Although Salvador Dalí, the Spanish surrealist, never visited India, his artworks will be exhibited in the country for the first time.
An exhibition in Delhi will display over 200 original sketches, etchings, and watercolor paintings starting this Friday. Curated by Christine Argillet, daughter of Dalí's friend and publisher Pierre Argillet, the collection includes artworks influenced by Dalí's interest in Indian mysticism during the 1960s and 1970s.
The sketches in the collection draw inspiration from photos taken by Pierre Argillet during a 1970s India trip when the hippie movement attracted young Americans seeking spiritual enlightenment.
Dalí's artwork, characterized by his surrealist style, incorporates surreal elements such as bodies sprouting flowers and dismembered body parts interacting with the surroundings.
Christine Argillet describes experiencing Dalí's art as discovering new marvels with each layer scrutinized, akin to peeling an onion.
Organizing Dalí's exhibition in India was a meticulous five-year process, ensuring the authenticity of each piece, as recounted by Akshitta Aggarwal from Bruno Art Group.
Previously, Dalí made a mark in India by designing ashtrays for Air India in 1967. Notably, in a whimsical episode, Dalí requested a baby elephant from Bangalore (now Bengaluru) but had to alter his plans due to his wife's objections.
Dalí, a product of a post-war avant-garde era, drew inspiration from contemporaries like Picasso and Miró, but was particularly influenced by the surrealist movement founded by André Breton.
His art, heavily influenced by Freud and dreams, reflects themes of the subconscious, with shocking and dreamlike imagery inviting unique interpretations from viewers.
Dalí's multifaceted personality, from his unconventional artistic expressions to his mischievous pranks and introspective nature, adds further depth to his enigmatic persona, as shared by those who knew him intimately like Christine Argillet.
The exhibition 'Dali comes to India' will run from February 7 to March 16 in Delhi, promising a deeper understanding of Dalí's complex and captivating art.