Rare Show by Surrealist Artist Debuts at Art Institute

Clip: 8/16/2023 | 3m 29sVideo has Closed Captions

"Science Fictions" is on display now through Nov. 27.

Strange people occupy fantastic places in a new exhibition by Remedios Varo at the Art Institute of Chicago. The 20th century surrealist painter’s work is well known in Mexico but rarely seen in the U.S.

Aired 08/16/2023 | Rating NR

Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback

Chicago Tonight is a local public television program presented by WTTW

WTTW video streaming support provided by members and sponsors.

Open in new tab

>> ♪ ♪ >>> STRAIGHT PEOPLE OCCUPY FANTASTIC PLACES.

IN THE NEW EXHIBITION OF ARTIST -- THE PAINTING WERE MADE BY AN ARTIST WELL-KNOWN IN MEXICO BUT WHOSE WORK IS REALLY SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

PRODUCER MARC VITALI MET -- BY -- >> Reporter: THEY CONJURE IMAGES OF DREAMS AND MAGIC .

>> THERE'S ABSOLUTELY AN INTEREST IN OCCULT PRACTICES, TARRANT , MAGIC.

THERE'S A UNIQUE SPACE THAT'S ENTIRELY HER OWN AND IS VERY INTER-TEXTUAL AND SORT OF HAVE REPRESENTS TO MECHANICAL DRAWING AND MAYBE TO DEVOTIONAL ARE BUT ALSO TO ASTRONOMY, ALCHEMY, MUSIC.

>> YOU SEE SCIENCE AND MATH AND SCIENCE FICTION AND -- SHE WAS A VERY COMPLEX AND VERY CURIOUS WOMAN.

>> SHE IS REMEDIOS VARO, A SPANISH BORN PAINTER WHO SETTLED IN MEXICO CITY AFTER FLEETING WORLD WAR II.

IT'S A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO AND THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART IN MEXICO.

WE SPOKE WITH THE COCREATOR FROM HER HOME IN MEXICO CITY.

>> SHE IS PAINTING IN THE MID-1950S.

SOMETHING THAT LOOKS COMPLETELY OUT OF HER TIME.

HER PAINTINGS ARE LIKE A WHOLE NEW UNIVERSE.

SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DEFINE HER.

>> Reporter: REMEDIOS VARO FLOURISH IN MEXICO, AND A TIME WHEN EX-PATRIOTS WERE WELCOMED BY ARTIST.

>> IT WAS A VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN TO SHOW THEIR WORK AS THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.

SHE'S INTERESTED IN ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS AND BELIEF AND SHE'S INTERESTED IN THE EFFICACY OF ART.

COMING UP WITH NEW WAYS THAT SHOW HOW SOMEONE WITH A CREATIVE IMAGINATION WOULD BE ABLE TO AFFECT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CHANGE.

>> SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE PLANET AND ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY AND THINKING ABOUT FEMALE LEAD QUANTITY.

NEW POSSIBILITY TO CHANGE THINGS.

>> THERE HASN'T BEEN A MAJOR MUSEUM EXHIBITION SINCE 2000 SO WERE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS GREAT CONCENTRATION OF HER WORK HERE, ALSO INCLUDING HER NOTEBOOKS, MANY DRAWINGS THAT SHE MADE.

BOOKS FROM HER PERSONAL LIBRARY.

PAGES IN WHICH SHE WROTE DOWN SPELLS AND RECIPES.

>> HER WORK REALLY, REALLY -- HAS NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.

YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND A LONG TIME IN FRONT OF THIS PAINTING, BECAUSE THEY REALLY -- THEY HAVE THIS HISTORY IN NOT ONLY THE STORY, BUT ALSO IN THE WAY THEY WERE MADE THAT REALLY CATCHES YOUR EYE AND -- >> THE WORKS AND YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY AND THEY WERE WERE CLOSE LOOKING.

>> Reporter: FOR CHICAGO