Soft skulls and a harp with skulls in the distance. Is this the context in which the Hermitage put Salvador Dali?

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Exhibition “Surrealism in Catalonia. Artists Ampurdana and Salvador Dali” opened in the State Hermitage. The exhibition features 70 paintings by twenty-nine masters.

Among the exhibits are paintings, sculptures, and graphics created by Spanish surrealists.

Creation Salvador Dali presented the following works:

“Severed Hand”, “Exquisite Corpse”, “Retrospective Female Bust”, “Surreal Object with Symbolic Purpose”, “Soft Skulls and Skull Harp”, “San Narcis”, “ Venus with drawers”,“A dream caused by the flight of a bee near a pomegranate fruit, a second before awakening” from the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum (Madrid).

First Russian viewers have the opportunity to see and understand the origins and development of the work of the Spanish surrealists.

When it comes to talking about this direction of art, they talk about the surrealism of Catalonia, and mean the surrealism of Ampurdan. In the first half of the twentieth century, it was Ampurdan that became the center of surrealist searches.

In Catalonia Ampurdan is an area that, since the time Ancient Greece was a special place in the development of culture. The landscape and climate of Ampurdan set people up for a special perception of the world.

Empordà is a region in the north of the Costa Brava - the natural gateway of Catalonia with its capital in Figueres, a trading city where the artist Salvador Dali was born and buried.

As Salvador Dali himself said, “ the fact that all of us, born and living in Ampurdana, are absolutely abnormal, is the fault of the Tramontana». Travmontana– the hurricane northern wind, periodically blowing up from behind the mountains, gave rise to many legends about this region, and gradually the Ampurdan Valley began to be associated with the homeland among many eccentric creative people, eccentrics and geniuses at the same time.

Dali painted the painting “A Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate Fruit a Second Before Awakening” under the impression of a circus poster with tigers and the writings of Sigmund Freud. The main character Dali's wife became naked Gala.

The exhibition presents works by the Ampurdan surrealists: Angel Planels (“Moon on the Seashore”, 1947), Esteban Frances (“Surreal Composition”, 1932), Jaume Figueras (“Surreal Landscape”, 1980), Evariste Valles (“Light in Euclidean Space” ”, “Self-portrait inspired by separation”, 1948) Joan Massanet (“The Apparition of Vermeer of Delft in the Bay of Roses”, 1935-1936; “Virgen del Mar”, “Woman with a Fish”).

It took seven years to prepare the exhibition. It took so long because the organizers wanted to show not only Dali, but also his mentors, contemporaries and students.

“This exhibition is interesting because it is from Catalonia, where almost all Spanish surrealists, including Dali, were born and lived. An expression that was once thrown Dali: “surrealism is me” , was the most ordinary shocking thing. In fact - surrealism is not only Dali, and Catalonia, or to be more precise, these are the artists of Ampurdan, an area in Catalonia where absolutely fantastic landscape . This is the landscape, the climate, the sea, sandy beaches and, most importantly, rocks that have a completely Martian appearance. This is one factor. The second one is the famous Tramontana wind, which blows from the north of the Pyrenees. It lasts for three weeks, and for all three weeks people have a constant buzzing in their ears. But this wind also creates amazing lighting - dark purple, bright purple. And all this - the landscape, the wind, the lighting - was depicted by Catalan artists in their works,” explained the exhibition curator Svyatoslav Konstantinovich Savateev.

Since we also live in a slightly surreal time, the exhibition will be interesting for the viewer.

Where:State Hermitage Museum– Palace Embankment, 34

Price: 300-600 rubles

Style: Surrealism

Exhibition name: "Surrealism in Catalonia. Artists Ampurdana and Salvador Dali"
Where is the exhibition taking place: State Hermitage, halls No. 344-349 on the third floor of the Winter Palace
Exhibition time: 29.10.2016 – 05.02.2017

The State Hermitage together with the Catalan Agency cultural heritage under the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia, the Municipalities of Girona and Figares presented residents and guests of the northern capital with an image of the scorching Spanish sun and a gorgeous surprise in the form of an exhibition of seventy works by twenty-nine Catalan artists.

For the first time in Russia there is an exhibition on this topic of such a scale. It presents not only paintings, but also sculpture and graphics created by Catalan masters in the late 19th - early 20th centuries. Having collected such a number of works by surrealists, the organizers tried to explain the genesis of this unique artistic phenomenon at the turn of the last two centuries.

And if no questions arise - only delight! - then Ampurdan is worth explaining. The fact is that at the beginning of the twentieth century, it was the town of La Bispala del Ampurdão that was the epicenter of the birth and development of surrealism in the context of Catalan art. And this is not surprising. Local landscapes are something on the verge of reality and fantasies about paradise. In such inspired conditions, the so-called “Ampurdana school” was formed, which is characterized by allusions and citations of famous old European masters (for example, “The Apparition of Delft in the Bay of Roses” by Joan Massaneta i Giuli).

"The Apparition of Vermeer of Delft in the Bay of Roses." Joan Massanet i Giuli. 1935-1936

Geographically, the "Ampurdana school" can be divided into Cadaques and the "Figueres school". The founder of the latter is considered to be the incomparable graphic artist Juan Nunez. He influenced many young artists, including Salvador Dali, who made her famous throughout the world.

The exhibition at the Hermitage presents the following works by Salvador Dali: “Severed Hand”, “Retrospective Female Bust”, “Exquisite Corpse”, “Soft Skulls and Arch with Skulls”, “Surreal Object with a Symbolic Purpose”, “Venus with Drawers”, "San Narcis" and "Dream caused by the flight of a bee near a pomegranate fruit, a second before awakening." All works courtesy of the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid.

The surrealism of Cadaques is represented at the exhibition by such artists and sculptors as Carles Ridaure, Eliseu Meifren, Ramon Antonio Pichot Girones, Siegfried Burmann and others.

At the exhibition you can also purchase a specially prepared catalog “Surrealism in Catalonia. Artists of Ampurdana and Salvador Dali”, prepared by Spanish art historians and art critics.

Exhibition “Surrealism in Catalonia. Artists Ampurdana and Salvador Dali” is held under the auspices of the V St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum.

An exhibition of Dali's paintings caused a stir on the first day

KING OF SURREALISM

Friday at the Hermitage turned out to be especially crowded. Hundreds of people came to opening of the exhibition “Surrealism in Catalonia. Artists Ampurdana and Salvador Dali."

- We present seventy works 29 spanish artists , - said the press service of the museum.

These are paintings that capture attention at first sight. Rich colors and unusual plots make you look closely at each work and reflect on its meaning. But the “king of the evening” was, of course, Salvador Dali. Now St. Petersburg residents will be able to see with their own eyes his legendary painting “A Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate Fruit a Second Before Waking Up.” The artist painted it under the impression of a circus poster with tigers and the writings of Sigmund Freud. The main character was Dali's naked wife Gala.

S. Dali “A dream caused by the flight of a bee around a pomegranate fruit a second before waking up” Photo: Alexander GLUZ

For a person far from art, it may seem that the canvas depicts completely unrelated objects. But they are all parts of a single plot.

In the foreground we see a small pomegranate with a bee hovering around it, which provokes a nightmare. And on the left is the nightmare itself - a huge pomegranate, from which a monster fish and two tigers fly out, about to attack the lying Gala, but the barrel of a gun awakens her, explains Catalan exhibition curator Alicia Viñas Palomer. – This was Dali’s first attempt to depict a dream and explain what caused it.

In addition to this painting, visitors were presented with seven more works by the great master. Including his not the most famous works. For example, the work “San Narcis” with the image of a Catholic priest.

S. Dali "Retrospective bust of a woman" Photo: Alexander GLUZ

S. Dali "Retrospective bust of a woman"

FICTION IS IN THE AIR

The organizers do not hide that the opening of the exhibition is a big holiday for them, because they have been preparing it for seven long years! It took so long because they wanted to show not only Dali, but also his mentors, contemporaries and students.

We brought the works of Dali's teacher - Professor Juan Nunez. This is very important, because any artist first learns to draw, and then becomes great. We decided to exhibit his graphic works, since graphics are the basis visual arts, - says another curator Yuri Savelyev. - If you look closely at the self-portrait of Juan Nunez, you will see many features inherent in the late Dali, including his famous mustache.

Salvador Dali Photo.

The entire exhibition occupies several halls, and the artists are in no way inferior to each other. Each one has its own characteristics that make its work similar to fantasy world. Eg, Angel Planels i Croignas depicts a hand opening a closet in which the sea splashes. "Surprise Box" - that’s what he called his work.

Surrealists certainly have a lot of imagination. According to experts, original ideas for the paintings they literally drew from thin air.

First of all, this is due to the landscape of Catalonia. There is a large plain called Ampurdana, where cypress trees grow. It changes a lot, especially when the north wind blows. Then her general form becomes fantastic, says Alicia Viñas Palomer. - When the wind subsides, such beauty and tranquility are established that it seems as if you were in theatrical scenery and there is something fantastic around you. This landscape greatly influences local artists, because we all bear the features of our Motherland. The place where we were born leaves a bright mark in our lives and in our work.

OPENING FOR ALL EUROPE

Most of the paintings that were brought to the Hermitage are in private collections. Putting them all together took a lot of time and effort. But the result was a unique collection.

The idea of ​​the exhibition was born in May 2009, but we did not always find support in Catalonia itself,” says Yuri Savelyev. - Many said that the exhibition would not be a success, and that it would be better if we brought only Dali. I think that this is not so, and that a real discovery is taking place in St. Petersburg. Some of the works that were brought here have never been exhibited in Europe.

On the first evening look at unusual world Hundreds of surrealists came. People kept coming and coming, and soon small queues formed at the paintings hanging on the walls. It's only the beginning!
The exhibition will run until February 5, 2017 and it is already clear that she is doomed to success .

WHAT WORKS CAN YOU SEE?

"Severed Hand"

"Exquisite Corpse"

"Retrospective female bust"

"A surreal object with a symbolic purpose" (known as Gala's shoes)

"Soft Skulls and Skull Harp"

"San Narcis"

"Venus with drawers"

"A dream caused by the flight of a bee near a pomegranate fruit, a second before awakening"

WHAT IS THE PRICE

The price of a regular ticket to the Hermitage (from 400 rubles for adults).

A unique exhibition dedicated to Catalan surrealist artists has opened in St. Petersburg. The most prominent representative of the Ampurdan school, whose name is known throughout the world, was Salvador Dali. But before him, other painters also worked in this direction, thanks to whom the genius of the Spanish artist took shape.

See also:

Our correspondent Alexander Sirotin one of the first to see all the stages of the development of surrealism:

"The Artists of Ampurdana and Salvador Dali." On the one hand, all the painters of the so-called “land of geniuses” in Spanish Catalonia are opposed to the great master, on the other hand, his person is in second place. This is probably main feature this exhibition. Throughout the world, such exhibitions can be found rarely. And in Russia, such a view of the origins of surrealism is shown for the first time.

Salvador Dali is the brightest, but still only a page in the history of European surrealism, say the exhibition organizers. Their main idea is to show the stages of development of the main Catalan art. The exhibition is organized in such a way that the viewer, coming here, first finds himself - no matter how it sounds - in the era of realism and surrealism. And from hall to hall it moves towards the heyday of the genre.

At the very beginning, the paintings are visually very far from surreal: portraits, landscapes or just objects. Like many genres, the origins of sorrealism are in graphics. Simple and clear. Juan Nunez - this is his self-portrait - the teacher of many recognized masters of the genre demanded that his students first masterfully wield the brush, and only then master complex materials. Salvador Dali also listened to these lessons. He took a lot from Nunez. Pay attention to the mustache...

Alicia Viñas Palomer, curator of the exhibition:“He greatly influenced Dali, not only in his manner of depiction, but also in his image. He was a very tall, slender man. Extravagant. With a mustache, as you can see, like Dali. And his whole demeanor, not only his artistic technique, was later reflected in Dali’s work and the construction of his image.”

Surreal to the point of absurdity, live paintings by Catalan artists are capable of making a new impression even for connoisseurs and fans of the genre. You won’t see this masterful play of light, love for detail and fine elaboration of lines in reproductions. Taking a closer look, or rather, if you look closely, it becomes clear that surrealism and absurdity are still different phenomena. These works awaken the desire to connect symbols with each other and solve the riddle or message of the author. Sometimes there are several of them, and sometimes the answer is closer than it seems. How could one imagine a painting called “Moon on the Seashore”? Angel Planels saw it like this...

Alina Bung, exhibition visitor:“In fact, you can look at this picture for a very long time. Beneath this lies something deep, global... which, it would seem, is below the surface... But it is here, here, nearby. I am under such impressions - simply incredible, in fact.”

The Ampurdan Valley left a noticeable imprint on the work of the Catalan surrealists. Rocks, sea, sandy plain and the famous “tramontana” - a hurricane north wind. In the art world, it is generally accepted that this is the birthplace of eccentric eccentrics and a factory of geniuses. Even without being a specialist, the creations of the masters of the “Ampurdan school” are guessed instinctively. But it was Salvador Dali who managed to bring them world fame. The place made the master - the master sang the praises of the place.

Yuri Savelyev, curator of the exhibition:“The Dali phenomenon grew out of cultural soil. And one of the main goals of this exhibition is to show that any phenomenon of art does not arise by itself. It has its historical roots."

You can try to solve the mysteries of the Catalan surrealists in the Hermitage until February 5. And since most of the brought exhibits are from private collections, we can most likely say that residents and guests Northern capital a rare chance comes up. It is quite possible that many of these works by Ampurdan artists will never be seen again.