Dalí in AM PARK Gallery

Salvador  Dalí  – The Universe of the Genius

Salvador Dalí – The Universe of the Genius.

Dali, the great genius... I have spent more than two decades of my life both fully grasping Salvador Dalí artistically and understanding his world in relation to my own. As an artist I feel that I have been greatly influenced by the artistic legacy and heritage, which he left to so many.

Dalí's work fascinated me from my youth; his themes of dream and memory, time, femininity and fantasies impressed me, as did his inexhaustible creativity and imagination.

Dalí, fascinated by all things human, deals with emotions and feelings, and arguably understands us better than we even do ourselves. His works lead us to a state of absolute tranquility, and even pull our unconscious under his spell. As a painter, sculptor, graphic artist, set designer and writer, it is easy to see in all of his forms of expression how very personal his style was, and how versatile and eclectic he was as an artist.

He immerses himself in issues that affect us all, and somehow converts himself into a wave that surrounds us and carries us along in his surrealistic way. Suddenly we find ourselves with him, in the depths of his world, and he demands our undivided attention.

Salvador Dalí's talent is enormous, and his work has had a decisive influence on the cultural history of the 20th Century. Through his literature, painting, cinema, theatre and fashion, he characterizes an entire era with his constant urge to create and as well as his personality, which often gains more attention than his artistic production. Even today this effect continues unabated.

It is for me as a curator, an honor and a unique experience to be able to present this exhibition: Personally, I experience it as a reunion with Dalí, as an opportunity for me to engage with him again – and to continue to admire him untarnished.

Viewing the sculptures in this wonderful collection, we can discover  the detail that Dalí brings to his works: the timelessness of light, dangling watches, the unacknowledged desires and secret mysteries in his female characters, as in “Woman Aflame”. “Unicorn” juxtaposes virility with connotations of both male and female chastity. In "Surrealist Piano" one of Dalí's quintessential symbols, the lifeless piano is brought to life by dancing female legs. "Surrealist Newton " pays tribute to Sir Isaac Newton's discovery of gravity, while leaving a space in his body and head; science, not the man is remembered.  Again, the nature of time as a human invention is stressed in"Woman of Time" with the girl wearing a soft watch. In each sculpture, Dali's very own brand of surrealism manifests itself through his interpretations of symbols and language.

We will also present a series of prints and graphic works where Dalí presents literary, historical, metaphysical and surreal characters, further enhancing our enjoyment of this genius's great artistic creation. Salvador Dali is one of the most famous artists of our time – people never fail to comment about him and his work – Dali is always present!

We are very privileged to have an artist of his stature bequeathing us such an immense culture as well as his approach in all branches of art, and particularly ourselves in the gallery for having the opportunity to present this exhibition:

Sarit Lichtenstein, Frankfurt am Main, Februar 2014