02/25/2016

A new thematic scenography

The Didier Saco Design Agency created a new scenography with the intention of: presenting the infinite variety of inspirations, techniques and materials that compose the permanent exhibit at Espace Dalí.

Evolving according to 4 main themes – the quest for immortality, the explorer of the irrational, erotic metamorphoses, (un) natural sciences – sculptures, graphic artworks, furniture, surrealistic objects, stimulate the visitors’ imaginations. The itinerary’s stages are marked by large colorful, sheer panels, within an area of black walls, like Dalí’s suite at the Meurice.Rarely exhibited series of graphic artworks – Les métamorphoses érotiques, new sculptures from our collection – Le Toréador HallucinogèneLe Yin et le Yang, have been added to the itinerary.

There is a specific area dedicated to the « lost wax » technique, used to create the collection’s bronze sculptures, presenting each step of the ancient technique that is still used in the 21st century..

Salvador Dalí, sculptures and graphic artworks

Espace Dalí, located in the heart of the famous artists’ village, Montmartre, exhibits the largest collection of artworks by Salvador Dalí in France.

Dalí as you've never seen before!

The collection is the fruit of the emblematic surrealist artist’s extravagant inspiration: theatrical sculptures, erotic, dreamlike or irresistibly humorous engravings, poetic objects and furniture, are all part of the phantasmagorical universe of the inventor of soft watches.

From dreamlike sculptures…

Salvador Dalí never ceased to sculpt, to mould, to transform : his bronze sculptures are one of the major contribution to his legacy, transforming in 3 dimension his iconic surrealist patterns. From the Space Elephant with spindly legs, to the Soft Watches, each lost wax bronze sculpture is a dreamlike incarnation of his favorite themes.

… to Art Books full of wonders

Dalí had an encyclopedic culture and was fascinated by major themes from literature, mythology and religion. He used many different techniques to illustrate universal texts: Alice in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, The Bible… as well as more personal works, such as Moses and Monotheism or The Alchemy of the Philosophers. Each book is an art object.

Crossover themes, for an original interpretation of Dalí's artworks

In his quest for immortality, Dalí reinterprets icons from art history, such as Venus di Milo and her many metamorphoses; with his soft watches, he attempts to control time that passes. He explores irrational worlds, inspired by Freud, adding wings to a snail or drawers to a Minotaur. His love for Gala, his muse, whom he calls his oxygen, inspires his great illustrations: Romeo and Juliette, Ovid’s Art of Love, Tristan and Isolde. We owe his passion for science and mathematics, for many artworks that border on knowledge and belief, optics, atoms, DNA, Newton, alchemy and the philosopher’s stone. « I believe that artists should have scientific notions, so as to walk on different terrain, which is that of unity. » Salvador Dalí.