FACTS ABOUT SALVADOR DALI

1. A Gift of Love and Nobility: Salvador Dali's affection for his great love Gala was symbolised in his acquisition of the Castle of Pubol. He became the first Marquis of Dali de Pubol and took personal responsibility for decorating the interior of the castle. A space for visiting Gala, this acquisition led to his being knighted by the Marquis of Pubol himself, imbuing the love story with a sense of grandeur and devotion.

2. An Unconventional Scholar: Despite his enrolment at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid, Dali never graduated. Known for his eccentric behaviour and nineteenth-century British dandy attire, he was expelled twice; firstly for participating in a student protest and secondly just before final exams. A firm believer in his own superiority, he saw himself as better qualified than those who would examine him.

3. Master of Aphorisms: Dali's flair for the profound found expression in his many aphorisms. Among his best-known sayings is the beguiling, "There is only one difference between a madman and me. The madman thinks he is sane. I know I am mad."

4. A Unique Creative Process: Unlike many artists of his time, Dali did not use consciousnessmodifying substances. He famously remarked, "I don't do drugs. I am drugs." He developed the 'paranoid-critical' method, which involved feigned insanity and hallucinogenic visions, becoming a pivotal influence in the development of surrealism.

5. Financial Trickster: Dali's close friend Amanda Lear recounted how the artist duped Yoko Ono by selling her a dried blade of grass as a fragment of his mustache for $10,000. His apparent fear of Ono being a "witch" added another layer to this curious episode.

6. The Name Salvador: Dali was the third Salvador in his family, following his father and older brother, who died nine months before his birth. Believing himself to be the reincarnation of his brother, Dali even dedicated a painting to him, "Portrait of my dead brother."

7. An Unusual Fascination: Dali's fixation with Adolf Hitler manifested in his dreams and became a controversial aspect of his persona.

8. High School Eccentricities: Dali's theatricality began in high school, where he created spectacles such as throwing himself down the stairs in front of an audience.

9. Picasso's Influence: Meeting Pablo Picasso in Paris in 1927 left a lasting impression on Dali. Though he admired Picasso, he also brazenly claimed that one of his paintings was worth more than all of Picasso's.

10. Commercial Creations: Dali's artistic reach extended to commercial design, including the logo for Chupa Chups.

11. Surrealist Lectures: His creative expression knew no bounds, as seen in his decision to deliver a lecture at the Surrealist Exhibition in London wearing a deep-sea diving suit, a stunt that nearly ended in disaster.

12. The Mustache's Inspiration: Dali's iconic mustache was modeled on that of the painter Diego Velazquez, indicating his respect for art history.

13. A Feline Companion: Dali's penchant for the exotic was epitomised in his pet ocelot, Babou, often seen accompanying him to restaurants, bedecked in a jewel-encrusted collar.

14. The Love of Money: Known by some as "Avida Dollars," Dali's fascination with wealth led him to occasionally dubious means of earning money, such as falsely claiming that he mixed paint with wasp venom.

15. Lavish Parties: Along with his beloved wife Gala, Dali hosted extravagant themed parties, often enlivened by the presence of wild animals and innovative costumes.

16. Fashion Enthusiast: Dali's artistic vision extended to the world of fashion, where he collaborated with designers like Christian Dior.

17. Vogue Collaborations: His influence on style was evident in his design of four Vogue magazine covers.

18. Dream Exploration: Dali's efforts to enhance creativity led him to a method of remembering dreams by awakening himself with a spoon and tin plate.

19. Inspired by Einstein?: Some critics and scholars have speculated that Dali's famous Melting Watch was inspired by Einstein's theory of relativity.

20. Childhood Cruelty: Dali's sadistic tendencies in childhood, such as pushing a child off a bridge, led George Orwell to label him a "disgusting man."

21. Influence of Freud: Freud's writings profoundly influenced Dali, shaping his ideas about dreams and the subconscious.

22. A Tribute to the Mustache: Dali's love for his mustache was commemorated in a book, co-published with photographer Philippe Halsman in 1954.

23. A Prolific Artist: Dali's extensive body of work, including approximately 1500 paintings, continues to captivate audiences worldwide, marking him as one of the most prolific and enigmatic figures in the world of art.