“Surrealism had a great effect on me because then I realised that the imagery in my mind wasn’t insanity. Surrealism to me is reality.”
- October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980
- British
- Musician, Songwriter, Peace Activist, Founding Member of The Beatles
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Quote
“Surrealism had a great effect on me because then I realised that the imagery in my mind wasn’t insanity. Surrealism to me is reality.”
Explanation
John Lennon reveals how surrealism validated his inner creative world, helping him understand that the vivid, unconventional images in his mind were not madness, but a form of artistic and emotional truth. Rather than dismissing surrealism as dreamlike or detached, Lennon embraces it as a means of expressing reality more honestly and intuitively than conventional logic allows. For him, surrealism offered freedom and legitimacy to his imaginative instincts.
This perspective aligns with Lennon’s work, both musically and personally. From experimental lyrics in songs like “I Am the Walrus” to his visual artwork and collaborations with Yoko Ono, he consistently blurred the line between rational structure and chaotic vision, using absurdity and symbolism to confront deeper truths about the self and society. Surrealism became a lens through which subjective experience and raw emotion were not only acceptable, but vital.
In a modern context, Lennon’s quote resonates with ongoing conversations about creativity, mental health, and unconventional thinking. It affirms that not all inner visions need to be rationalized or restrained, and that authentic expression may appear strange to others but still reflect profound reality. His embrace of surrealism champions the idea that the subconscious is not a distortion of life—it is part of its deepest truth.
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