The famous surrealist poet lived in the village of Lot for more than fifteen years. His home is now converted into a museum presenting the exhibition “Surrealism and Alchemy” until October 30, 2023.
It is a typical medieval residence that dominates the Lot Valley. In the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, the André Breton house still keeps the memories of the famous writer and leader of surrealism.
Surrealism and Alchemy
The house was acquired by the municipality in 2016 and is now an exhibition space dedicated exclusively to surrealism. The museum is considered the first international center of the image and intellectual movement of the early 20th century and aims to bring surrealistic thoughts to life.
The people in charge of the place organize the exhibition throughout the summer Surrealism and Alchemy which presents works by contemporary artists at several locations in the village. “André Breton opposed the idea of a museum preserved in formaldehyde, we wanted to switch to the idea of a ‘house poem'”, explains Clément Gaësler, prospective monument conservator.
:quality(50)/2023/06/19/64905b95bbcd0_s-cahors-un-nouveau-centre-surrealisme-a-saint-cyrq-lapopie-4442655-00-00-07-15.jpg)
The exhibition examines in depth the relationship between Alchemy with surreal fantasy through a selection of French and European loans. Along the way, visitors can admire drawings, poems, paintings, sculptures and surprising installations, such as this giant suitcase reminiscent of the cabinet of curiosities inspired by André Breton.
:quality(50)/2023/06/19/64905c0fa9db6_malle.jpg)
Love at first sight for Saint-Cirq-Lapopie
André Breton (1896-1966) discovered the village of Lot in 1950 during a symposium organized in Cahors. He immediately falls in love with the old stone houses and the tranquility that reigns in the village. Then he decides to buy it It is a former boatman’s inn and will spend all his summers there. “Surrealism creates a reality that transcends war and misfortune. All of these works are strongly inspired by the imagination and push the usual boundaries of art and thought.”explains Laurent Doucet, manager of the André Breton house.
:quality(50)/2023/06/19/64905cab11b93_maison-andre-breton.jpg)
The residence housed the main players of the surrealist movement such as Benjamin Peret, Max Ernest, toys, man ray, but also various personalities from the world of culture such as Juliet Greco, Taos Amroucheor TedJones. When he mentioned Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, the author of Nadia (1928), from crazy love (1937) and manifestos of surrealism, wrote: “I stopped wanting to go anywhere else.”
Exhibition “Surrealism and Alchemy” until October 30, 2023 at André Breton House from Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Open every day except Tuesday: 10:30am to 12:30pm and 2:00pm to 7:00pm.
