Where surrealism meets collaboration
2 minutes 30 seconds
xquisite Corpse, or Cadavre Exquis in French, is a collaborative, chance-based drawing and writing game that became a hallmark of the Surrealist movement in the early 20th century. Conceived by Surrealist artists and poets such as André Breton, Yves Tanguy, and Marcel Duchamp, the game was developed as a playful method to bypass rational thought and explore the subconscious. Rooted in the movement’s fascination with dreams, automatic writing, and unexpected juxtapositions, Exquisite Corpse became a tool for artistic experimentation and collective creativity.
The game’s name originated from a sentence that emerged during one of its earliest rounds: “Le cadavre exquis boira le vin nouveau” (“The exquisite corpse will drink the new wine”). In its most well-known visual form, Exquisite Corpse involves multiple participants who each draw a section of a body—or an image—on a folded piece of paper without seeing the previous sections. Typically, one artist would draw the head, fold the paper to hide it, then pass it to the next, who would draw the torso, and so on, down to the feet. The final unfolding often revealed bizarre, dreamlike, and often humorous figures that defied conventional logic and form.
What makes Exquisite Corpse particularly compelling is its celebration of collective authorship. The final piece belongs to no one and everyone. The game democratizes creation, and makes it less about individual genius and more about the shared journey into imagination and surprise.
From art studios to online communities where digital versions foster international collaboration, Exquisite Corpse is being reimagined for the modern age. It’s a dynamic way to disrupt routine thought, build connection, and uncover unexpected insights—all while celebrating the power of collective imagination.
In 2016, Maine Media Workshops + College, in collaboration with its extended community of faculty, alumni, and supporters, launched an Exquisite Corpse photography project. The initiative invited artists to explore collective image-making, with photography serving as the central medium. A total of 109 artists, including myself, participated and were organized into four groups.
The process began with staff-selected starter images, each sent to the first participant in a group. Each artist then had 24 hours to contribute a new photograph before passing the sequence to the next member. This rapid, collaborative exchange challenged the artists—typically accustomed to solitary practices—to break from their usual creative patterns and engage in a dynamic, shared visual dialogue.
Unfolding over the course of approximately 30 days, the resulting sequences formed a stream of collective visual consciousness. The final images were compiled into a published book, which was made available for sale as a fundraising effort in support of Maine Media’s programs.
More than a game, Exquisite Corpse is a powerful metaphor for the Surrealist belief in the unconscious as a wellspring of artistic truth—and a reminder that sometimes the most compelling art emerges when we relinquish control and embrace the unexpected.
