Surrealist Art, an exhibition of 180 artworks of Surrealism, including masterpieces of Salvador Dali and other renowned surrealists, opens to the public here at Te Papa, the national museum of New Zealand Saturday and runs till Oct. 31.

According to Te Papa, Surrealist Art is the largest surrealist exhibition ever shown in New Zealand. The last significant surrealist show toured to Auckland in 1972.

The iconic surrealist masterpieces borrowed from Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the Netherlands include major works by artists such as Salvador Dali, Marcel Duchamp, Max Ernst, Rene Magritte, among others.

At the heart of the exhibition is a group of Salvador Dali's most important paintings. It is the first time that any of these paintings have been seen in New Zealand.

Courtney Johnston, Te Papa's Chief Executive, is delighted that New Zealanders will get this rare opportunity to see some of the world's most important surrealist works.

"The exhibition highlights the creative, influential and revolutionary nature of these artists and their work," Ms Johnston said.

Not only paintings and sculptures, the exhibition showcases a diversity of surrealism, including cutting-edge film, photography, design, and more.

Te Papa's Head of Art Charlotte Davy says that surrealism sought to disrupt, unsettle, and provoke.

"Surrealist artists tried to create a new kind of reality which was centred around dreams," Ms Davy says.

"Visitors will be struck by the power of Surrealist ideas which are still incredibly relevant today - both politically and as an influence on contemporary artists."

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