Since it is rather cold outside, I will take you today on an exhibition rather than yet another old town to walk through. We will admire there the works of two amazing artists who changed the course of the history of art, each in his own way.
Salvador Dalí was born in Spain in 1904. He was one of the fathers of
surrealism. To be honest, he looked quite surreal himself.
His paintings were never straightforward, showing several things at the same time. None of them clear enough. Like in the
Temptation of Saint Anthony.
Actually, sometimes he would deliberately paint two things at the same time, like with
Lincoln in Dalivision.
When you come close you see a naked woman looking at the sea. But if you walk back, you will out of a sudden see a portrait of Abraham Lincoln.
The woman on the picture is Dali's wife, Gala. She was his muse and a perfect woman in his eyes.
Dali was interested not only in painting. He was a skilled sculptor. Skilled in his own way of course. This sculpture is called The greatness of Islam.
He was also creating perfumes. Egocentric as he was, the bottle of the perfumes was shaped like Dali's nose and lips.
He has also written a cook book. Full of extravagant recipes like the
Casanova coctail.
And if you would invite Dali for a party, he would always be ready to take a drink. Or twenty seven if needed.
Coming from Catalonia, Dali enjoyed seafood and fish. Or both ...
Dali was also the graphic designer behind the classic logo of the Spanish lollipops Chupa Chups – the sweet and bright rendition of a daisy.
Interior design? Architecture? Nothing is beyond the interest of an acomplished artist. A designer sofa ...
... can become the lips of Mae West. It is all a matter of proper perspective.
* * *
Andy Warhol was born in 1928 in USA. He was a front runner of pop art, building close links between art, celebrity and money.
Dali's hallmark was his moustache and Warhol is best known for his white wig.
The most famous work of Warhol are probably the multicolor Marylin Monroe graphics ...
... and the Campbell's soup.
This small object that you could pass in a supermarket without noticing is actually a piece of art.
Just like for Dali, Warhol's interest went far beyond graphic arts. He was a film director.
Though I must say his films were not too close to my personal taste. Way too weird.
But Warhol was also closely embeded in the music industry. His New York City studio called the
Silver Factory was
the place to be.
If you were lucky to be there in the 1960s, you could meet Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones.
Warhol has designed the cover of their album
Sticky Fingers, considered one of their best albums ever. As you can see, Warhol's design was nothing close to shy and timid. In the original version the zip fly could be actually opened.
Warhol designed many album covers, for
Blondie ....
... and the
Velvet Underground.
And not to be too boringly attached to pop music, Warhol has also designed covers for classical masterpieces.
Because a real artist can work with any topic. Even Saint Apollonia.
