When you hear "surrealism", you might first think of Dalí's melting clocks or his Hummer telephone. But did you know that the Surrealists also fought against fascism? You can find out more about the political dimension of the art movement in the current exhibition "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Anti-Fascism " at the Lenbachhaus.

Surrealiswhat? - More than melting watches

In recent years, Surrealism has often been dismissed as an unworldly interpretation of dreams and its most famous representatives as escapist European art elites. The exhibition at the Lenbachhaus breaks with this cliché and shows that there is far more to Surrealism than an aesthetic gimmick.

Many surrealists created art to break boundaries and question structures - not only artistically, but above all socially and politically. They were not only dreamers, but also activists who built political networks and demanded radical freedom.

Divided into 14 episodes, the exhibition shows Surrealism as a multifaceted, internationally networked movement that unfolded in different contexts as creative resistance against political oppression - from Prague to Cairo to Martinique and Mexico. It not only shows works of art but also uses multimedia to tell stories of exile, persecution and the fight for freedom.

In addition to works by well-known greats such as Max Ernst, Picasso and Magritte, less familiar positions such as those of Óscar Domínguez, Leonora Carrington and Dora Maar are also depicted.

Image credits: Wall module_VacancyGermany1: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Antifascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024. Photo: Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus (1), ÁlvarezBravoManuel1_Exhibition_view1: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Antifascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024. Photo: Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus (2), LamWilfredo_Exhibition view1: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Antifascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024. photo: Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus (3)

"But live here? No thanks" - Tocotronic and the question: stay or go?

Imagine you are on a ship, somewhere between Marseille and Martinique. The world around you is on fire - politically, socially, emotionally. Next to you are the greatest artists of your generation. Together, you are fleeing a Europe torn apart by National Socialism. And despite all the fear, you create art.

A central chapter of the exhibition tells of a crossing in 1941, during which artists such as André Breton, Germaine Krull and Remedios Varo were able to leave Marseille to escape the Nazis. Many surrealist artists showed solidarity with oppressed people around the world and were forced to leave their homeland sooner or later due to their activist work. Their exile took them to many places: New York, Santo Domingo, Puerto Rico. For some, it was a real odyssey. Many artists created works in exile or on the run that still have an impact today. The exhibition title recalls these stories of escape: "No thanks" - to a life under fascism.

Incidentally, the title is inspired by the Tocotronic song of the same name from 2005. In "Aber hier leben, nein danke", the Hamburg band sings about rejecting a system that is incompatible with their own values. A topic that is not only relevant back then, but also today.

Image credits: Wandmodul_Ueberfahrt: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Antifascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024. Photo: Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus (1), MassonAndré_Exhibition view2: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Antifascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024. Photo: Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus (2), LamWilfredo_Exhibition view1: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Antifascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024. photo: Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus (3)

Lee Miller in Hitler's bathtub: Surreal moments in history

Another highlight of the exhibition are the photographs by Lee Miller. First a Vogue model, then Man Ray's muse, the artist eventually became one of the few accredited female war photographers and documented the events of the war, the Allied invasion and the liberation of Germany during the Second World War. She later took an iconic picture of herself in Hitler's bathtub, which you can admire in the exhibition.

You can also find out more about Lee Miller in the film The Photographer with Kate Winslet, which celebrated its European premiere at the Munich Film Festival last year.

Image credits: MillerLee_Exhibition_view1: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Anti-Fascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024 © Lee Miller Archives, England 2024. all rights reserved. leemiller.co.uk. Photo: Lukas Schramm, Lenbachhaus . MillerLee_Exhibition view1: Exhibition view "But live here? No thanks. Surrealism + Antifascism", Lenbachhaus, 2024 © Lee Miller Archives, England 2024. all rights reserved. leemiller.co.uk. Photo: Simone Gänsheimer, Lenbachhaus

Why this exhibition is important

You should not miss this exhibition if you are in the mood for a cultural experience that is not just a classic museum visit, but feels like a dialog with fascinating people who have had experiences that are still relevant today. The stories of these artists can remind us that freedom and art are inextricably linked - and that it is crucial to say "no thank you" at the point where our values are threatened.

📍Lenbachhaus

⏰ Until March 30, 2025

Click here for the exhibition
This content has been machine translated.