January 23, 1989 – Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí dies.
On this day in history, legendary Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí died, leaving behind a legacy of painting, sculptures, photography, and general wackiness, setting the bar for weirdos around the world. Best known for his dreamy paintings that decorate dorm rooms everywhere, Dalí also made headlines in his day for all manner of attention-grabbing public antics and eccentricities. George Orwell wrote, “One ought to be able to hold in one’s head simultaneously the two facts that Dalí is a good draughtsman and a disgusting human being.” In honor of the death of the 20th century’s leading oddball, here’s 12 things you didn’t know about Salvador Dalí.
1. Appeared on The Tonight Show with a leather rhinoceros and refused to sit on anything else.
2. Born nine months after the death of his brother (also named Salvador) and was told from childhood that he was his brother’s reincarnation.
3. Frequently traveled with his pet ocelot Babou.
4. Accused of starting an unrest at his art academy and was expelled in 1926.
5. Attended a masquerade party with his wife dressed as the Lindbergh baby and his kidnapper.
6. Received an exorcism in 1947.
7. Upon getting kicked out of his Surrealist group, remarked “I myself am surrealism.”
8. Rumored to have a phobia of female genitalia as a young man.
9. Delivered a lecture wearing a deep-sea diving suit and helmet, carrying a billiard cue, and leading a pair of Russian wolfhounds.
10. Designed the logo for Chupa Chups lollipops in 1969.
11. Used a glass floor to study foreshortening, creating dreamlike perspectives in his paintings.
12. Avoided paying tabs by drawing on his checks, assuming proprietors would find more value in keeping the checks as art than cashing them.
He also collected rocks,big ,huge ones , That took many men and cranes to move, to his home in spain it makes the place look like another Planet, Surreal
That is fantastic. Also, I’m totally counting it as part of my list, since 13 weird facts are much better than 12.
I’m trying that “drawing on the check” thing.
Maybe you could try starting with the Gallery paychecks. OH WAIT.
Hmm, I wonder if I can procure a pair of Russian wolfhounds by Halloween…
This is what you need. A life-sized stuffed one!
That bit about the glass floor and foreshortening was so interesting that I felt compelled to Google it and do some more reading just now. Fantastic stuff as always Ms. Halloween…though I doubt my boss would be as appreciative 🙂
Oh, I don’t mind, really.
Ohhhh, you mean your boss AT WORK. Right.
My apologies. Yes, I meant the boss I *won’t * willingly grovel before, Ms. Halloween. 🙂