Unleash Your Imagination with Two Surrealist Icons

December 13, 2018

First-of-Its-Kind Exhibit Exploring the Artistic Dialogue Between Rene Magritte and Salvador Dalí Opens December 15

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (December 13, 2018) – Discover how the two most celebrated icons of the Surrealist movement gave freedom to the imagination as The Dalí premieres its new special exhibition, Magritte & Dali, this Saturday, December 15. On display through May 19, 2019, this unique exhibit is the very first to explore these renowned artists in a sole pairing. The exhibition will travel to Brussels in the fall of 2019, making this the only opportunity visitors will have to explore the exhibit in the U.S.A.

Magritte & Dalí will give viewers the opportunity to trace the journeys of Spanish Surrealist Salvador Dalí and Belgian Surrealist René Magritte from the late 1920s to the early 1940s, the period when the two artists’ careers overlapped and they displayed their works in the same Surrealist exhibitions. Although they took very different approaches with their respective styles, both artists were equally committed to disruptive content and ideas that questioned assumptions and provoked the imagination.

The space constructed for the exhibition is reminiscent of the Surrealist spaces created in paint by Magritte and Dali. Within a theatrical setting, guests will examine the artistic dialogue between these artists, tracing the common threads and creative divergences in their distinctive bodies of work. After exploring the galleries devoted to painting, guests are invited to interact with environments inspired by Magritte and Dali’s desire to challenge perception.

Visitors will first step into the clouds in a whimsical environment created by Pixel Rain Digital, a local company. Next, visitors can transform into living works of Surrealist art before two augmented reality portals – the perfect moment to snap a photo. The cumulative effect of these gallery experiences evokes an appreciation of imagination and inspires the belief that the world holds more than it may have first appeared to hold.

Belgian Surrealist René Magritte is celebrated for his deadpan style and witty, thought-provoking imagery. Magritte joined the Surrealist Movement in 1927, rising quickly to become a star. When Salvador Dalí arrived in Paris two years later, Magritte was one of the first Surrealists he met. Magritte’s provocative work often placed ordinary objects in an unusual context, rendering the familiar strange and ultimately questioning the very nature of reality. The collection of artwork on display in Magritte & Dali embodies a core selection of work identified with Magritte’s Surrealist career.

“It has been an honor to partner with the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium to bring together the most recognized painters of Surrealism in an exhibition devoted solely to their work,” said Dr. Hank Hine, Executive Director of The Dalí Museum. “I hope visitors will leave inspired to stretch their imaginations and challenge their notion of what is real.”

A variety of corresponding programs inspired by Dalí and Magritte are planned for the duration of the exhibit, including the popular monthly Coffee with a Curator lecture series; ArtFlix, the Museum’s themed movie series; activities for families in The Dalí’s free first-floor Stavros Education Room and more. The Museum will also host a special Magritte Art Talk with Timothy Baum, well-known Surrealist art dealer, who met both Magritte and Dali, on January 13; an adult art workshop based on Magritte works on January 31; an open play/instructional chess event led by the St. Petersburg Chess Club on February 9; and a Magritte and Belgian-inspired beer and chocolate tasting experience on March 28, to name a few. Café Gala will be offering a delectable Belgian chocolate torte and Belgian beer throughout the duration of the exhibit.

“Magritte & Dali” is presented by Raymond James. “Magritte & Dali” is organized by The Dalí Museum in partnership with The Magritte Museum (a part of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium) and is co-curated by Dr. William Jeffett, Chief Curator of Exhibitions at The Dalí Museum, and Dr. Michel Draguet, General Director of the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.

 ABOUT THE DALÍ
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 is the first and only museum in the Southeastern United States to be recognized internationally by the Michelin Guide with a three-star rating.

The Dalí Museum is located at One Dalí Boulevard, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701. For additional information contact 727.823.3767 or visit TheDali.org.

Media Contact: Tara Tufo |ttufo@paradiseadv.com | 727.821.5155 x 126