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Dalí & da Vinci: Minds, Machines and Masterpieces Exhibit Opening Sunday
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA (March 6, 2015) – Beginning this Sunday, March 8th, explore the whole of the human experience through the eyes of Salvador Dalí & Leonardo da Vinci with The Dalí Museum’s new special exhibition “Minds, Machines and Masterpieces.” Open through July 26, 2015, the exhibit features more than 75 works, including reproductions of da Vinci books and paintings; original and reproduced Dalí manuscripts, prints, paintings and sculpture; and the reimagined invented objects both da Vinci and Dalí proposed in advance of their times.
Visitors to the show will explore five major thematic groupings that demonstrate the range of shared themes, interests, and ongoing dialogue between the two across the centuries, including: Youthful Scientific Dispositions, Psychology, Invention, the Power of Mathematics, and Painting
“The show focuses on how da Vinci’s ideas transformed Dali’s understanding of himself as an artist following his break from Surrealism, enabling him to explore the world of science and math in relation to his art,” said Peter Tush, Director of Education at The Dalí Museum and the curator of this exhibit. “By strategically showcasing specific Dalí paintings in conjunction with key da Vinci reproductions and recreated inventions the complexity of Dali’s ambitions becomes clearer.”
“Dalí & da Vinci: Minds, Machines and Masterpieces” is believed to be the first exhibition that considers the level of inspiration Dalí drew from the ideas of Leonardo da Vinci. Some featured works in the exhibition include Salvador Dalí’s Portrait of My Dead Brother (1963), Lobster Telephone (1938) and Venus de Milo with Drawers (1936), as well as Leonardo da Vinci reproductions including Last Supper (c. 1495-98), Mona Lisa (1503–1517) and The proportions of the human figure, after Vitruvius (Vitruvian Man) c. 1490).
Related to this show and Dali’s fascination with math and science, the Museum will celebrate National Pi Day on March 14th (3.14), offering a discounted admission price of $3.14 for Pinellas & Hillsborough county K-12 “STEAM” teachers (with valid ID) throughout the day. The annual “Dalí Loves Pi” event will feature free screenings of several math-themed films open to the public in celebration of Dali’s love for the irrational number Pi and Phi which he often leveraged in his art.
Another exciting event will take place in the presence of the works of these masters of innovation. The Dalí is partnering with global digital agency, Vectorform, to co-host a Hackathon. Hackathons – popularized by Facebook – are multi-day group coding contests open to designers, developers and engineers with the opportunity to present their digital solution for unique prizes and/or backing. Project 34, the branded name of the hackathon at The Dalí, is a sanctioned event by Major League Hacking – the latest hardware and hardware-labs will be provided for participants, along with the chance to meet industry CEOs and CTOs such as the creator of the original Siri app. The Hackathon is a 34-hour event (inspired by Dali’s interest in the Fibonacci sequence) starting on May 2nd at 8:13 a.m. and culminating in an awards ceremony/cocktail reception at 6:13 p.m. on May 3rd. The event will be open to the public whom will be able to participate in “innovation sprints” for unique prizes, experience virtual reality scenarios, play with drones, see judges floating by on one-wheels – and that’s just a taste of what you can expect. Visit www.TheProject34.com for more details.
“Dalí & da Vinci: Minds, Machines and Masterpieces” is included in the price of Museum admission; private, docent-led tours are available for a fee and upon advanced reservation. For advance-purchase tickets, please visit: www.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.
Images for Media Use Only
Permission to reproduce these three images is granted solely for use in conjunction with media reportage and review of “Dalí & da Vinci: Minds, Machines and Masterpieces.” All reproductions must be accompanied by the caption noted below. Permission to reproduce these images is contingent upon the press’s acknowledgement and acceptance of these terms.
Salvador Dalí
The Sacrament of the Last Supper
(1955) Oil on canvas 166.7 x 267 cm
Dale Chester Collection 1963.10.115
© Salvador Dalí. Fundación Gala-Salvador Dalí, (Artist Rights Society), 2015
Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
Salvador Dalí
Portrait of My Dead Brother
(1963) Oil on canvas
© Salvador Dalí. Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, [Artist Rights Society (ARS)], 2015.
Collection of The Dalí Museum, Inc., St. Petersburg, FL, 2015.
Leonardo da Vinci
The Virgin and Child with St. Anne
(c. 1503-1517) Oil on wood panel
© Musée du Louvre, Paris, France Scala / Art Resource, NY