The Mind-Boggling Salvador Dali Theatre Museum in Figueres

Figueres is a city north of Girona in the Girona province of Spain and its pride is its surrealist artist son, Salvador Dali who left a one-of-a-kind museum that he himself created that will totally blow your mind away. Or at least will leave you thinking and keep you thinking, as it is with my case.

Inside the Dali Theatre-Museum.

Dali Theatre-Museum
Websites: Dali Theatre-Museum  |  Salvador Dali

My real reason in visiting Figueres really is to see Dali’s world-famous museum. As we all know, most museums are places we go to inorder to learn about history, see some surviving artefacts, admire pieces of art and paintings, and well, more art and paintings. Dali’s Museum however has a totally different take. You come here not to see and learn about his works, but to revel in and experience with his works.

You’d also have to wonder what the real stories are behind his pieces which often displays extensive symbolism and meaning. Because Dali dabbles in many artistic styles and outlets such as painting, sketches, sculpture, graphics, art media, optical illusion, furniture design, fashion and photography and yes, even doll making, his museum offers a very enjoyable yet an out of this world journeying experience that leaves you awed, astonished, breathless, and well, pondering to bits as well.

Here are some of things that ran in my mind while going through and experiencing his works:

  -  This museum looks like an artist’s uncensored crazy world
  -  Have I just entered into the attic of a closet serial killer?
  -  But wow, what a brilliant and eccentric mind he has!
  -  He seems to have fathomed the deepest emotions of men
  -  I am speechless at the extraordinary yet bizarre talent displayed here
  -  His art shows that the possibilities in this world are endless
  -  Mind-blowing, hallucinatory and far-fetched
  -  And that science, philosophy and art are indeed sisters
  -  I wonder what he is like as a boyfriend, partner, husband? (try reading about his interesting relationship with his wife, Gala, the divorced and mysterious Russian woman who charmed many artists and intellectuals)
  -  Was he a happy man? Was he ever fulfilled?

And oh, I read that Dali was a candaulist. Now you would have to look that up in Google.

This is the entrance area of the Dali Theatre-Museum on the Placa Gala i Salvador Dali.

Dali's cadillac that the couple used when they lived for several years in the USA.

The open courtyard of the museum decorated with windows with gold figure sculptures.

This is on the main hall overlooking the open courtyard and the skylight cupola ceiling.

The Mae West surrelist Lips sofa (1937).

The whole Mae West set up according to Dali. You can only see this by climbing on top of the stairs in front of the set up and looking into the telescopic lens. I took this picture through the glass lens.

His works might make you think he is one of those looney tune serial killers in the USA. I have watched many documentaries of such and read about them online as well, and they seem to have these kinds of objects in their secret room. Just saying =)

Hmm, yes that is a headless turned upside down doll and the eyes are the doll heads.

The main hall of the museum with the cupola skylight.

When you look at Dali's works you travel yourself into them.

His watercolour paints... the paintings above both reflecting a turbulent part of our history: the Nazi regime of Germany and the Israeli flag.

The ceiling of one of the ball rooms in the theatre-museum. Simply breathtaking. The colours and those feet.

Those are actually espadrille shoes hanging at the tip of the painting frame.

Dali's "Persistence of Memory" (1931) that became famous in New York City and across the world. This surreal painting made him world famous. Many people nicknamed this painting, the melting clocks painting. Well, those are actually pocket watches.

More intellectually challenging works of Dali. He often works with symbols and meanings.

He dabbled in furniture and interor design as well, even architecture! But oh dear, I do not want to have that snake-alligator type of bed in my room. Sorry, not my style. 

This is one of my favourites. I believe the model is his wife, Gala.

Dali also went into fashion, film and photography. He even did literary writing stuff. The man is a jack of all trades. A genius!

This sketching is one of the most disturbing I have seen and the mannequin as well is one of the almost very real I have seen so far.

Dali is experimenting here with optical illusion art... and using himself and his wife as subjects.

His real name: Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech and his trademark is his upturned flambouyant moustache.

The very eye-catchy Dali Theatre-Museum along the main street, the tower crowned with eggs and the walls decorated with poop-like ornaments. The entrance is at the Gala i Salvador Placa (in the pedestrian area of the old centre).

Leaving the Dali Museum gave me energy to embrace life and my travels creatively and profoundly. But it also evoked to me that no matter how intense we are with our life undertakings, everything is fleeting, thus make the most of everything you have and you can right now.

Travel Period: November 2013
Destination: Figueres (Girona), Spain

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