In the late thirties the Chilean Surrealist artist Roberto Matta painted a series of large canvases that he called inscapes: imaginary landscapes that were a projection of the internal psyche. Using the techniques of surrealist automatism and displaying his interest in non-Euclidean geometry Matta’s inscapes are vast, visionary cosmic dramas.
Along with many other Surrealists he emigrated to the United States in 1939 to escape WWII and would live there until 1948. While in New York he would, along with his fellow Surrealist Arshile Gorky (see Nighttime, Enigma and Nostalgia) influence an emerging generation of young American artists, the Abstract Expressionists, including the pioneers Robert Motherwell and Jackson Pollack. Matta would be expelled from the Surrealists due to his affair with Gorky’s wife, which the Surrealist believed contributed to Gorky’s tragic suicide.
The cosmic dimension of Matta’s painting evokes certain elements of science fiction. His influence can definitely be felt and is in fact name-checked (along with many other Surrealist artists) by the great English writer J.G Ballard, who said that science fiction should concentrate, not on outer space, but on the inner space of the mind.
cakeordeathsite 
Oh I love this. It’s so complex and infinite. I see why it feels science fiction-y. The space just left of center feels like it goes on forever. Plus you know I enjoy examining all the little details in works like this. Fantastic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you…Matta would be one of my favourite of the more abstract Surrealists. A definite feel of infinity in his works.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Time, time, where is time? What time is love? Bad timing for poor Gorky….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm are you quoting Cake back to cake
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seemed appropriate
LikeLiked by 1 person
True, glad I am quotable.
LikeLiked by 1 person
In certain situations the Cake isms are just the thing
LikeLiked by 1 person
In Cakeland
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see the sci fi element. Kinda looks like orbits. But I’m surprised he was kicked out for an affair- thought that was par for the course with these guys. 😋
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are right it was par for the course. I think it was more the timing, Gorky had been on a horrible run of bad luck and it was like kicking him when he was down. Matta painted in the same style afterwards and he was still friendly with the surrealists, and even showed with them after (I think).Breton loved expelling people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, so it’s more about knowing the best time to sleep with your friend’s spouse. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
Basically yes. If you read my link in the post on Gorky it was bad timing. Matta was later re-admitted to the Surrealists. that was funny by the way.
LikeLike
Oh, I have a hard time remembering the names but I just re-read about Gorky. That was indeed bad timing. He had a hard life too. I suspect if it was just the affair, he would have handled it better. Wow, kinda feel like Matta should have been a better friend…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Perhaps… he was a charmer though and I think the ladies had a hard time resisting.Poor Gorky indeed, though I still like Martha’s art a lot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Don’t worry about the names that is what I am here for
LikeLiked by 1 person
I appreciate your knowledge and enthusiasm and your willingness to share it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure to share
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do not know why, this painting reminds me of my house at Christmastime. Isn’t that WEIRD? haha! I love this idea: “science fiction should concentrate, not on outer space, but on the inner space of the mind.” Great post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry but I have to agree with you if your house looks like this at Christmas that is definitely weird. I also love the idea regarding inner space. J G Ballard is one of my favourite writers and his writing is even weirder than your house at Christmas time. Thank you for the lovely comments
LikeLiked by 1 person
You see that figure in the lower right, that is like a bag or an opened box. Everything is green, red and pink! A bunch of edgy shapes like stars and strings spinning around. It is like Eros came in on Christmas and made a dizzy mess of everything! I LOVE it!! This artist is obviously a genius.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like Matta very much I am surprised I haven’t written about him before. Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mr. Cake, the title of Matta’s painting is perfect, doesn’t love feel just this way? Especially when you need to hold on to something to walk across the room so you don’t go into a multidimensional orbit. So much of his work is almost unimaginable, so far out there, one can easily become transfixed while view his work. Wonderful post. ~ Miss Cranes
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Miss Cranes I love the title in fact I think I will steal it one day! Well i have shown the Surrealist influence on the abstract expressionists I think someone with the necessary knowledge and more importantly love should write about this important American movement. Matta is definitely one of the finest painters to engage in Surrealism and his vision was certainly out there. Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re most welcome Mr. Cake, oh you should use it! I neglected to mention that I would love to own this painting. I truly love Matta’s work. I did enjoy this post enormously.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you…I hope one day you own it…this would grace any living room. I wouldnt mind owning it myself
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved studying Gorky in school. He had such a tragic life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed unbearable. Thank you for the kind comments
LikeLiked by 1 person
If by chance you would like to not leave things to the imagination, I’ve posted an out take…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Over shortly
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know vertigo and I know eros. I have to say this seems fairly accurate. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
An accurate portrayal of the psyche then?
LikeLike
Gorgeous painting: and I love the ‘inner spaces of the mind’ … our dialog with our time and place must also include that dark, secretive space, flooded with darkness and potential enlightenment that we carry inside ourselves.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ballard started out as a sci-if writer and he was contrasting to the outer space of traditional sci-fi, but he was immensely influenced by the Surrealists, especially Dali, Ernst and Matta.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on lampmagician.
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always, a big thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person