It cannot be denied that Salvador Dali has a special place in the world of Modern Art. His flamboyant personality has been a source of controversy, kept alive by Dali’s own provocative exuberance fueled by critics and the press. The press has always pointed a double edge sword towards Salvador Dali calling him a genius and a mad man at the same breath.

To his defense Dali would have great come back lines for the press and his critics:

• “The only difference between me & a madman is that I am not mad.” – Salvador Dali
• “Every morning when I wake up, I experience exquisite joy – the joy of being Salvador Dali…” – Salvador Dali

I wanted to share with you some great information that I found about some of the interesting works of Salvador Dali:

The Persistence of Memory (1931). Dali has said that eating Camembert cheese inspired the melting watches: “Be persuaded that Salvador Dali’s famous limp watches are nothing else than the tender, extravagant and solitary paranoiac-critical Camembert of time and space.” The image of the melting clocks would become a trademark of Dali and would reappear in many subsequent works.

Mae West’s Face which is set as a Surrealist Dwelling (1934-36). The furnishings of a room are transformed into a portrait of Mae West. The soft lips were to become a sofa object for Edward James.

Sleep (1937). Dali feared sleep and saw sleep as a monster supported by crutches.

You are welcomed to comment and ask about any other work of Salvador Dali that you would like to discuss…