Francis Picabia / Dada / Surrealism

- French writer and painter
- Major figure of Dada movement in France and USA
- Associated with Cubism
- Briefly associated with Surrealsim
- "Picabia continued his involvement in the Dada movement through 1919 in Zürich and Paris, before breaking away from it after developing an interest in Surrealist art. He denounced Dada in 1921, and issued a personal attack against Breton in the final issue of 391, in 1924."
- Looking at the dates, 'Alarm Clock' was created when Picabia was involved with Dada, hence the random subject nature of the piece. Taking objects and changing / removing their use. These mechanical pieces that he's drawn are not pretty, colourful images that people were used to seeing, they are useful objects that have no use in this piece of artwork.
- 'Otaiti' was painted when Picabia was more involved with the Surrealists. As you can see in the painting, there are multiple images drawn on top of each other, making it quite a dream-like piece.

http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/francis-picabia-1766

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Picabia

http://www.dadart.com/dadaism/dada/011-dada-francis-picabia.html

'Alarm Clock' 1919
Ink on paper

'Otaiti' 1930
Oil paint and resin on canvas