An Idea of Surrealism: From Man Ray to Mariën
Past Exhibitions exhibition
Overview
MARUANI MERCIER is honoured to present FROM MAN RAY TO MARIËN: An Idea of Surrealism. Man Ray was a significant influence for burgeoning Surrealists, including Marcel Mariën. Exhibited for the first time at MARUANI MERCIER, Mariën was the youngest of the Belgian Surrealists and played an important role as the author of one of the first works devoted to the movement, L'activité surréaliste en Belgique (1979). Mariën’s L'oeil d’Othello (1971) in this exhibition demonstrates the affinity between the two artists, who both had a preference for using everyday objects and symbols in their work. This sculpture of an upright hand with its index finger outstretched and pointing upwards, rendered in a deep shiny black, echoes Man Ray’s Puériculture II (Rêve, January 1920), an edition he produced with none other than Marcel Zerbib. An Idea of Surrealism emphasises the similarities and differences between these two pivotal artists and is a fitting testimonial to the avant-garde movement.
This unprecedented exhibition also celebrates the extraordinary collaboration and friendship between Man Ray and his gallerist Marcel Zerbib, which began when they met in 1951. With the collaboration of Marcel Zerbib’s estate, the exhibition pays tribute to the prolific gallery owner 40 years after his death. For the first time, the unique Surrealist sculptures by Man Ray featured in the historical catalogue Objets de mon affection from 1968 are exhibited together. Man Ray developed the concept for these objects back in the 1920s, and it was Marcel Zerbib’s initiative to turn them into editions in the 1960s. As the title of the catalogue implies, these rare ready-mades and assemblages were particularly precious to the artist, and he counted them among his favourites.
The exhibition includes further museum quality artworks by Man Ray, including an iconic example of assemblage entitled Obstruction. It was created before the Arturo Schwarz edition, which is on permanent display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. First created in 1920, Obstruction is the first mobile included in art history, well before the works of Alexander Calder. Other remarkable works displayed at the gallery include Abat-Jour (1919/1964) and Indestructible Object (1923/1965) published by Edition MAT, a groundbreaking project by the artist Daniel Spoerri to produce works by avant-garde artists in series. At the time, Man Ray’s humorous art was an entirely new concept for the art world, and thrived under the support of his patrons.
Installation Views
Works
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Man Ray, Obstruction, 1920-1964
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Man RayChess Set (Objet de mon affection), 1920-196232 pieces: 16 in very dark bronze 16 in gilded bronze;
board in rosewood and mahogany99.5 x 57 x 9.5 cm
39 2/16 x 22 7/16 x 3 11/16 in -
Man RayPoids plume / Featherweight (Objet de mon affection) (M), 1960-19653 feathers, painted lead sheet18 x 24.5 x 13 cm
7 1/16 x 9 10/16 x 5 1/16 in -
Man RayPain peint ou (Blue bread - Favorite food for the blue birds) (Objet de mon affection) (M), 1958/1966Blue polyester bread on a transparent plastic board75 cm
29 8/16 in -
Man RayPuériculture II (Rêve, Janvier 1920) (Objet de mon Affection) (M), 1920/1964Bronze polychrome29 cm
11 6/16 in
Diameter: 10.0 cm -
Man RayLe manche dans la manche (ou le marteau sans maitre) (Objet de mon affection) / The Handle In A Sleeve (or The Hammer Without Master) (M), 1921-1966Hammer in a plastic milk bottle29 x 14 x 14 cm
11 6/16 x 5 8/16 x 5 8/16 in -
Man RayCadeau Modèle, Executed in 1960, this work is a unique variant based upon Cadeau of 1921Readymade iron11.7 x 17.2 x 8 cm
4 9/16 x 6 12/16 x 3 2/16 in -
Man RaySerious Man, 1965-1972Ink collage and mixed media50.8 x 33 cm
20 x 12 15/16 in -
Man Ray1969 Wood Chess Set and Presentation Case, 1969-71Thirty-two wooden chess pieces in a presentation box20.5 x 30.5 x 4 cm
8 1/16 x 12 1/16 x 1 9/16 in -
Man Ray1943-47 Chess Piece Profiles, 1943-47Vintage gelatin silver print of a drawing25.8 x 20.2 cm
10 2/16 x 7 15/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 61 x 43 x 3 cm -
Man Ray1947 Wood Chess Set on Table Outdoors, 1947Gelatin silver print10.8 x 15.3 cm
4 4/16 x 6 1/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 47.4 x 38.8 x 3 cm -
Man Ray1947 Wood Chess Set on Chess Board, 1947Gelatin silver print8.2 x 12.6 cm
3 3/16 x 4 15/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 45 x 36 x 3 cm -
Man Ray1946 Wood Chess Set on Chess Table, 1946Gelatin silver print8.25 x 12.65 cm
3 3/16 x 4 15/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 45 x 36 x 3 cm -
Man RayChess Set Design with Shaded Profiles, 1946-59Black & red ink and pencil on paper27.1 x 34.5 cm
10 10/16 x 13 9/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 4 x 47 x 3 cm -
Man RayEarly Unrealized Chess Piece Profiles Rendering, Circa 1920Graphite on two sheets of paper joined by cellophane tape20.2 x 47 cm
7 15/16 x 18 8/16 in
Frame Dimensions: 32.9 x 59.8 x 3 cm -
Man RayChess Piece Renderings for 1947 Anodized Aluminum Set, Circa 1947Ink on paper27.9 x 21.6 cm
10 15/16 x 8 8/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 40.8 x 34.3 x 3 cm -
Man RayChess Piece Profiles (Series I), Circa 1942Pencil on paper29 x 40.5 cm
11 6/16 x 15 15/16 in
Framing Dimensions: 43.3 x 56.3 x 3 cm -
Marcel MariënLa veuve progressive, 1991plastic bust, bra on wallpaper51.5 x 51.5 x 17.5 cm
20 4/16 x 20 4/16 x 6 14/16 in -
Marcel MariënLe Domicile de l'espérance, 1972wooden chair, stuffed spider, wooden painting on wallpaper123.3 x 129 x 15.5 cm
48 8/16 x 50 12/16 x 6 1/16 in -
Marcel Mariën"La Vie quotidienne" ou “Le génie est facile, 1967found objects on paper38 x 55 cm
14 15/16 x 21 10/16 in -
Marcel MariënL'air de rien, 1991wooden hammer39.5 x 21.3 x 12.5 cm
15 8/16 x 8 6/16 x 4 14/16 in -
Marcel MariënLe surmâle ( Fer à repasser), 1986silver print13 x 18 cm
5 1/16 x 7 1/16 in
passe-partout 30 x 40 cm -
Marcel MariënL'oeil d'Othello, 1971resin and wood29 x 16.5 x 16.5 cm
11 6/16 x 6 7/16 x 6 7/16 in -
Marcel MariënL'introuvable, 1937Acetate plastic and glass5 x 6.5 x 13.5 cm
1 15/16 x 2 8/16 x 5 5/16 in -
Marcel MariënLa cathédrale engloutie, 1975metal tin, bell, wax candle47.5 x 30.8 x 8 cm
18 11/16 x 12 2/16 x 3 2/16 in -
Marcel MariënL'Esprit de l'escalier, 1949Original black and white analog photograph18 x 13 cm
7 1/16 x 5 1/16 in
Sous passe-partout : 40 x 30 cm -
Marcel MariënLa lointaine descendante d'Etienne Marey (1830-1904), qui décomposa le mouvement en images, gravit lentement le premier escalier venu avec le souci de commémorer simplement - ne fût-ce qu’une seule fois - son illustre aïeul, 1830-1904Série de 11 Photographies tirage argentique original noir et blanc de 18x13 cm chacune sous passe-partout18 x 13 cm
7 1/16 x 5 1/16 in
Série de 11 Photographies de 18x13 cm chacune sous passe-partout
Publications
Video
News
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Man Ray and the Women
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From Man Ray to Mariën
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Clins d’oeil complices en Facétie
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L'EchoXavier Flament pour L'Echo Il expose Man Ray et Marcel Mariën, mais rien de surréaliste dans la gestion de ses galeries d'art qui ont...Read more