Life is full of coincidences and incidents that are sometimes hard to grasp or explain at first. While some people might be inclined to embrace conspiracy theories in an attempt to make sense of the inexplicable, others may dismiss those confusing events with a chuckle or strive to unravel the mysteries through reasoned explanations.

Allow us to introduce you to one puzzling group on Facebook called “Accidental Surrealism”. As the moderators themselves describe it, it is a place “to share content that we find to be accidentally surreal: found, made or made to be found by accident.” From a ‘fire man’ seemingly strolling through billowing smoke to a cat perching upon clouds, this group curates a bouquet of whimsical marvels that are found, made, or crafted to be discovered by accident.

Make sure you don’t miss out on an exclusive interview with David Bate, an artist, theorist and teacher based in London, UK. With international recognition as a key scholar in the history and theory of photography and experimental visual artworks, David Bate is a distinguished artist working in the field of photography and visual arts. Scroll down to delve into the captivating realm of surrealism!

#1 Fire Happened In My Town, Notice The “Fire Man” In The Smoke?

Image credits: Nathan Souther

#2 I Hope No Kids Can See That Out Their Bedroom Window

Image credits: Ryan Kimball

#3 Is It Telling The Ground To Be Quiet?

Image credits: Zeke Le Rossignol

David Bate is currently a Professor of Photography at the University of Westminster, London, UK. His notable work, “Photography and Surrealism: Sexuality, Colonialism, and Social Dissent,” along with dozens of other books, journals, and magazine publications, demonstrates his deep understanding of the intersection between surrealism, art, and society. When asked about the relevance of surrealism in today’s art and culture, Bate emphasizes its enduring significance. “Surrealism is relevant today even more so now because so many more people everywhere have access to a camera, not just photographic specialists. In a way, surrealists liberated the idea of photography as a fantasy, as an instrument for the imagination, but using the material of reality to present it. Basically, they thought expressing our own desire should be involved in making pictures, so that we can see what we want to see in our dreams, not to portray ‘reality’.”

#4 Cloud Above Turkey

Image credits: Rio Christian

#5 Purrfect

Image credits: Uma Bridges

#6 Catdog’s Slightly Less Entertaining Spin Off Show, Dog Dog

Image credits: Nikki Thompson

As our article delves into the captivating realm of “accidentally surreal” images, it’s interesting to understand the elements that contribute to a photograph being considered surrealist. According to Bate, usually, a surrealist image is or presents a “logical contradiction”, where one thing also looks like another, but it can’t be that. “The images are often like a visual pun. So it creates confusion about what we see, one image suggests another reality we had not imagined, but can now ‘see’ confused within another idea. Sometimes the resulting image can be disturbing, a bit like a strange dream or nightmare.”

Interestingly, Bate notes that the surrealists themselves coined the term “automatic” surrealism to refer to images that appeared by themselves, much like the “accidentally surreal” images shared in this article. These images evoke a new way of seeing and imagining the world, much like the surrealists’ own artistic vision.

When it comes to key surrealist photographers, Bate identifies artists such as Man Ray, Lee Miller, Brassai, Claude Cahun, and Eli Lotar.

#7 Looks Like Some Studio Ghibli Stuff

Image credits: Holly Steindorf

#8 Vietnamese Woman Repairing A Fishing Net. Photo By Danny Yen Sin Wong

Image credits: Mike Reeves

#9 Mom, It’s Not A Phase

Image credits: Mike D. Aguirre

The evolution of photographic technology and techniques has undeniably provided photographers with new tools and possibilities to create surrealist images that challenge our perception of reality. Bate shared that early photographers sometimes worked in the darkroom to mix original prints with paint or other techniques. “Today we can use Photoshop or an application on a phone to draw or paint on an image, to mix them and make something surreal.”

#10 Peg-Ursus

Image credits: Christopher James Cunnane

#11 Smile

Image credits: Maria Fernanda Drumond

#12 The Terminator Found Enlightenment

Image credits: Ian Holmes

In conclusion, Bate summarizes the vast influence of surrealism across various domains of culture. He notes, “Surrealism has been incredibly influential on almost every sphere of culture, from cinema to fashion, anthropology and psychology, and from food to theatre, music and all forms of art.”

You can explore further insights from David Bate and delve into his body of work and artistic endeavors on his website, as well as on Instagram!

For more captivating “Accidental Surrealism” pictures, you can check out our previous articles here and here!

#13 Rice Field In Indonesia

Image credits: Nguyễn Lạc Vũ Thiên

#14 Biblically Accurate Doggo

Image credits: David Ramirez

#15 Oh God It’s Right Behind Me, Isn’t It?

Image credits: Dylan Coverdale

#16 The Tiniest Moo

Image credits: Elise Payne

#17 Rare Trunkless Tree, Spotted By My Alarmed 11 Year Old. “Mom, How Is That Tree Floating??” #truncated

Image credits: Anna Redfield

#18 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Jérémy Moulinard

#19 Is This A Building’s Wall Or A Cloudy Sky?

Image credits: Tulisa Pelé Xzibit

#20 Static Sky! Simulation Error (Sterling Migration)

Image credits: Nihal Shahriyar

#21 Is This Like Finding Jesus On Your Toast?

Image credits: Mehdi Ouzzir

#22 A Snake Being Swallowed By A Frog

Image credits: Destiny Kelly

#23 Biblically Accurate Deer

Image credits: Tanner R Gunnell

#24 Somebody Didn’t Read The Assembly Instructions Right

Image credits: Kevin McGuigan

#25 UFO Abduction On The Piste

Image credits: Joe Brady

#26 My Fiance Was Watching A Documentary And Our Cat Decided To Come Into The View

Image credits: Jesu Død

#27 That’s It! I’m Outta Here And I’m Taking My Damn Carpet With Me!

Image credits: Hannah James

#28 Paradise Flying Snake

Image credits: Donna Heimall

#29 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Jonathan Duchesne

#30 Is That A Carrot Phalanx?

Image credits: Han Arrggh

#31 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Christopher James Cunnane

#32 Ctrl+e

Image credits: Radi Tyo

#33 This Photo Is Real And Was Not Edited. The Stone Is Real, The Trees Are Real, The Soil Is Real And The Sky Is Real. The Only Thing You Have To Do Is Change Your Point Of View. Look At The Photo, Upside Down!

Image credits: Ex Tee

#34 I Live In A Weird Country I Tell You

Image credits: Dávid Rezbár Máriássy

#35 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Sue Weaver

#36 How My Phone Be Acting Up Everytime I Take Psychedelics

Image credits: Deepak Shankaran

#37 My Mri Exposes My Lion Within

Image credits: Amy Mich

#38 Another One From Netflix

Image credits: Emmanuel Mora

#39 So That’s The Infamous Wolf Spider

Image credits: Hannah James

#40 To Pass, You Must Answer Three Questions From The Knowledge Tree

Image credits: Courtney Archuletta

#41 Kneel Down!

Image credits: Julien R. Chesne

#42 Oldie But Goodie

Image credits: Laszlo David

#43 He’s All Ears

Image credits: Carlos C. Martinez Rivera

#44 First Post

Image credits: Abo Fall

#45 The Chair Sees All

Image credits: Nathan Souther

#46 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Allis Marie Jordan

#47 Look Ma No Hands!

Image credits: Tom

#48 Sprite // J Coleman Miller 2008 Accidental Composition, Moving Water, White Koi And Digital Photography. #jcolemanmiller

Image credits: James Miller

#49 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Raissa Palumbo

#50 My Favorite Emoji Combo

Image credits: Sydney Hewitt

#51 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Josip Višić

#52

Image credits: Raissa Palumbo

#53 This One Really Is Accidental And Surreal

Image credits: Tiago Selaibe

#54 WiFi Chair

Image credits: Dávid Fegyver

#55 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Raissa Palumbo

#56 Make This Make Sense. Something Feels Really Off About The Guy On The Far Right

Image credits: John Magee

#57 Enjoying The Florida Folk Festival Last Spring With My Son But It Seems As Though The Music Merged Us Again, For Just A Moment Idk

Image credits: Starr Munro

#58 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Sue Weaver

#59 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Harlan Dean Fox

#60 Can’t Get Much More Accidental Than That

Image credits: Crystal Yeakley

#61 A Tumbleweed Factory

Image credits: Enid Elisabeth

#62 Hand Sized Man, Or Man Sized Hand?

Image credits: Sarah Lehr

#63 I Kinda Feel Like My Fence Is Showing A Doggo In Stages After Being Stung By A Bee

Image credits: Kel Matthews

#64 Coffee Drop, A Little Too Hyper From The Caffeïne

Image credits: Maya Vounckx

#65

Image credits: Robin Lth

#66 Well Then What Are They?

Image credits: Kelsey Reider

#67 I Don’t Know What These Are But I Feel The Same Way

Image credits: Brooke Freimuth

#68 Clouds

Image credits: Kelly Jakus

#69 Tower Of St. Moritz Church, Olomouc Czech Republic. Photo Taken By Me

Image credits: Kristián Plesník

#70 *clears Throat* “I Really Should Call Her”

Image credits: Sergio Flor

#71 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Brooke Em-Tee

#72 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Casey Boyce Adcock

#73 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Andrew Blasdell

#74 Some Top Quality A5 Wagyu Beef Cuts

Image credits: Liri Ronen

#75 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Joerg Meijer

#76 I Feel Judged!

Image credits: Fabio Fernandez Maroto

#77 Walruses?

Image credits: Andrew Nichelson

#78 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Cizia Nunes

#79 Carmen Sandiegos At It Again

Image credits: Jelle Huysmans

#80

Image credits: Kaycee Michael

#81 Took This A Few Years Ago

Image credits: Diego Moreno

#82 Glitch In The Matrix

Image credits: Felix Yves Bartsch

#83 Elizabeth Long Neck

Image credits: Michela Cartot

#84 Netflix: Are You Still Watching? Someone’s Daughter:

Image credits: Sierra Hill

#85 Germany, 2023

Image credits: Below Jurij

#86 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Omar Ocampo

#87 John Key, The Former New Zealand Prime Minister With Some Women With A Ponytail Standing Behind Him

Image credits: Adam Gollogly

#88 If You Look Closely Inside The Ice Cubes In Your Drink, You’ll Find A Very Interesting Surreal Tiny World Inside!

These are just stacked macro photos I take of regular ice cubes either in Coke or a Vodka/grape juice cocktail.

Image credits: AMG Photography

#89 It’s 3am And You Have To S**t And You See This Staring At You Wyd

Image credits: Claire EA

#90 Why Is The Top So Lonely?

Image credits: Alejandro Carnero

#91 One Of My Coworkers Asked Why There Was Something Smiling At Her In The Dark. It’s An Apron With Straws Poking Out

Image credits: Lexi Jones

#92 Accidental Surrealism

Image credits: Felix Lan

Source: boredpanda.com