In turns beloved and reviled, twentieth century art, painter, filmmaker, and designer Salvador Dalí set Europe and the United States ablaze with his uncompromising genius, sexual sadism, and flirtations with megalomania. His shocking behavior and work frequently alienated critics; his views were so outrageous, even prominent Surrealists tried to ostracize him. Still, every morning he experienced "an exquisite joy—the joy of being Salvador Dalí," and, through a remarkable talent that invited bewilderment, anger, and adoration, rose to unprecedented levels of fame—forever shifting the landscape of the art world and the nature of celebrity itself.
In this stunning volume, noted art historians Jean-Pierre Isbouts and Christopher Heath Brown discuss the historical, social, and political conditions that shaped Dalí's work, identify the impact of Modern as well as Old Master art, and present an unflinching view of the master's personal relationships and motivations. With their deeply compelling narrative, Isbouts and Brown uncover how Dalí's visual wit and enduring cult of personality still impacts fashion, literature, and art, from Andy Warhol to Lady Gaga, and seeks to answer why, in an age of shock and awe, Dalí's art still manages to distress, perplex, and entertain.
Download and start listening now!
"Even though I have read a lot about Dali and been to his museum in Figuerres I was not quite prepared to hear all of the sexual facts concerning his work, and actually his life. There were some great stories and history, but the explicit sexual interpretations I found not all was necessary and rather boring. Also, the narrator had a very bad accent that didn’t translate well. The historical facts and descriptions were well done so maybe it just wasn’t my thing to hear about all his hangups. "
—
Animac (4 out of 5 stars)