Dali's Symbols ~
As if to emphasize the reality of Dalis hallucinations,
his surreal iconography is placed in the landscape of cliffs at the bay of Port Lligat on
the Costa Brava, his home and studio.
He describes the origin of the soft watches was derived from
dreaming of Camembert cheese; the cheese melts and time ceases to have
permanence.
A crutch is generally thought of as assistance for the
injured. It is generally a temporary object in ones life, and helps when one is
unable to support oneself. Dalis use of the crutch is similar in that he uses it for
support, but it seems to be more for emotional support than the physical.
In Dalis work ants represent decay, decomposition,
change. He was fascinated how these tiny insects where able to produce such large changes.
In Dalis famous film Un Chien Andalou the ants are devouring a hand. So
ants destroy things, it means it ceases its permanence.
Spain has always been
a country of flies. Dali called them the "Muses of the Mediterranean". He
claimed Greek philosophers lying in the sun derived their inspiration from flies.
Dali said he imagined Velazquez surrounded by flies as he painted. And when Dali
grew his moustache beyond normal size, he insisted it had the virtue of attracting and
trapping flies, like flypaper, so that he could paint in peace.
Ants, the fly, the yielding watch, open horizon, all suggest
transitory, non-persisting time.
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