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da Vinci makes way for M.C. Escher special exhibit
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (August 19, 2015) – The Dalí Museum will electrify audiences again as they open Escher at The Dalí this Saturday, August 22, 2015. The show highlights M.C. Escher, a renowned artist, whose visual illusions puzzle and delight audiences worldwide, and is best known for his “impossible constructions” and use of tessellation. Coming on the heels of exhibitions from famed artists including Picasso, Warhol and da Vinci, Escher at The Dalí adds yet another inspiring perspective for visitors, and will run through Jan 3, 2016, just prior to the Museum’s grand opening of Disney & Dali: Architects of the Imagination.
On loan from the Herakleidon Museum in Athens, Greece, this robust exhibition will feature 135 works covering Escher’s entire artistic career. The show includes an array of the artist’s most famous works such as “Drawing Hands,” “Reptiles” and “Waterfall” alongside rarely exhibited early drawings of family members, panoramas of exotic landscapes and historic architecture of Italy and Spain, original preparatory sketches, mezzotints and more.
“Escher, like Dali, played in a serious way with that fundamental question of visual art – What is real? Is the world as it looks to be, or have I constructed an illusion in my mind? Escher delights every viewer with his visual sleights of hand,” said Dr. Hank Hine, Dalí Museum Executive Director.
Escher at The Dalí features prints, drawings, a sculpture, wood blocks, a lithograph stone and posters drawn by the artist to explain his printing techniques. The exhibit delves into his exploration of infinity through tessellation, in which shapes fit together perfectly without overlapping, including an enormous woodcut “Metamorphosis” (1939-40) which spans 13-1/2 feet. “Escher’s work is captivating on many levels,” said Curator of the Collection, Joan Kropf. “His images are realistic but challenging, accessible but elusive, entertaining but serious. This Escher collection has only been shown at a handful of locations in the U.S. and never in Florida – this is a rare treat for our visitors.”
Special exhibitions, including “Escher at The Dalí,” are included in the price of Museum admission along with complimentary audio guides; private, docent-led tours are available for a fee and upon advanced reservation. For advance-purchase tickets visit TheDali.org/tickets. To book a private tour, call (727) 628-4778.
About The Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in the heart of beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to an unparalleled collection of Salvador Dalí art, featuring more than 2,000 works comprising nearly 100 oil paintings; over 100 watercolors and drawings; and 1,300 prints, photographs, sculptures and objets d’art.
The building is itself a work of art, featuring 1,062 triangular-shaped glass panels – the only structure of its kind in North America. Nicknamed The Enigma, it provides an unprecedented view of St. Petersburg’s picturesque waterfront. The Museum has attracted the world’s attention, and among the other distinguished awards it has received, it was listed by AOL Travel News as “one of the top buildings to see in your lifetime.”
The Dalí Museum is located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. For additional information contact 727-823-3767 or visit TheDali.org.
Escher Images
Permission to reproduce these images is granted solely for use in conjunction with media reportage and review of ‘Escher at The Dalí.’ All reproductions must be accompanied by the captions noted below. Permission to reproduce these images is contingent upon the press’s acknowledgement and acceptance of these terms. Hi-res images available upon request.
M.C.Escher’s “Drawing Hands” ©2015 The M.C. Escher Company–The Netherlands. All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com. From the collection of Herakleidon Museum, Athens, Greece, www.herakleidon-art.gr.
M.C.Escher’s “Waterfall” ©2015 The M.C. Escher Company–The Netherlands. All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com. From the collection of Herakleidon Museum, Athens, Greece, www.herakleidon-art.gr.
M.C.Escher’s “Regular Division of the Plane VI” ©2015 The M.C. Escher Company–The Netherlands. All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com. From the collection of Herakleidon Museum, Athens, Greece, www.herakleidon-art.gr.
M.C.Escher’s “Bond of Union” ©2015 The M.C. Escher Company–The Netherlands. All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com. From the collection of Herakleidon Museum, Athens, Greece, www.herakleidon-art.gr.
M.C.Escher’s “Reptiles” ©2015 The M.C. Escher Company–The Netherlands. All rights reserved. www.mcescher.com. From the collection of Herakleidon Museum, Athens, Greece, www.herakleidon-art.gr.