New Kendal exhibition celebrates 100 years of surrealism

Strange Gaze: Surrealism at Cross Lane Projects in Kendal brings together 16 contemporary artists from across the UK.

The exhibition is part of worldwide celebrations marking the centenary of the art movement.

The term "surrealist" was first used by French avant-garde poet Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917.

The movement aimed to balance a rational view of life with the power of the unconscious and dreams, with artists like Jean Arp, Max Ernst, René Magritte, and Salvador Dalí leading the way.

Curated by artist Rebecca Scott, the exhibition showcases dreamlike and figurative works that respond to current political and ecological issues.

The artists featured include Emily Allchurch, Hans Bellmer, Dan Coombs, Emma Cousin, Mark Fairnington, Ian Frith Powell, Martin Greenland, Dereck Harris, Denise Hawrysio, Mike Healey, James Mackie, Bex Massey, Pascal Rousson, Rebecca Scott, Perdita Sinclair, and Suzy Willey.

A spokesperson for Cross Lane Projects said: "Today’s neo-surrealism neither smoothly continues surrealism’s original projects, nor makes a clean break with them.

"Instead, it adapts the pioneers’ discourse to what each artist finds pertinent at the present juncture."

The exhibition is open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12pm to 5pm until November 12.

The gallery is located at Cross Lane in Kendal and admission is free.

For more information, visit crosslaneprojects.com.

Cross Lane Projects is an independent contemporary art gallery that presents a programme of exhibitions, projects, and events.