Dalíthe monster
It is Sunday afternoon. God takes an infusion of violets for dessert to complete his festive meal, emits vaporizations of an inexpressible sacred odor and summons all the angels to sing their favorite Bach chorus for Him.
Shortly after, Salvador Dalí arrives, with permission from purgatory, arranges his easel and works on the portrait of The Creator. According to Robert Descharnes, co-author of, “Dalí. L’ oeuvre peint complet”, “Salvador is the only modern painter who has received a commission from God”. We can not account for that commission, but there are hints of Dalí’s approach to his own work. At his thirty seven years of age, Dali wrote in his autobiography: The secret of Salvador Dalí life. “In order to conceal and at the same time, reveal, my method is: to subtly hint at the possible presence of internal injuries, while at the same time, and in a completely different location, plucking the bare tendons of the human guitar”.
This constant pushing and plucking of human experience, was considered by the stablishment to be sacrilegic. Dalí and his imaginery were a monster, a creature feeding from the unknow, ready to open our scars and fears. but Marcel Katz, an acclaimed art dealership, entrepreneur, and the youngest authorized dealer of one of the largest Salvador Dalí bronze sculpture collection, AKA “The Art Plug” is not afraid to look straight at the face of adversity and transform it into an opportunity to raise human expression. He has partnered with French NY-based art consultant and Salvador Dalí expert, Bertrand Epaud, to create an historical ticketed art exhibition: “Dalí, The Real Surreal”, in Miami, Florida.
“Dalí, The Real Surreal”, an historical ticketed art exhibition that will ran for eight weeks at The Confidante Miami Beach. An exhibition that not only featured a collection of rare and treasured modern paper works and bronze table-size and museum size sculptures, but also a Rotating Local Art Exhibit Program, a new selection of surrealist-inspired art pieces by artists including: Nico Suave, Nick Cruz, Tiago Magro, Grabster, Lefty Out There, ABVA, Wij, Haiiileen, and The Art Plug himself. A truly remarkable effort to boost the local arts.
The iconic works were displayed all throughout the property’s public spaces including the entire first floor of the hotel, cabanas and bungalows. “The Real Surreal” were beyond the concept of art as an experience for only a few. Marcel Katz, Bertrand Epaud and The Confidante Miami Beach extended this invitation to everyone. Creatives, Students, Teachers, Front Line Workers, Military and Police were all welcome at the show for free. The Confidante created a Dalí inspired food and beverages menu that was available throughout the hotel. To ensure the show as a truly immersive experience. the exhibition ran a Full Virtual Show for free to everyone who could not leave their places. The message behind this initiative was clear. Art can change the world. Art can push culture, art can make joy and happiness accessible to all.
According to Bertrand, also Project Manager of the Dalí Universe for the United States and the Middle East, organization presided by Beniamino Levi, Italian art dealer and collector who worked with Dalí in the 60’s. “For the first time, The Art Plug in collaboration with The Confidante Miami Beach presented this iconic Dalinian work, offering the extraordinary opportunity of admiring an ingenious sculpture, full of symbolism and hidden meanings”.
Is important to remember Dalí himself lived in a reality similar to this, filled with war and death, displacement of societies, and constant questioning of existence, but he did not keep quiet, instead, he raised his voice, his made a statement to the world and left a big influence in his explorations of subconscious imagery and the development of his artistic style. Now is perhaps time for us to do the same, to spread a message of hope, is time for us to raise our voice, to say, culture wont stop.
Jonathan Lerma H.
2021