The main premise of the exhibition is to abandon the orthodox way of thinking about Surrealism itself as a historical movement with a specific time frame in favour of treating it as a global, inclusive and diverse phenomenon. The narrative of the exhibition will begin with works from the interwar period and conclude with works by artists associated with the international Phases movement founded in the 1950s. The historical narrative will be complemented by works by female artists and contemporary artists. The exhibition will feature typical Surrealist techniques such as decalcomania, Surrealist objects, as well as a wide selection of Surrealist photography.
In addition to works from the MNW collection, the exhibition will feature works on loan from other Polish museums, including the National Museum in Wrocław, the Museum of Art in Łódź, the National Museum in Krakow, the Museum of Photography in Krakow and the Tatra Museum in Zakopane, as well as from abroad, such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, mumok - Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien in Vienna and private collections.