Salvador Dali

1904-1989

Dali was so inspired by America the he considered his time there a rebirth of sorts, as evidenced by his masterpiece, Geopoliticus Child Watching the Birth of the New Man. He also had a successful exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and published his autobiography, The Secret Life of Salvador Dali. The master surrealist's sojourn in the United States lasted until 1955, and he and Gala later returned to Spain in Port Ligat, where he continued painting, sculpting, and writing a series of books, in what was to be known as his "mystic" period.

Dali continued to explore science, religion, and eroticism through his work, and in the early 70s, opened the Teatro Museo in his hometown of Figuere where he would exhibit a substantial collection of his works in various fields. Dali continued to work on, and live his art, then in 1981, Dali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a year later Gala died, which was perhaps the most devastating event in his entire life.

The acclaim for his works endured, and Dali was eventually awarded the Grand Cross of Charles III, and given a marquisates. Dali The Divine, Dali The Mystic, Dali the Master of surrealism died on January 23rd, 1989 and was buried in his Teatro Museo.

Dali remains to this day one of the most controversial and popular artists. His master's technique in the many mediums he chose to work in have consistently kept the nay Sayers at bay, while amusing, shocking, and inspiring others. His legacy is a rich one, having influenced artists from many different fields, and perhaps even having legitimized art as popular culture.

While some consider his love affair with Hollywood an act of prostitution, it is an undeniable fact that his work transcended the medium, and his genius had no set of rules except his own. That, one might say, is far from compromise, and as close as one gets to purity through integrity.

Once asked to comment on a conceptual piece, which was basically a simple hole by a befuddled interviewer, Dali stated "It is a hole, but it is a hole full of everything..."

"Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing."
Salvador Dali

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