“Dear Julien, P. S. to my recent letter: Do you know Paalen’s work? I suppose that you have seen some reproductions. Among the young Surr[ealists]’s he ought to come out— he paints scenes “for” a sorcerer (you never see the witches). All this to hope that you might show him in N.Y.” - Marcel Duchamp to Julien Levy,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, San Francisco - Weinstein Gallery is pleased to present Wolfgang Paalen - Scenes for a Sorcerer. This comprehensive exhibition features over forty works, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures spanning the artist's four-decade career from 1927 – 1958. Wolfgang Paalen (1905-1959) was a prominent Austrian-born artist, writer, and philosopher known for his influential contributions to the Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist movements. Born in Vienna, Paalen's early exposure to the city's rich artistic and intellectual environment fueled his interest in avant-garde ideas. He initially aligned himself with the Abstract-Creationists, then was embraced by André Breton and joined the Surrealist movement in 1935, actively participating in exhibitions and publishing articles in their journals. However, Paalen's unique vision soon led him to forge his own artistic path.
In 1942, Paalen lived in exile in Mexico City, where he established the pivotal artistic and theoretical magazine "Dyn." Through this publication, he introduced his revolutionary ideas to a global audience, advocating for a synthesis of modern art, anthropology, and the cosmos. The magazine served as a forum for groundbreaking discussions on subjects ranging from abstract art and primitivism to the philosophy of aesthetics. Paalen's editorship of "Dyn" showcased his intellectual prowess, further solidifying his reputation as a trailblazing thinker within the art world.
In 1950, Paalen established, with Gordon Onslow Ford and Lee Mullican, the Dynaton movement in Mill Valley, California, which sought to create a bridge between abstraction and the spiritual. This movement emphasized the interplay between science, mysticism, and art, embracing a holistic approach beyond conventional artistic boundaries. His innovative theories on art's connection to the cosmos, as well as his creation of the automatic technique fumage, greatly influenced subsequent generations of artists, particularly in New York's burgeoning Abstract Expressionist school, including Robert Motherwell, Barnett Newman, Gerome Kamrowski, William Baziotes, and Jackson Pollock.
The exhibition invites the viewer to experience the intersection of Paalen's artistic ingenuity and his philosophical inquiry. It challenges us to examine the profound interconnectedness of artistic expression and the enigma of human cognition. Paalen beckons us to voyage into his creative cosmos, inviting us to emerge with renewed perspectives on art, philosophy, and the indefatigable mysteries of existence.
Paalen's works can be found in the permanent collections of many museums in both Europe and America, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Tate Britain, London; Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City; Art Institute of Chicago, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York; and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Most recently, he was featured in the exhibitions Enchanted Modernity: Surrealism & Magic at the Peggy Guggenheim, Venice and Museum Barberini, Potsdam, and the retrospective exhibition Wolfgang Paalen: An Austrian Surrealist in Paris and Mexico at the Belvedere Museum in Vienna.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a PDF catalogue with an essay by Andreas Neufert, curator of Wolfgang Paalen - The Austrian Surrealist in Paris and Mexico, and author of PAALEN - Life and Work, Volumes I, II, & III.
