Bowler hats, green apples and pipes have descended upon Sydney, as the works of Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte (1898-1967) are showcased in Australia for the first time.
From Saturday, art enthusiasts in Sydney can enjoy a retrospective featuring around 100 paintings by René Magritte, made possible through close collaboration with the Magritte Foundation in Brussels.
It journeys from the artist's first avant-garde explorations and commercial works in the 1920s, to his groundbreaking contributions to surrealism, his surprising provocations of the 1940s, and the renowned paintings of his final years, before his death in 1967.
Major works such as 'The Empire of Lights' (1954), 'Golconda' (1953), and 'The Lovers' (1928) have been brought to Australia's largest city, and will be on show throughout the Australian summer, until 9 February 2025.
An exhibition on the work of Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte is set to open at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, Friday 25 October 2024. Credit: Belga / Marie-Pauline Desset
"This is an unprecedented exhibition in Australia, and it is a significant retrospective of the artist's work, including paintings, gouaches, drawings and objects," said Charly Herscovici, President of the Magritte Foundation, during a press conference at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Herscovici praised the "enthusiastic" reception in Sydney: "Australia was very eager for this exhibition, and the organisers went to great lengths to secure it. They have won me over."
He confirmed that "there are around 100 pieces on display here in Sydney for the first time," many of which have come directly from Brussels.
"Some paintings belong to the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium, including the Magritte Museum, and several collectors who loaned their works to the museum have agreed to have them sent here to Sydney," he said.
