“Exploring the Surreal World: Unveiling Rare Dalí Artworks”
Before his passing in 2001, Mr. Argillet collected a significant personal assortment of rare Dalí pieces, meticulously organized into distinct categories by Ms. Argillet.”Dali was always intrigued by Indian myths, which influenced many Greek, Roman, and European mythologies,” Ms. Argillet shared with The Indian Express. “He illustrated the hippie movement for my father through a series of 11 etchings in 1970, drawing parallels between Western fascination with Indian spirituality and Indian interest in Western culture.”Previously displayed at renowned institutions like the Musée Boymans in Rotterdam, the Pushkin Museum in Moscow, the Museum of Art in Tokyo, and the Dalí Museum in Figueres, Spain, the exhibition features sketches inspired by photos Pierre Argillet captured during a 1970s trip to India—a time when young Americans sought enlightenment there.An intriguing anecdote reveals Dalí’s ties to India back in 1967 when Air India commissioned him to design a limited edition set of ashtrays in exchange for an elephant, in tribute to his work Swans Reflecting Elephants. Dalí requested the elephant for his olive grove, but the plan to ride it across the Alps never came to be. The elephant resided in a Barcelona zoo until its passing in 2018.Ms. Argillet fondly remembers Dalí as a humorous and elegant individual, known for his eccentric and joyful demeanor. Growing up in Dalí’s presence, she was affectionately called “The Little Infante” by him. She noted his love for merging cultures is evident in the exhibited works.A variety of Dalí’s pieces in the exhibition draw from mythology, showcasing his unique take on symbolic storytelling. Visitors can explore a series of 21 etchings illustrating different myths and symbols, including the enigmatic world of Dalí’s imagination.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s tragic play Faust will be featured in the piece Secret Poems by Apollinaire. In addition, Study for the Demons, a collection of illustrations created by Dalí in 1968 inspired by poems written by Mao Zedong, will also be on display. These illustrations cleverly blend political satire with an exploration of Chinese culture. The exhibition Dalí Comes to India is set to take place in New Delhi at the India Habitat Centre from the 7th to the 13th of February. Following this, the exhibition will move to Masarrat Gallery by Bruno Art Group, where it will be on display from the 15th of February to the 16th of March.
