Unveiling the Surrealism of Remedios Varo’s Magical Paintings

Origins

Born María de los Remedios Alicia Rodriga Varo y Uranga in Anglès, Girona, Spain in 1908, she was introduced to the world of drawing at an early age by her engineer father, which heavily informed her artistic pursuits. She was influenced by the literary works of Alexandre Dumas, Jules Verne, and Edgar Allan Poe, sparking a vivid imagination within her. Like many artists, Varo’s initial creations were sketches of her family and self-portraits, crafted when she was just 15, each signed and dated—evidence of her early recognition of her artistic identity.

Despite being raised by a devout Catholic mother, Varo resisted the strictures of her religious upbringing and instead gravitated towards the realms of magic, occult practices, alchemy, mythology, and science. Her studies took her to the School of Arts and Crafts followed by the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in San Fernando in Madrid.

Remedios Varo’s European Era

While Varo’s artistic journey gained greater momentum in Mexico, her formative years in Europe were crucial in shaping her distinctive Surrealist style. In 1931, she traveled to Paris, later returning to Barcelona and residing in Madrid, where she visited the Museo del Prado and was inspired by Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights. She crossed paths with literary figures like Federico García Lorca, Salvador Dalí, and Luis Buñuel, further enriching her experience. Varo’s early marriage to artist Gerardo Lizarraga in 1930 eventually ended in divorce.

Varo engaged in various experimental techniques, actively encouraging her friends to create art collaboratively during games she conducted, such as cadavres exquis (exquisite corpses). Although the title may seem dark, this creative process involved assembling randomly selected components from each participant to develop a cohesive artwork. This interactive approach allowed her to explore André Breton’s concepts of art and collaboration.

Fleeing the Authoritarian Regime

As the Spanish Civil War erupted alongside Franco’s totalitarian rule, Varo made her way back to France, accompanied by her partner, Benjamin Péret, who was also a prominent Surrealist. They resided in Paris and Marseille, where their relationship allowed her access to the Surrealist community, which often marginalized women, labeling them as femmes enfants (girl-like women). Nonetheless, Varo navigated these biases successfully, emerging as a respected member of the group. She contributed to their publications and participated in exhibitions, such as the Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme en la Galerie des Beaux-Arts. During her time in Paris, she regularly frequented the Louvre Museum and delved into various esoteric practices.

One notable example of her experimental techniques is The Soul of the Mountains, created using fumage. This innovative method involved utilizing candle smoke to outline forms, playing with randomness to inspire creativity.

Her time in France concluded as Nazi forces invaded the country, leading to her subsequent arrest alongside Péret. After her release, Varo escaped to Mexico in 1941.

Remedios Varo in Mexico

Varo was among the many Spanish refugees who found a new home in Mexico in the 1940s, where she produced her most significant and acclaimed works. Here, her style flourished, embracing Surrealist themes such as dreams, magic, esotericism, the subconscious, and mysticism. These ideas permeated both her art and day-to-day life; her studio was often adorned with stones and crystals that inspired her creative process.

Her exhibiting career took root in 1955 at the Diana Gallery in Mexico City, with her first solo exhibition following just a year later.

Varo’s Friendship with Leonora Carrington

During her time in exile in Mexico, Varo’s relationship with English painter Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) blossomed from distant acquaintanceship to deep friendship. They initially met in Paris, but their shared experiences as exiles forged a lasting bond. Both artists resonated with similar thematic interests that connected them to the Surrealist movement, resulting in artworks that, while distinct, reflected their shared vision. Carrington even based a character in her book The Hearing Trumpet on Varo, illustrating their close collaboration that extended beyond art into shared moments in the kitchen and life outside their art practices.

Another important friendship for Varo was with photographer Kati Horna, a Hungarian-born artist who captured moments featuring both Varo and Carrington. The photograph highlighted their collective creative energy and close-knit relationship.

Legacy of Remedios Varo

Varo passed away prematurely in 1963 in Mexico City at the age of 55 due to a heart attack, leaving her friends, including Carrington, in profound shock. Fortunately, her enchanting artworks endure, offering a glimpse into her extraordinary and whimsical universe.