books, articles, films and media for a dose of magic and surreality (volume two)
dear coven,
i hope may has been treating you well. personally, i have spent a large part of the month outdoors, visiting gardens and manor houses. one of the biggest benefits of living in kent is the proximity to such places, it is the garden of england, after all. this time of the year is my favourite - the flowers are in full bloom, there are still traces of blossoms in the trees, there is a softness in the air, but an uncertainty too. one week the sun warms our days and confirms to us that winter is so far that we can barely recall why we needed our wool hats and puffy coats. the next, grey clouds and the threat of rain reminds us that spring is ever-changing, that life cannot survive under constant shine, it needs the darkness and the wet.
i have been thinking a lot about the natural landscape, the magic it holds, the scents it carries, the colours that it brings, and how easily we move through life without noticing. last month i presented a list of books, articles, and media that you can consume that can add a dose of surreality and magic to everyday existence. you can read this post here. this month, i bring yet another list, one inspired by nature, magic, and surreality. with the hope that it can inspire you to move through life with an acute awareness, that it can make you notice, not simply exist.
books:
forbidden territories by eleanor clayton, simon wallis, anna reid, tor scott, patricia allmer
surrealism was far more than an art movement. it was a form of looking. a way of seeing that surpassed the need for rationale. the 1920s and 1930s saw significant development not just in art and literature, but in science. this book explores the surrealist view of the landscape and its links to ecology and politics.
the book of english magic by philip carr-gomm and richard heygate
england has a rich history of magical lore and practice. this books covers this history in an approachable and structured manner. its chronological order introduces how magic in england moved through the centuries and across the country. it includes historical records, as well as modern-day interviews with practitioners. each chapter has suggestions of magical activities you can participate in, locations you can visit, and a resources section, should you want to investigate a specific topic further.
the history of magic by kurt seligmann
seligmann was instrumental to the surrealists as he introduced a large majority of them to magical concepts. he gifted this book to leonora carrington and he instructed andré breton, surrealism’s founder, on the meaning of tarot cards. the history of magic follows the development of magic across the world. while it is not the most modern historical record of magic, if you wish to understand the view that the surrealists would have had of the occult, this is a great place to start.
articles:
celebrating damascena at bulgaria’s rose festival
my home country, bulgaria, is one of the biggest rose oil producers in the world. the damask rose can be found in the valley of kazanlak, karlovo and kalofer. this article goes over the history of the bulgarian rose, rose picking rituals, and the rose festival, which takes place in the first weekend of june.
esotericism, wisdom and satanism: goats in religion and folklore by
a consideration of the representation of the goat across cultures and belief systems. an animal whose liminal existence has been glorified and demonised across the centuries.
the ruin, anglo-saxon landscapes and bodies, the borders you cross when you become a broken thing by
emily’s translation of the ruin, a breathtaking poem about a structure which sits empty, is melancholy, romantic, filled with decay and earthly beauty.
why did gloucestershire attract so many modern british artists? by angela summerfield
this rural area of britain holds a significance to the development of modernist painting. angela summerfield consider why this particular landscape was so appealing to so many artists.
scientific, sexual and sentimental: what frida kahlo saw in the orchid by erica hannickel
erica hannickel’s books examines the orchid as a muse. in this article, the orchid is considered within the works of frida kahlo. kahlo proclaimed she paints flowers so they will not die, in doing so, she breathed her own life into her vibrant paintings.
the magic surrealism of ithell colquhoun by amy hale
a consideration of the paintings of ithell colquhoun and the profound magic behind them. if you are based in the uk, tate britain will be exhibiting her work from the 13th of june up until october, so be sure to add this event to your to-do list if you’re yearning for a day at an art gallery. her work is drenched in the occult, punctuated by natural forms and breathtakingly enchanting.
british surrealists and the natural world by laura smith
surrealism in britain was very concerned with the landscape and the natural world - not surprising when you consider that these artists witnessed land being destroyed by war. furthermore, surrealism in britain was just giving a name to something that already existed, the subversion of the social order and the landscape was well-developed in britain before the movement’s formation.
watching:
the exterminating angel (1962) by luis buñuel
an upper-class dinner pary. decaying flowers. entrapment and societal degradation.
wild strawberries (1957) by ingrid bergman
empty existence, regret. this film does not necessarily offer comfort, but if you find yourself in an existential crisis, it lets you be seen.
‘my dress hangs there’ - frida kahlo as fashion icon. a lecture by michelle finamore
the unveiling of frida kahlo’s closet has allowed for a more intimate exploration of how she constructed a distinctive look, michelle finamore examines the artist’s sense of style.
de chirico answers questions on art and painting in his studio - he is very grumpy and to the point. a pleasure to watch.
paul nash – war, surrealism and british landscapes
an introduction to how paul nash viewed the british landscape as mythical, ancient, and symbolic.
leonora carrington and the house of fear (1992) by kim evans
a documentary on leonora carrington and her work with interviews from the artist in her home in mexico.
the folklore of flowers, the flower fairy garden
a look into the flowers that we can grow in our homes and gardens, and the fairy-lore behind them.
listening:
…and that is all for this month’s recommendations. i hope that you take these with you and that they add that much needed dose of magic and surreality to your days.
may has been a month of drastic change for me, which can be terrifying. that is precisely why in moments where i am gripped with fear i try to remind myself of the landscape i reside in, of how it changes and how it is in constant flux around me. the uncertainty itself can bring comfort, as it is the most natural state of being. i hope you find solace in this too.
thank you for reading. if you wish to read about art through the prism of magic, consider joining the coven by subscribing to this newsletter and following its visual companion on instagram.
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de chirico is such a mood. i don't know if it gets across in the english translation but the sarcasm masked as grumpiness is brilliant (hence the dumb questions of the interviewer, which are definitely on purpose imo)
a treat ! beautiful newsletter 💌
also from ‘the garden of england’ & love surrealism to my core