Salvador Dali And His Unusual Creative Life

“I wetted the bed from age 8 onwards just for fun.” I was the absolute queen of my house. I was not satisfied with anything. My father worshiped and adored me. Dali was an enigma whose life attracted controversy as well as the attention of many, making him into a public figure. Dali’s art is known for its ability to connect different ideas with his vision of the world. Dali studied at the San Fernando Academy of Art after he was encouraged by his parents to learn the art. Dali first visited Paris during the 1920’s. He began to work with artists like Magritte Picasso Miro. Salvador Dali was heavily influenced by his surrealistic persona and his famous defiance of normalcy. This attitude can be seen in both his writings and paintings. Dali’s career as an artist began at a young, impressionable age. His bibliography states, “At age six I wanted be a chef.” I wanted Napoleon at seven. Since then, my ambitions have grown steadily”, Dali said. He also noted that his ideas are always changing. Dali explains that the dreams never became reality because he was forbidden by his parents to enter the kitchen when he was six years old. My parents categorically prohibited me from entering this area of the house. During the summer, he could do anything he wanted including creating paintings and drawings for his family. In Madrid he officially began his artistic career. Not long after, however, he decided to go all out and grow sideburns, moustaches, and grow long hair. This style became his trademark. The surrealist and cubist styles influenced his work. Dali was accepted into the Surrealist circle in 1929, where his work was accepted. Dali’s work was also affected by the political climate. Before joining the Surrealists Dali worked with a friend on a film depicting the violence of society. He was independent in his political beliefs and had no political preferences. His work was fraught with difficulties, in part because of the carefree and independent nature he possessed. As World War II approached, Dali clashed against the members of surrealists for not taking a political position. Dali’s expulsion did not deter him from succeeding in his artistic career. Dali is known for his many paintings and films. Persistence of Memory is the most notable painting. Its meaning has been the subject of much debate. It has an image that shows a melting clock, a strange looking human, and an orange-colored clock covered in ants. The ants stand for decay and the unformed human represents an unclear memory. Dali used a soft watch as well in Premature Ossification, a railroad station. The painting is based on a surrealist depiction of Camembert melting under the sun. It is clear that surrealism was a major influence on his work.

Dali’s art was not only influenced by his fascination with psychoanalysis and the sciences, but also other influences. His work shows he was an intellect and that his flamboyant appearance was deliberately designed to catch the attention of the public. Dali’s behavior in everyday life revealed this fact because he couldn’t conform to standard behaviors. In 1923, he was expelled for rioting and criticizing teachers. He was arrested and later released for his support of a separatist group. He was permanently dismissed from the academy when he returned there in 1926. This time, he said that the faculty had not been competent enough to conduct an examination. These examples reveal his tendency to doubt reality and question everything. Dali’s writings and artwork were just as famous as his personality. He always wore a large mustache and cape. His public behavior was also unusual. His work was also not typical. He published, for example, an article titled Declaration of the Independence of the Imagination & the Rights of Man to His Own Madness as a reaction to his design being rejected at a trade show in America. It was clear that his work reflected the colorful and unique persona he had developed, which defied society’s expectations.

Dali’s work reveals his unique perspective on the world as well as his tendency of questioning reality. This is evident in his public behavior. The surrealist style of his work and the way he perceived reality are a major influence on it. Persistence Of Memory, Dali’s iconic surrealist painting, is an example of his way of thinking. Dali’s flamboyant style and long mustache are what make him so fascinating. Salvador Dali’s exaggerated and unusual style, perception, and dressing code wowed people.

Annotated Bibliography

Dali, S. (2013). The Secret Life Of Salvador Dali North Chelmsford, MA: Courier Corporation.

McNeese, T., & ?, S. D. (2006). Salvador Dali. New York: Infobase Publishing.