Joanna Moorhead’s Surreal Spaces: The Life and Art of Leonora Carrington is a stirring biography. It is a richly detailed account of the life and art of one of the most enigmatic and influential artists of the 20th century, chronicling a long, extraordinary life from her growing-up years in privilege in England to her rise as a leading figure in the Surrealist movement, and eventually on into her later years in Mexico, which were to bring about some of her best work.
Journalist Moorhead is a cousin of Carrington’s, and her unique perspective adds dimension to this biography, underpinned by rigorous research combined with personal anecdotes and family insights. This relationship provides immediacy and authenticity to the narrative, allowing the reader to gain a balanced view of the complexity of Carrington’s personality and individual experiences that formed her artistic vision.
The book is well-structured, taking one through various stages of Carrington’s life. Moorhead vividly brings to life the rebellious young artist who shared such a fiery affair with Max Ernst and the subsequent breakdown of her mental health. These early experiences are not merely biographical but often present pivotal moments that influenced Carrington’s Surrealist paintings, keeping the reader both captivated and aware.
What stands out most in Surreal Spaces is the closeness with which the study examines Carrington’s art. Moorhead skillfully deconstructs major pieces, providing context and interpretations that shed light on Carrington’s unique approach to Surrealism. The book is heavily illustrated and contains several reproductions from Carrington’s paintings, sculptures, and writings; the read is comprehensive in presentation and engaging.
Moorhead also discusses Carrington’s later period in Mexico, which is generally less well-documented than in other biographies. In this community of kindred spirits among artists and intellectuals, Moorhead researches how this surrounding influenced her creativity. The tone lightens as the narrative explores how Carrington’s engagement with Mexican culture influenced her art and probably casts new light on this phase of her life.
The writing style is entertaining and straightforward, so Surreal Spaces is an equally appealing read for specialists in art history and the general reader alike. The fact that Moorhead was a journalist shows in her lucid, plain prose skillfully oscillating between telling a story and presenting facts. The research is good, with abundant notes and a bibliography testifying to the seriousness of Moorhead’s scholarship.
Surreal Spaces narrates Carrington’s life and situates her in the context of the Surrealist movement and 20th-century art. Skye Moorhead presents the dynamics in the relations shared by Carrington with other surrealists, such as André Breton, Remedios Varo, and Leonor Fini, among others, giving insight into the movement’s collaborative, often turbulent nature.
In all, Joanna Moorhead’s Surreal Spaces: The Life and Art of Leonora Carrington is a consummate biography, most truly reflective of the life and times of a unique artist. That should be a must-read for those into Surrealism, feminist art history, or Leonora Carrington. With personal connection, thorough research, and insightful analysis, Moorhead has woven a tapestry of a book that is as enlightening as it is evocative. – PCR 2024
Joanna Moorhead has curated the new exhibition, Leonora Carrington: Rebel Visionary, from 12 July to 26 October 2024, Newlands House Gallery, Petworth, West Sussex, United Kingdom GU28 0DX.
Surreal Spaces: The Life and Art of Leonora Carrington Joanna Moorhead Buy Here