Comments on: surrealists in asia

Question: surrealists in asia

arcadia — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 04:07:09 -0800

Which European artists and writers visited Asia between 1900 and 1950? I am researching the influence of Buddhism on Surrealism. I'm looking for information about who actually visited Asia (India, China, Japan, or other parts). If you know anything about this, especially if you can direct me to your source, it would be much appreciated. Particularly interested in Georges Bataille, Artaud, Breton, Tzara, Eluard, Ernst, Michaux, etc. I have info. on the travels of many of these people but am always looking for more.
Thanks!

By: saladin

saladin — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:10:59 -0800

Hermann Hesse visited several Asian countries in an effort to develop his ideas on Buddhism during this time period.

By: azure_swing

azure_swing — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:48:58 -0800

Ghost Ships by Robert McNab is an account of Eluard's time in Indochina, among other things. Perhaps you already know the book.

By: dilettante

dilettante — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:55:13 -0800

Would J.G. Ballard count? He was born and spent his childhood there.

By: azure_swing

azure_swing — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:02:36 -0800

This might be outside your purview, but there's also the interesting case of the English writer Reginald Horace Blyth, who helped popularize the haiku in the West after spending half his life in Asia (Korea and Japan), and did so during the time frame you're interested in.

By: pamccf

pamccf — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:22:53 -0800

I don't know if he's much of a surrealist or what contact if any he had with the people you list, but Roerich, who falls into your time period, lived for a while in India and painted many "Asian" subjects (Tibetan, Himmalayan, Central Asian).

By: adamvasco

adamvasco — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 09:43:04 -0800

John Blofeld ?