Surrealist Erotica: Birthday Serenade // inspired by Dorothea Tanning [slightly NSFW]
The next episode in the Surrealist Erotica series is inspired by Dorothea Tanning.
Surrealist Erotica // Dorothea Tanning (preview) from Joan Pope on Vimeo.
I focused on Tanning's use of doors and sunflowers as a recurring theme in her paintings. For the first part, I tried to recreate the vibe of her painting Birthday in particular.
Birthday by Dorothea Tanning
In the second part, I was recreating her painting The Mirror:
The Mirror by Dorothea Tanning
Another one of her most famous works is called Eine Kleine Nachtmusick after a Mozart piece by the same name.
Eine Kleine Nachtmusick by Dorothea Tanning
In this painting we see both symbols together. For the soundtrack of this episode, I chose to make a remix that sampled the Mozart song to acknowledge its influence on Tanning.
(You can download it for free on Bandcamp)
Some of my other references for the video:
And for the projection I used some of Tanning's more abstract paintings:
There is a very short sequence in the episode where I paint Tanning's husband's name on the door in a heart. I hate, and I'm sure she did too, that she is often overshadowed by him... but while I acknowledge his skills and influence in the Surrealist circle, I don't foresee an episode dedicated to him because he doesn't inspire me in a direct way. Because of his notoriety I really wanted to include him in the series, but I decided to reference him here instead.
Older posts about the Surrealist Erotica series:
Surrealist Erotica: Dream of Venus, inspired by Salvador Dali
Juliet // inspired by Juliet Man Ray and Man Ray
Surrealist Erotica: Erotique Voilee
Heir, inspired by Kiki de Montparnasse and Man Ray
"Nude with shells 1925" // inspired by Man Ray
Surrealist Erotica: Imagine A Bullfight for You Alone // inspired by Laure
Surrealist Erotica // The Doll: inspired by Hans Bellmer
Surrealist Erotica // The Mask: inspired by Man Ray
Surrealist Erotica: The Witch // inspired by Maya Deren
Electricity by SexDeathRebirth / Man Ray
In Memory of Nusch Eluard
Meret Oppenheim inspired gloves
The Years Lie In Wait For You, inspired by Dora Maar
Andre Masson's Mannequin
Surrealist Erotica: Acephale // inspired by Andre Masson and Georges Bataille
Surrealist Erotica: Elsa Schiaparelli Part 1 (preview)
Surrealist Erotica: Meret Oppenheim part 1 (preview)
Recreation of hands painted by Picasso/photographed by Man Ray
Surrealist Erotica: Facile // inspired by Paul Eluard, Nusch Eluard, and Man Ray
qu'est-ce que le surrealisme?