I hope you will be able to join us on
Saturday 30th May, 11.15am (for about an hour & a half)
at The Beecroft Art Gallery, Southend-on-Sea.
as we continue our research into the ‘long decade’ of 1950s Britain, from the end of World War II to Pop Art.
This month we’ll look at the ideas and paintings of post-war British Surrealists, in particular the art of Desmond Morris (the Scientist) and Ithell Colquhoun (the Occultist).
Left: Desmond Morris (1928-2026) The Last Serenade [1959; desmond-morris.com]
Right: Ithell Colquhoun (1906–1988) Autumnal Equinox [1949; Rediscovering Art by Women; artuk.org]
There’ll be plenty to see & discuss as always!
Tickets are £10 (cash) on the door and include coffee & a biscuit at The Jazz Centre afterwards.
Looking forward to seeing you!
***
A new book that may be of interest in this context: Surrealism of Angst: Emmy Bridgwater by Silvano Levy (Paul Holberton Publishing)
Surrealism of Angst explores the extraordinary work of Emmy Bridgwater (1906–1999), the British Surrealist artist who has long been unjustly overlooked. Born in Birmingham, Bridgwater became associated with the Birmingham Surrealists in 1937 and joined the London Surrealist Group three years later. Her haunting imagery—sinister birds, savage cats, scenes of mutilation and violation—forms a visual language of disquiet and emotional intensity. This book reclaims Bridgwater’s place in the Surrealist canon, revealing a profound and often unsettling vision that is as innovative as it is affecting.
And Emmy Bridgwater’s art will be included in an exhibition “Surreal Solihull” at the Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham from 24 Oct 2026 to 10 Jan 2027.
thecommonviewer 