JINDRICH HEISLER

The surrealist poet, photographer and visual artist Jindřich Heisler (1914-1953) was a major figure in the Czechoslovak avant-garde and the international Surrealist movement. Born in Chrast in 1914, Heisler first established himself as a poet in the 1930s. In 1938, he joined the Czechoslovak Surrealist group, rubbing shoulders with figures such as Jindřich Štyrský and Toyen. His first collection, "Only kestrels piss quietly on the Ten Commandments" (1939), was already a testimony to his unique style, combining poetry and dreamlike imagery.

The Second World War was a turning point in Heisler's life. As a Jew, he was forced into hiding during the Nazi occupation, a period during which he created his "photographiques", enigmatic images imbued with surrealism. In 1947, he fled Communist Czechoslovakia to settle in Paris with Toyen. In Paris, Heisler joined André Breton's Surrealist group. He took part in the "Surrealism in 1947" exhibition and contributed to the periodical "Néon". However, when confronted with the language barrier, he gradually abandoned written poetry to explore new forms of expression. His "livres-objets" (1950-51), combining words and objects, illustrate this quest for new languages. His "Alphabet" (1952), composed of letters formed by human figures, is another major artwork from this period. His lifetime work, imbued with surrealist influence and poetry, remains a source of inspiration for the generations of artists that followed him.

Jindřich Heisler died in Paris in 1953, leaving behind a rich and complex body of work. His contribution to Surrealism is now recognised, and his lifetime work is currently receiving renewed attention.