In the late 1950s, Jean-Claude Silbermann approached Surrealist leader Andre Breton outside a café in Paris, claiming to be a Surrealist despite having never written poetry. For Silbermann, Surrealism represents a mindset centered on revolt. Growing up in Boulogne-Billancourt, he distanced himself from his family to pursue poetry, inspired by Guillaume Apollinaire. His journey took him across Europe, where he lived modestly, engaging in various odd jobs to sustain himself. Now, at 90, Silbermann reflects on how his early experiences shaped his artistic path and the ongoing relevance of Surrealism in his life.
I didn't know how to do anything. I hadn't even written any poems... it was ridiculous, but I went straight over to him and said: You are Andre Breton. I am Jean-Claude Silbermann. I'm a Surrealist.
At that time, and now, Silbermann thought of Surrealism as a frame of mind, a way of being in the world, and at its heart is revolt.
I loved poetry since I was a little boy. At 18, I read Alcools, by Guillaume Apollinaire. I opened the book, and when I closed it, the world had changed.
It was a very pleasant life... I hitchhiked, worked on cargo boats and sometimes read palms to make a meager living... but it paid for my cigarettes, my room, and my food.
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