Surreal Futurism

There have been sporadic efforts and achievements that signify a deeper synthesis in art within the modernist paradigm; perhaps the most coherent and interesting expression of a deeper understanding was seen in Surrealism and Futurism. These genres are commonly thought of as being scientific in the positivist sense -- Surrealism via Psychoanalysis and Futurism via Technology -- but the fundamental science upon which these works were based could be more accurately described as a purely transcendental interpretation of the psycho-technical aspect of civilization; i.e., a uniquely modern, anti-abstract transcendental aesthetic.

Both Surrealism and Futurism were styles fraught with danger, aesthetically, and both suffered abuses -- Surrealists tended to concentrate on Freudian psychology, and Futurists tended to be excessively militaristic, for examples. It seems that if we were to carefully eliminate these vices, and synthesize these two genres, we would arrive at a powerful credo worthy of artistic exploration. The combination of Surrealism's psychological ideal and Futurism's technological ideal could result in a post-modern Surreal Futurism, an aesthetic of technological consciousness, capable of elevating modern society from its present materialistic morass.

For a better understanding of what is being proposed, let us explore a couple fundamental aesthetic concepts. Form is a mental abstraction visually represented by lines; and lines are a visual abstraction representing directions apprehended cognitively. Pursuant to Kant, then, the structure of reality as visualized is nothing other than these directions, which are experienced as intuitive impulses, thoughts, feelings, compulsions. Obviously, this reveals a psychological potential in Futurism and a technological potential in Surrealism, warranting the concept of synthesizing the two. Surreal Futurism, then, could be universally applicable to all forms of psycho-physical experience, providing a theoretical basis for bringing man and machine back into harmony.

An important aspect of Surreal Futurism will be the acknowledgement that concepts such as motion, speed, force, and vector can induce particular psychical states; and that the artist must strive to comprehensively capture the perceived patterns of interaction of mind, matter, and energy. Thus Surreal Futurism will be a radically transcendent aesthetic and philosophy based on three principles :

In a way, Surreal Futurism will be a resurfacing of the primary ideas of Alchemical tradition, which has been submerged since the Enlightenment. Fundamental to this tradition was the notion of the "Great Work" -- the transformation of consciousness through a directed use and understanding of the forces available. In these terms, the work of art is not only an external object created by a certain learned technique, but an integral and integrating psycho-physical process uniting inner and outer realities through the symbols. What Alchemists called the Great Work -- and what Surreal Futurists shall call it -- is but the outer symbol of a profound psychological linkage. Through the intertwining of these two themes, Surreal Futurists will be able to heal some of the dividing dis-ease of our society -- man and machine, landscape and city, nature and civilization -- which has set science against spirit.

In the Surreal Futurist paradigm, the post-modern Alchemist will begin to grasp the operation of power which is Man's soul, and is incorporated into machines by extension. Thus he who wishes to handle power must first BE power. "Beauty will be convulsive or will not be at all", wrote Surrealist André Breton (Nadja). Modern man has rediscovered the experiential aesthetics of the body; now Surreal Futurists will rediscover the experiential aesthetics of extensions of the human body (the machine). The mindless enthusiasm for mere matter and blind power will be overcome with prosthetic impulses toward reflection and self-awareness about Man's expansion of his physical existence. This climax of force shall transform the totally downgraded and coagulated state of the Laws of Motion in a manner which Tantra transforms sex.

Despite their revolutionary aspirations (mostly Marxist and Fascist), the Surrealists and Futurists were very much a part of the 20th Century. Surreal Futurism, by contrast, is purely of the New Millennium. For Surreal Futurism the question of art is no longer a merely aesthetic matter; it is inseparable from the question of life itself in our technological age -- the Information Age. Whereas life in the Information Age is psycho-technological in Nature, art shall be psycho-technological as well. Man is a transformer of energy. Power can be beautiful as power.

Was the Space Shuttle intended by NASA to be beautiful? That is doubtful. It was to be an effective vehicle for powerful science; it was not designed for its style. Yet has any human being ever watched it in action and not admired its power -- a power which evolves feelings of aesthetic appreciation? The Space Shuttle is beautiful. This is the secret of a re-evaluation of technology. The builders of the Space Shuttle dealt with applied science like ancient temple builders dealt with applied magic. Surreal Futurism will lead people to the proper realization of the mysterious operations, in both endeavors, which conditioned their forms. The builders of the Pyramids, Newgrange, the Parthenon, the Pantheon, the Hagia Sophia, St. Peter's Cathedral, and the Space Shuttle, conceived their activities in terms of life; in terms of doing things; of accumulating power; of being the masters of natural forces; in order to live a fuller and more intense and freer existence -- an existence richer with power. This is magic. Such art is an immediate gesture of life, of the Will which has assumed power and relates itself to other Wills.

Initial Manifesto Of Surreal Futurism