After Frida Kahlo, Monet and Van Gogh, it’s surrealist painter Salvador Dalí’s turn to inspire an immersive experience. For the first time in North America, Inside Dalí has been presented at Arsenal since Friday.
“Without being a great connoisseur, I have always been a fan of Dalí’s originality, Dalí’s themes, Dalí’s madness, explains Paul Dupont-Hébert, president of Tandem Expositions and producer of Inside Dalí. Dalí acted in the cinema and he would have liked to make a career out of it. So we wanted to make films with his works. »
The exhibition offers a 34-minute “journey” through the artist’s universe, in addition to a hall of mirrors and an “educational” area, which allows visitors to familiarize themselves with all facets of Dalí’s career. We are told in particular that in addition to being a painter, Dalí was an engraver, screenwriter, writer and passionate about music and photography.
“We are convinced that, somewhere, he is watching us and he is happy,” said Paul Dupont-Hébert.
Tandem Expositions is also behind the immersive experiences Imagine Monet, Imagine Van Gogh, Imagine Picasso and The Magic of the Impressionists.
Paul Dupont-Hébert is particularly fond of this exhibition format, since it offers visitors a unique experience.
He also highlights the advantage of maximizing the number of works presented. “To see so many works by Dalí at the same address is impossible,” explains Paul Dupont-Hébert. It would take you your whole life to see all this. »
The animation of the artist’s works is projected on the four walls of a space seven meters high. Visitors can sit down to contemplate the passing images or simply close their eyes and enjoy the melancholy soundtrack, composed by Stefano Patrizio.
“The music that accompanies the animation brings a lot of emotions, notes Paul Dupont-Hébert. It brings us a little to meditation. There are so many emotions that I would not be surprised if during the exhibition, we witness marriage proposals. »
According to the producer, this immersive experience is aimed as much at hardened admirers of the artist as at people who are not familiar with his work. What does he hope we take away from our visit? “Madness. Dalí’s madness. Dalí was amazed, he was mad, he was spectacular. He wanted to be seen. He was a painting himself. »
Raphaël Remiche, general manager of the Belgian company Tempora, which owns the exhibition, agrees with the producer. He also believes that connoisseurs of Dalí’s work will find something to their liking here. “If you’re a big fan, you’ll get to see details you might not have seen in his paintings, being transported into his world,” he says.
Before landing in Montreal, Inside Dalí was presented in New Zealand, Italy and Belgium.
Raphaël Remiche is particularly delighted that the exhibition has received the blessing of the Dalí Foundation. “Montse Aguer, who is the director of the Dalí Museums and the Center for Dalinian Studies, validated all the stages of creation,” he explains. So we have a product that is of museum quality and level. »