DKJo! The Persistence of Memory – Salvador Dalí

At the next meeting of the One Picture Discussion Club (DKJo!), we will take a look at one of the most intriguing works of 20th-century Surrealist art – Salvador Dalí’s “Persistence of Memory.”

This iconic painterly study of time and the subconscious introduces us to the world of the Spanish artist’s dreamlike visions. The painting, painted in 1931, has become one of the most recognizable works of Surrealism, fascinating viewers with its mystery and symbolic depth.

During the meeting:

• We will look at the symbolism of the painting, analyzing what the characteristic “soft” clocks mean and how Dalí depicts the concept of time in a departure from traditional norms and rules.
• We will examine painting technique and composition, considering how the artist builds an oneiric atmosphere with light, color and precise detail.
• We will discuss the influence of Freud’s psychoanalysis on Dalí’s work, paying attention to the motifs of the subconscious, dreams and irrationality in “The Persistence of Memory.”
• We will talk about the historical context of the work’s creation – what Dalí’s inspirations were and how his art fits into the Surrealist movement.
• We will consider the universal message of the painting – is “Persistence of Memory” just a vision of a dream, or a deeper reflection on human perception of time, passing and memory?

As always, we will invite you to discuss it together, share your own interpretations and reflections.

The meeting will be moderated by: art historian Lukasz Wudarski.