the lens of Surrealism. We aim to come together to explore, discuss, and unveil the depths of the unconscious mind as it manifests in surrealist creativity and extends into various aspects of human existence.
Surrealism, with its roots in the early 20th century, continues to inspire and challenge artists and scholars across a wide range of disciplines. We welcome papers that explore the fusion of Surrealism and arts-based research in areas including but not limited to:
• Poetry: Analyzing how Surrealism influences poetic expression, language play, and the boundaries of meaning.
• Filmmaking: Exploring the use of Surrealist elements in cinema, animation, and experimental film.
• Visual Art and Sculpture: Investigating Surrealist techniques, symbolism, and the portrayal of the subconscious in painting and sculpture.
• Photography: Examining Surrealism in photographic art, from Man Ray to contemporary photographers.
• Music: Exploring Surrealism in music composition, lyrics, and performance.
• Fashion: Investigating Surrealism’s influence on fashion design and surreal fashion photography.
• Psychology: Discussing the intersection of Surrealism and psychology, particularly in the study of dreams, archetypes, and the unconscious mind.
• Science: Examining how Surrealism has influenced scientific thought, particularly in fields like neuroscience and psychology.
• Architecture: Investigating Surrealism’s impact on architectural design and theory.
• Digital Media: Exploring Surrealism in digital art, virtual reality, and online communities.
• Transdisciplinary Approaches: Papers that integrate Surrealism into multiple disciplines, fostering new perspectives and dialogues.
Please fill out your proposal form by Monday, November 13, 2023.
For further queries, do get in touch with us by emailing at conferences@labrc.co.uk (kindly allow 2-3 days to respond).