A Decade of Dali

Since opening in a stunning new home 10 years ago, the Dali Museum has gained worldwide recognition for groundbreaking exhibits. Is anyone really surprised?

The Dali Museum moved into its stunning new home in January 2011.

BY CINDY STOVALL

In the “time flies” category does it even seem possible that one of the most iconic structures on downtown St. Pete’s picturesque waterfront is already 10 years old? You know, the one that houses one of, if not the largest collection of Salvador Dalí works, drawings, sculptures, writings and photos on the planet (2,400 pieces in total).

It seems like only yesterday that, in preparation for this transformative project, executive director Hank Hine and world-renowned architect Yann Weymouth of HOK (and Louvre Pyramid fame), traveled to Spain together to surround themselves in all things Dalí – the people and places that were important to the artist and, of course, to visit the original hometown museum devoted to his work.

But beyond inspiration for aesthetic impact, Weymouth was also tasked with the engineering directive to develop a state-of-the-art design that better protected the collection from hurricane force winds and other environmental considerations.

The vision realized in brick and mortar reality 10 years ago has arguably become the most recognizable building in the Tampa Bay area. You would not be wrong to see it as a work of art on its own – and Architectural Digest would agree with you. They placed the Dalí Museum on the Top 10 list of interesting museum structures in the world.

The sloping, twisting, bubble of geodesic glass and steel known as “The Enigma” envelopes and bursts from a cube of natural yet industrial concrete with protective 18-inch-thick walls. No building I can think of so perfectly captures the philosophical and surreal leanings of its namesake and his work – all while simultaneously meeting vital practical considerations with cutting edge design.

A Memorable Decade

Millions of visitors have come to this fantastical place to see this collection of Salvador Dalí works, which includes eight of his acclaimed masterworks, donated by his personal friends Eleanor and A. Reynolds Morse some 40 years ago. The continuing impact of this collection of multi-sensory, surreal and iconic masterpieces can only be categorized as transformative. And in that vein – in the spirit of Dalí’s envelope-pushing techniques and imagery, many fascinating exhibits featuring other notable Dalí contemporaries have graced the adjoining gallery space with an ever-increasing integration of technology.

Visitors can view Dali's masterwork in augmented reality via a smartphone.

“It greatly enhances the overall experience for the visitor and improves our ability to off er uniquely imagined programming,” says curator of education Peter Tush. This tech-forward philosophy is dramatically refl ected in the current Van Gogh Alive exhibit, and will continue to be a high priority as expansion is being planned.

They certainly have the right person in Yann Weymouth to be involved in such forward-thinking endeavors. “After over 50 years, it is still a thrill to learn about new advancements in design, science and technology,” he says. “Dalí was fascinated by these things as well. What I can tell you, is the barrel isn’t empty yet.

“Seriously though, we MUST solve the carbon problem. It is essential to consider such things as structural resilience, sustainability and energy consciousness in modern design. Things like LED lighting and solar roofs will help address these concerns. Also, the ability to create aesthetic elements not previously possible – virtual staging elements that don’t include actual paintings, audio advancements, moveable walls, floors and ceilings — these all figure prominently in tech-forward building design and will be a part of any expansion,” says Weymouth.

Milestones like this are a gauge for just how quickly a decade flies by. I had the opportunity to interview Dalí Museum Executive Director Hank Hine to talk about his vision for the future.

What would you consider the most impactful accomplishment of the decade in the new location?

First and foremost, the biggest impact of our current location is the building’s ability to protect our unparalleled collection of Salvador Dalí works and therefore preserving Dalí’s legacy for years to come. Secondly, being able to share that legacy with over 3 million visitors that have walked through our doors over the past 10 years is an incredible feat as we strive to serve as an active resource in both our community and the world at large.

What is your vision for the role of technology in presenting fine art?

It is our belief that technology can enhance an art experience. This can be seen in our other digital experiences available at The Dalí. For example, our Masterworks in Augmented Reality experience available on The Dalí Museum app helps visitors uncover the meaning behind Dalí’s larges canvases; and our Dalí Lives experiences allows visitors to hear from a reimagined Dalí, who shares his inspirations using authentic historic quotes.

Our current special exhibit Van Gogh Alive, is a fully immersive experience that explores underlying changes in Van Gogh’s state of mind and shifting emotional states through sound and movement, something that perhaps may not be as easily understood through a painting alone. In all cases, through blending art and technology, we want to provide a new appreciation for art and an open mind to experience art in a new way, while further educating our audience about art and artists.

Please name your top 3 favorite exhibits during the decade and why.

Dalí/Duchamp. This exhibition joined two artists considered as opposites, Salvador Dalí and Marcel Duchamp, and showed that they both wanted to fuse art and life seamlessly. Disney and Dalí: Architects of the Imagination. Here we brought two of the great imaginations of our time together and also created a new work that carried their passion for technology. Dalí’s Sacred Science: Religion & Mysticism showed how Dalí used extended series of works to dive deeply into the connections of the material and the spiritual.

What do you want visitors to come away with after a visit?

We hope to provide our visitors with a unique arts destination that grants moments of powerful inspiration. We want visitors to walk away with a new perspective – delivered through Dalí’s exceptional skill – to make one feel as though a world of infi nite possibilities has been revealed.

What is your favorite piece in the permanent collection? Why?

Gala Contemplating the Mediterranean Sea which at 20 Meters becomes a Portrait of Abraham Lincoln. The painting requires two kinds of sight, two ways of looking: up close and from a distance. When you look up closely you see Gala, when you look from far away you see Lincoln. The painting is beautiful and skillful, and it is also a metaphor about life and living – there is always more than one way of seeing something. And we must be fl exible in the way we approach life.

Who are some of the most famous Dalí visitors over the last decade?

Alice Cooper, Bill Murray, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Tony Bennett, Katie Couric, George Takei, Jeremy Irons, Susan Sarandon, Penn & Teller, Dick Cheney, TJ Miller, Patch Adams and Ferran Adria, to name a few.

Tell us one thing that people would be surprised to know.

Dalí positioned a mirror in his bedroom so that the first rays of the sun would touch his face in bed as he slept.

What are some of your hopes and plans for the coming decade?

We recognize that the way visitors want to consume art continues to evolve, as does the advancement of technology in museums, which pushes us to continually explore new, engaging experiences. We’re committed to staying at the forefront of technology, embracing new methods to engage guests in unconventional ways and our vision is to create a revolutionary space inviting the world to innovative digital art experiences.

At a media event on January 11 celebrating the museum’s 10th anniversary, Hank Hine summed it up nicely, quoting advertising executive John Gossage: “Changing the world is the only worthy pursuit of serious people.”

Hine and the Dalí staff embody that point of view each and every day.

Dali Museum Greatest Hits

Some exhibition highlights of the past decade:

Midnight in Paris: Surrealism at the Crossroads, 1929 – This exhibit, a coveted collaboration with Centre Pompidou in Paris, was unceremoniously cut short by Covid-19, but it certainly made a splash while it ran. The collection of photos, paintings and virtually immersive features examined the works, friendships and clashes of Dalí, André Breton, Luis Buñuel, Alexander Calder, René Magritte and others. Of note: The short film written by local actress Roxanne Fey in which she starred as Gala verbally fencing with Breton played by Ned Averill Snell.

Clyde Butcher: Visions of Dali’s Spain – Florida’s own modernday Ansel Adams, the renowned nature photographer, was commissioned to go to Spain to explore and visually document Dalí’s homeland. He brought back some truly magical images.

All photos from The Dali Museum

Dalí & Schiaparelli – Another cross-Atlantic collaboration with Schiaparelli Paris, this exhibition featured haute couture gowns and accessories, jewelry, paintings, drawings, objects and photos, as well as new designs by Bertrand Guyon for Maison Schiaparelli.

Frida Kahlo at The Dalí - This exhibit was an intriguing exploration of the life of Kahlo, her striking artwork and her fascinating psyche. Together with the exclusive photographs of family, friends and lovers, the exhibition gave a complete view of Kahlo’s world, along with the joys, passions and obsessions of this remarkable artist.

Disney & Dalí – Presented through a multimedia wonderland of original paintings, story sketches, conceptual artwork, objects, correspondences, archival film, photographs, and audio, this comprehensive exhibition showcased two vastly different icons who were drawn to each other through their unique personalities, their enduring friendship, and their collaboration on the animated short Destino.

Dreams of Dalí in Virtual Reality - An early foray into the remarkable marriage of art and technology, featuring a study of Dali’s painting Archaeological Reminiscence of Millet’s “Angelus,” visitors were immersed in the world of the Surrealist master like never before - venturing into the towers, peering from them to distant lands and discovering surprises around every corner.

“Visual Magic: Dalí’s Masterworks in Augmented Reality” - Viewing each Masterwork through The Dalí Museum app on a mobile device, visitors could see the paintings come to life, highlighting and exploring their individual complexities.