Welcome to a journey that transcends reality and delves into the uncharted territories of art. Today, we embark on an exploration of the intriguing Intrarealist movement, where boundaries blur and the unimaginable becomes tangible.
The Genesis of Intrarealism
Intrarealism, a lesser-known but captivating art movement, emerged as a response to conventional artistic norms. Rooted in the belief that reality is merely one layer of existence, Intrarealists sought to depict the unseen, the subconscious, and the surreal in their work. This movement challenged the traditional confines of art, inviting viewers to question their perception of reality.
A manifesto was written in 1967 by the creator of the movement Abel Vallmitjana and soon attracted a strong following of artists of all genres from painters, sculptors, and poets to filmmakers including JD Schellinger and Federico Fellini.
GRUPPO INTRAREALISTA, modern art movement
Published by Firenze - Barcellona, 1967 Barcellona (febbraio 1967) The original members were:
Federico Fellini, José Agustín Goytisolo, critic José Corredor Matheos, painter Armando Cardona Carandell, Australian poet Robert Preston Cordukes, artis Jaime Cubells, sculptor Novello Finotti, painter Silvano Girardello, sculptor Gian Lorenzo Mellini, painter Carlos Mensa, American Norman D. Narotzky, the previously cited Cesáreo Rodríguez Aguilera, painter Guido Rossi, draughtsman Carlo Santachiara, sculptor Oscar Staccioli, Renzo Tortelloni, painter Abel Vallmitjana, who built this movement, Jorio Vivarelli, Giovanni Bassi and, last but not least, the Catalan philosopher and critic Arnaldo (Arnau) Puig.
Unveiling the Essence of the Intrarealism Modern Art Movement
At the core of Intrarealism lies a fascination with the unknown. Artists of this movement sought to capture the essence of dreams, emotions, and thoughts that transcend the tangible world. Through their artworks, they aimed to transport the audience into a realm where imagination reigns supreme, blurring the lines between the known and the enigmatic.
The Intriguing Elements of Intrarealist Art
It was a movement born in Spain but spread over the entire Mediterranean under the premise of absolute liberty of action for those attracted to its principles and intellectual ambitions. Intrarealism unlike Surrealism, did not expel those who were disobedient or did not worship the Father. The first exhibition dedicated to this movement [Intrarealism] took place at the Palazzo Strozzi in Florence (1967). “In the history of the art of our time there are moments in which there is a need to express something new, and to express it differently,” wrote Cesáreo Rodríguez in the catalogue of this first exhibit. “There was a feeling of restlessness, of desire, but a crystallisation into concrete expressive forms was lacking. The creating artist was in charge of taking the first steps down the new path which, at the same time, or slightly later, the critic or the intellectual will point at and name, using the term that will acquire a character and permanence of its own. If this happened with Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, Surrealism, and with so many other significant movements, an analogous process was to be expected for Intrarealism. The fact that this movement uttered its first words in Spain, that it was named there, that an important group of artists and an important number of critics, poets, writers and intellectuals identified with the purpose of this new movement should not seem at all strange— taking into consideration its purposes and Spain’s current and historical reality.” ( exert from Journey to the Center of the Earth- by Laura Revuelta)
The Intrarealism Modern Art Movement Manifesto points;
“There is a deeper reality—more authentic, more valid than the other, than the one that caters to us day by day through newspapers or any other means of information and that we, routinely, make ours.” “Intra-history is what is alive, set against what is dead in the manual or self-serving thesis.” “Consciousness will be an instrument to work with. It is not enough to enter into the wide and tumultuous field of the subconscious; experience and feelings must be guided.” “It is not a question of following the compliment of a trivial realism, on the contrary: it is a question of transcending, penetrating and revealing reality’s background.” “Nothing is more opposed to the path that the world of the visual arts would take to reach this intimate reality than what is commonly known as pop-art.” “Faced with a realism of appearances (Naturalism), faced with a realism of luminosity (Impressionism), faced with a subconscious and gratuitous realism (Surrealism), faced with an emotional or limited-scope technically-refined realism achieved in the lab (Informalism), we proclaim a realism that stems from an inner reality, fused with the deeper and hidden outer reality.” “After reality is discredited, a longing for realism emerges.” “The paths will be dictated by the needs of each artist’s conscience and individual freedom, guided towards the collective aim of revealing, in its intensity or in all its dreadfulness, the most hidden and, simultaneously, most authentic realities.”How right Brendan Prendeville is! Realism has many meanings, some of which are contradictory. With Intrarealism, a new one was born at the end of the nineteen-sixties. ( exert from Journey to the Center of the Earth- by Laura Revuelta)
Embracing the Unconventional
Intrarealism challenges us to look beyond the surface and seek meaning in the depths of our psyche. It prompts us to question reality, inviting us to explore the hidden corners of our imagination and confront the mysteries that lurk within. Through its unconventional approach, this movement challenges us to expand our perceptions and embrace the enigmatic aspects of our existence.
You can learn more about Juan Antonio Guirado and his Intrarealism paintings by watching the educational video channel HERE
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