Always involved in controversy, even after his death, Salvador Dalí not only stood out as a prominent surrealist artist globally, but also became an influential figure in Spain. Although there is more talk about him today due to the controversies surrounding paternity lawsuits that haunt his legacy, Dalí was known, admired and, at the same time, despised for some reasons that we present to you in this article.
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Salvador Dalí goes beyond his iconic mustache with a life as surreal and original as his pictorial works; curious and surprising facts abound about this outstanding Catalan painter.
We have compiled some of them for you to explore before your visit to the Dalí Paris exhibition in Montmartre, allowing you to surprise your companions with your “broad culture”.
Dalí was not squeamish about commercial art
Dalí proved to be pragmatic in his artistic creation, taking advantage of his talent to develop commercial pieces for big brands, thus generating significant income. Additionally, he engaged in product promotion by participating in advertisements, using his artistic renown as a tool for marketing.
Dalí’s pet was different too
For Salvador Dalí, a dog, a cat or a little bird were not fascinating enough. Instead, he opted to have an ocelot that he called Babou. He took him on a leash and a studded collar even to social gatherings and restaurants. The artist claimed that the ocelot had been given to him by the head of state of Colombia.
Dalí was expelled from art school
The surrealist Salvador Dalí chose to refuse to take his final degree exam, arguing that none of the school’s teachers were “competent to judge him”. Although it has been suggested that his motives were more economic than ideological, as his father’s financial support would be withdrawn once he obtained a degree, and Dalí had plans to go to Paris to continue his training with the support economic status of his parent.
He didn’t like Britain
In 1955, Salvador Dalí was commissioned to create the portrait of Laurence Olivier for the film poster “Richard III”, in which the actor had the lead role. However, the poster was never completed, as Dalí refused to paint it in England, where the film studios were located.
He loved cauliflowers
In December 1955, Salvador Dalí left the world speechless by filling a white Rolls Royce Phantom II with 500 kg of cauliflowers and driving the vehicle from Spain to Paris. When the press asked him about this strange action, the surrealist genius declared: “It all ends in the cauliflower”.
The woman slapped her friend
Dalí met his wife Gala when she was still married to his friend, the French poet Paul Eluard however, curiously, it was not Eluard himself who reacted negatively to the news; in fact, he acted as a witness at Dalí and Gala’s wedding. The adverse reaction came from Dalí’s father, who disapproved of the relationship due to Gala’s motherhood and the ten-year age difference between her and Dalí. This disapproval reached the point that Dalí was disinherited by his father.
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By: Ehinar Araujo
2024-01-24 01:07:45
#Curiosities #Salvador #Dalí #COSAS #México #Magazine
