European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 8, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Dali exhibit glorifies his weirdness by Marilyn August the associated press Salvador Dali s legendary weirdness has found a surreal showcase in Montmartre a Stone s throw from the Spanish artist s first studio in Paris. Dali s universe on display at the newly refurbished space Montmartre features 25 pieces of sculpture and 300 illustrations of literary masterpieces including Sigmund Freud s Moses and monotheism and Rabelais medieval satire Gargantua and Pantagruel. Quot Genius or provocateur Dali was one of the Century s most controversial artists Quot surrealism is me Quot he said when asked to define the movement which sought to free Art from the trappings of reality and representation the Dali exhibit on show for at least one year includes some familiar images the drooping clocks Are there along with a hallucinogenic bullfighter and a giant Snail. Less Well known however Are the 300 illustrations a pen and Ink drawings lithographs and Watercolours a which the artist executed throughout his Long career. Dali s Art juxtaposes diverse images to capture the bizarre nightmarish ramblings of the mind. This exhibit shows off his sculptural and graphic Talent As Well As his passion for literature. His Bronze Alice in wonderland executed from 197704, is a slim waisted girl with curled roses for hair. Her fingers grip a jump rope raised above her head. Venus de Milo with drawers a sensual life size nude with empty drawers coming out of her body thumbs its nose at academic Art. Michelin s slave a Liny woman s body imprisoned Between two automobile tires sends Dali s message that Art is dominated by technology. Quot sculpture was very important to Dali because it represented the culmination of his life s work As Well As the synthesis of his major ideas and symbols Quot said Jean Jacques Biagini director of the space Montmartre. A a the works Are on loan from the Stratton foundation a non profit organization based in Geneva which paid about $500,000 to stage the show. Biagini said Dali who had Long dreamed about gathering his sculpture Iii one place would have liked the Montmartre setting. Lights fade in and out focusing on various parts of sculpture strange background music fills the Black while and Gray exhibition galleries and Dali s own voice can be heard barely comprehensible As he talks about Art. Quot Venus de Milo with drawer which crosses classical sculpture with a piece of furniture is one of the works included in the Paris exhibit. Up the Chaira seat of knowledge by the associated press a mahogany toilet a five legged desk chair an elegant love seat used in a Paris Brothel 100 years ago Over the centuries people have fashioned some unusual furniture on which to sit. Chairs from medieval to modern times Are the subject of an imaginative retrospective showing through aug. 16 a the louvre Des Antiquaries in Paris. Quot a chair can influence human behaviour Quot says the preface to the show s Catalon. Quot sitting in a proper position judgment is More Clear in a relaxed position one s language relaxes. A chair perhaps is not completely . The exhibit has several examples of the significance of chairs. In the Middle Ages serfs sat on the floor and the burgeoning Middle class rested on oversized pillows while Royalty and assorted nobility reclined in armchairs styles and colors reflected the changes in ladies fashions As Well As their morals. The rigid High backed Cathedral Pew which also doubled As a Linen close underneath gave Way to straight chairs with Graceful curves a to accommodate wide collars and mountains of crinoline petticoats. Furniture during the reign of Louis Xiv from 1643 to 1715, reflected the Sun King s preoccupation with pomp and ceremony. Chairs crafted under Louis Xiv who reigned from 1715 to 1774, promoted Comfort and intimacy. Among the show s highlights is a Bergere a Low Arm chair in red velvet big enough for two engineered to Quot facilitate intimate also on show is a St Range looking device covered in yellow silk which was once used for lovemaking in a parisian Brothel. Referred to in the Catalon As a Fauteuil d amour this one of a kind love seat is equipped with Bronze stirrups. Quot a was commissioned in the late 1800s by a leading politician of the Day then bought by an american dealer for his personal use Quot said Francoise Tey nac the show s curator Quot when it was brought Back to France and sold at auction it was quite Tey nac said the chair was purchased by its original craftsmen at the Soubrier House of Fine woodworking who then restored it to its original splendor. The show also takes visitors into the 20th Century with a humorous tribute to Henri Matisse a a Metal chair with Paintbrush feet a seat in the shape of a Painter s palette and recovered in Bright coloured velvet. Other show highlights include Art Deco classics from the 1930s by Ruhlmann and Jules Leleu and a seat of Spaghetti like stainless steel by italian designer David Richi 24 stripes Magazine August 8, 1991 t
