Due to the impressive number of visitors, the largest exhibition of original works by the famous artist Salvador Dali, presented for the first time in Bucharest by the Capital City Hall through ARCUB—Cultural Center of the Municipality of Bucharest, in partnership with HADRAN Events, has been extended until September 1, 2024.
The exhibition “The Universe of Salvador Dali” brings together 170 works—sculptures, graphics, engravings, lithographs, miniatures made of gold, rubies, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and glass—and surrealist furniture that illustrate the genius of the extravagant Salvador Dali.
The exhibited objects are part of the most important private collection containing works signed by Salvador Dali, belonging to the renowned art collector Beniamino Levi. Beniamino Levi met the artist personally in the 1960s and commissioned him a series of bronze sculptures inspired by the most famous motifs and themes from the surrealist imaginary. As a result of the close relationship with the master of surrealism, Beniamino Levi, being his agent, the private collection “Dali’s Universe” has a priceless value and includes the most original works of the famous Spanish artist in Europe.
“My art is a reflection, one of the many reflections of what I do, write, think.” – Salvador Dalí.
The “Universe of Salvador Dali” exhibition at ARCUB represents a unique opportunity for the Romanian public to explore the versatility and surrealist imagination of the famous Catalan artist through a selection of original creations that cover different means of artistic expression, from graphics, miniatures of gold, rubies, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and glass and even furniture design. Among the most famous exhibits that will be able to be admired at ARCUB – Gabroveni Inn are sculptures in bronze and inlaid with precious stones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires) such as Dance of time – the famous melted watches, the unmistakable brand of Dali’s creation, elephants with oversized legs, Dalinian Dancer, whose rhythms denote Dali’s homage to flamenco and his native lands, Space Venus, one of the central pieces of the exhibition that illustrates three of Dali’s favorite motifs: the clock, the ants and the egg, Alice in Wonderland, Dali’s favorite character to represent the bridge to the realm of dreams, the Rose-Headed Woman, symbol of pure feminine beauty, of ethereal youth.
“Universe of Salvador Dali” at ARCUB also includes glass sculptures created in collaboration with the famous Daum crystal factory from France, a material that, for Dali, represented an ideal environment for the “expression of metamorphosis,” namely his surrealist perception of reality. Sculptures such as the Venus with Drawers and the Chippendale Rhinoceros capture the essence of liquid, soft matter, and its mysterious transformation into hard material. The gold miniatures on display denote Dali’s source of inspiration from the jewels at the court of Louis XIV, even imitating his coins. The exhibition also reveals Salvador Dali as an illustrator, with explorations of themes such as those that emphasize fantasy, dreams, and distorted elements, as well as classic literary themes found in A Lot of Noise for Shakespeare. Among the exhibits that will cover the entire exhibition space ARCUB – Hanul Gabroveni will be the famous sofa in the shape of Mae West’s lips, which reminds us of the versatility of Salvador Dali and the unique way in which he transposed his sources of inspiration into his art.
Illustrating the variety of themes and symbols that form the distinct universe of Salvador Dali’s creation, from elephants, rhinoceroses, and fluid clocks that defy the hardness of matter to butterflies, angels, femininity, and sexuality, the exhibition provides an overview of the various stages of his career Dali, highlighting his influences and experiments, as well as his evolution as an artist. The event organized by ARCUB offers visitors the chance to lose themselves in the captivating universe of Salvador Dali, where reality and dream intertwine, a unique opportunity to travel into the universe of a genius and experience a variety of artistic forms that define the unmistakable imprint of this one.
The “Universe of Salvador Dali” exhibition also offers the public the opportunity to learn about Salvador Dali’s works through virtual reality. The VR experience will allow visitors to discover hidden details of the Spanish artist’s creations in a new dimension and transform the visit into an interactive journey into the surrealist imaginary of Salvador Dali.
Tickets for the “Universul lui Salvador Dali” exhibition at ARCUB can be purchased at variable prices, depending on the category, from arcub.ro, Entertix.ro and from the ARCUB ticket office (Strada Lipscani 84-90).
The “Universe of Salvador Dali” exhibition at ARCUB—Hanul Gabroveni can be visited from Monday to Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., until September 1, 2024.
