A writing or drawing technique that uses the subconscious as the focus for art production. Techniques learned and ideas that sprung to mind had to be repressed and forgotten to be able to create a work of art free of conscience, influence, and logic. It developed later into poetry, dance and drama. It was mostly made famous by the Automatistes and the Dada movement.
The Automatistes were a group of Québécois artists who separated themselves from traditional art in the 1940s. They were influenced by automatism and surrealsim as well. They were not popular in North America- seen as rebels- but they were loved in Europe and New York as their attitude seemed exotic and exciting to the French, and avant-garde to the Americans.
Members included Marcel Barbeau, Roger Fauteux, Claude Gauvreau, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Pierre Gauvreau, Fernand Leduc, Jean-Paul Mousseau, and Marcelle Ferron and Françoise Sullivan.
A manifesto was written by their leader, Paul-Emile Borduas, called the Refus Global. This document is important in denouncing the problems of the State and the Church in Quebec and set a spark that began the Quiet Revolution. It also lead Borduas to be exiled from Quebec, but he never stopped being an artist.