Mario Cesariny

Mário Cesariny (1923-2006, Lisbon) studied at the António Arroio School of Decorative Arts, where he met Cruzeiro Seixas, who became one of the most renowned names in Portuguese surrealism and with whom he founded the group Os Surrealistas. Cesariny soon started attending various tertúlias or literary gatherings in Lisbon cafés, where he developed a strong interest in the neo-realist and surrealist movements. This curiosity was cemented on a trip to Paris in the late 1940s, when he met André Breton, who inspired him to create the Grupo Surrealista de Lisboa and, later the anti-group Os Surrealistas. The artist is best known for his poetry, having made one of the most significant contributions to Portuguese literature. However, he also found refuge in the visual arts, particularly painting, exploring unconventional materials, such as coffee, and irreverent techniques, such as allowing his hand to be guided by the juddering of a tram.