Salvador Dali (1904-1989) Spanish Painter
Lighted Gireffes 1936-37
Dali had studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid, mastering in academic techniques. In 1923, he had been expelled due to indiscipline (damn the man!) leading him to branch out into screenplays and even a one-man show in 1925 exhibiting seascapes in Barcelona.
In or around the year 1929, his earlier screenplay had lead him to be adopted by Surrealists like Picasso- which by glance at the last painting, is apparent. His works from this point into the early 30's exhibited erotica and his fascination for decay, making him quite the scandalous individual back in the day. Other works from this period included poems and symbolic objects; as well as another screenplay in 1930. Unfortunately, a break finally came between the Surrealist's ethics and Dali's 'contradictory methods' in 1939 (his fascination with Hitler didn't help!)
Soft Construction with Boiled Beans - Premonition of the Civil War - 1936
As if Mr. Salvador wasn't interesting enough, he would soon after boast the backings of Freud himself, who declared "Dalí [as] the only interesting case in a movement whose aims he confessed not to understand" -say what!? More on the upside, the public would soon after refer to him as the "Surrealist par excellence." Which I'm sure boosted his ego into the upkeep of that reputation.
Young Virgin Auto Sodomized by her own Chastity - 1954
Between the scandals and extreme political views, my impression of this man is not so based on his morality, but more so on his pure talent for creating monsters you'd love to study, be friends with (and possibly help reassemble). Salvador Dali was in his own universe and somehow kept a firm foot in the door to our world. A friend you'd either despise to love or love to despise, but I guarantee you wouldn't pass up a chance to better acquaint yourself with the human and the beast within.
Posted by ZsuZsu
