Using today’s Midjourney prompt we are going to create some weird gadget fish. Step-aside Salvador!
Surreal Gadgets in Art
Surreal gadgets are often depicted as whimsical, absurd, or even eerie contraptions that challenge our understanding of reality and the laws of physics. They can take on various forms, ranging from intricate mechanical devices to everyday objects with unexpected functionalities or impossible features. The artists who create these surreal gadgets aim to disrupt conventional thinking and evoke a sense of wonder, mystery, and contemplation in their viewers.
Key aspects:
1. Hybridity: Surreal gadgets often combine unrelated objects or merge organic and mechanical elements, creating hybrid entities that blur the boundaries between the natural and the artificial.
2. Functionality: These gadgets may appear to have specific functions or purposes, but they rarely adhere to the laws of practicality or logic. They challenge our preconceived notions of how objects should operate.
3. Symbolism: Surreal gadgets are not merely whimsical creations; they often carry symbolic meanings or represent the artist's commentary on societal issues, psychological states, or philosophical concepts.
4. Absurdity: Surreal art revels in the absurd and the illogical, and these gadgets reflect that aspect by presenting unlikely or even nonsensical combinations.
5. Surrealism and Dadaism: Surreal gadgets are closely related to the Dada movement, which preceded surrealism. Both movements sought to rebel against societal norms and embrace the irrational and nonsensical in their art.
6. Influence on Pop Culture: Surreal gadgets and imagery have had a significant impact on popular culture, influencing various art forms, literature, films, and video games. The dreamlike and imaginative qualities of surreal gadgets continue to captivate and inspire artists in various fields.
A classic example of a surreal gadgetin art is Salvador Dalí's "Lobster Telephone" (1936): This artwork features a functioning telephone with a lobster replacing the traditional receiver. The juxtaposition of these unrelated objects creates a sense of uncanniness and challenges our expectations of everyday items.
Surreal gadgets continue to be an intriguing and thought-provoking subject in art, inviting viewers to explore the boundaries of imagination and embrace the unexpected. Through these fantastical creations, surrealism encourages us to question the limitations of our rational minds and embrace the wonders of the unconscious.
Rather than lobsters, today, our surreal art focuses on fish!
Example Images
Here is what we are going to create. See if you can guess what gadget they are (1 point for each, but you get 5 points for the last one! )
Midjourney Prompt
So here is the prompt I used:
Base Prompt
a [SUBJECT], in the style of sculptures, surrealpunk, vibrant, high-energy imagery, --ar 3:2
/settings: Version 5.2 and Stylize Med.
So for the example images…
fish coffee maker
fish car
fish computer
fish telephone
fish television
fish toothbrush
What Next?
As always, make the prompt your own and try a little tweak or two. If you want a different style, just swap out the reference to sculpture, or alternatively leave it out.
tiger smartphone
turtle aeroplane
a [SUBJECT], surrealpunk, vibrant, high-energy imagery, --ar 3:2
Andy, serious, HOW do you come up with this ideas? I'd be ok upgrading my subscription to "Andy will tell you where he gets his ideas from" in the style of the meme "shut up and take my money" hahahaha <3 <3 AMAZING!