Also this fall, The Dalí presents a free community exhibit featuring the poetry of Paul Éluard, co-founder of Surrealism
St. Petersburg, Fla – A new exhibition at The Dalí Museum examines a profound yet common human experience — the dream. The Shape of Dreams, on view Nov. 25, 2022-April 30, 2023, explores 500 years of paintings from the 16th to 20th century, demonstrating how artists throughout time have depicted the enigmatic state of awareness that often leaves dreamers searching for meaning.
The Shape of Dreams features a selection of art on loan from American institutions, including the National Gallery of Art, Detroit Institute of Arts, The New Orleans Museum of Art, Saint Louis Art Museum, Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden, Chicago Art Institute and Metropolitan Museum of Art. Several works from The Dalí’s permanent collection are placed in dialog with these works to examine how Western artists have conveyed dreams, exploring the continuity and disconnections between the past and present.
“The Shape of Dreams is a powerful exploration through painting of how we understand ourselves and the world,” said Dalí Museum Director Hank Hine. “Are dreams useful? Are they prophetic? Do they tell us things about ourselves that we did not know? The Dalí invites visitors to heighten their awareness and attention to the world of dream — an intense element of the human experience so central to our personal lives.”
Drawing on the irony that dreams are an intense visual sensation most often taking place when the eyes are closed, the exhibition inspires questions about the very nature of reality and encourages viewers to examine dreams through different lenses — psychological, religious and metaphysical. Works by Paul Delvaux, Pat Steir, Philip Guston, Max Beckmann, Lodovico Carracci and Odilon Redon, many of which are monumental canvases, address manners of representation and consider how the waking world influences the dream. The exhibition seeks to understand how these artistic expressions shape our imaginations.
The Shape of Dreams is accompanied by a full-color catalog, The Shape of Dreams: Five Centuries of Painted Dreams from the Divine, Mythology & the Mind, which features an expanded selection of dream-inspired works by celebrated artists as well as an essay by Dr. Hine.
Also on view at The Dalí this fall, Paul Éluard: Poetry, Politics, Love explores the world of one of the most celebrated and idealistic surrealist poets. Éluard, the ex-husband of Dalí’s wife Gala, helped found Surrealism, the French art movement whose poetry celebrated dreams, love and freedom. Open Sept. 3, 2022-Jan. 8, 2023 in the Raymond James Community Room, the exhibition presents selections of Éluard’s poetry in context with photographs and selected books, giving visitors a glimpse into the life of the man who became known as ‘the Poet of Freedom.’
During his lifetime, Éluard published more than 70 books dedicated to two main themes: the rejection of tyranny and the search for happiness. The exhibition will examine the poet’s beginnings, passionate relationships and important publications. In addition, the exhibition will delve into Éluard’s connection to the origins of Surrealism and André Breton as well as his later commitment to Communism along with Pablo Picasso. Located on the first floor of the Museum, access to this community exhibition is free by reserving Ground Floor tickets at TheDali.org/tickets.
For information on upcoming exhibition-related programs and events, and to reserve advance timed admission tickets, visit TheDali.org.
About The Dalí Museum
The Dalí Museum, located in picturesque downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, is home to one of the most acclaimed collections of a single modern artist in the world, with over 2,000 works representing every moment and medium of Salvador Dalí’s creative life. The Dalí is recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating; has been deemed “one of the top buildings to see in your lifetime” by AOL Travel News; and was named one of the 10 most interesting museums in the world by Architectural Digest. The Dalí’s acclaimed digital experiences have received numerous national and international awards for creative innovation. The Museum is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to preserve Dalí’s legacy for generations to come and serve as an active resource in the cultural life of the community and the world at large. The Dalí is open daily, located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. For more information visit TheDali.org or download the free Dalí Museum App.
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Media contact: Brad Tuggle | Blue Water Communications
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