A GLIMPSE ON MODERNISM

                                                                            By Nitor-Curca Raluca

1900-1980. The notion of Modernism is closely related to ‘modern art’.

Modernism refers to the new approach to art where it was no longer important to represent a subject realistically. Instead, artists started experimenting with new ways of seeing, with fresh ideas about the nature, materials, and functions of art, often moving further toward abstraction. Modernism was the movement that revolutionised the world around us and the way we live it. Amongst famous artists of modern art are Salvador Dali, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso and more.

Salvador Dali is popularly known as Dali. He is hugely popular around the world for creating a new genre in art – surrealism. Dali is known for his strange, right in the eye bizarre images. Dali got strongly influenced by thoughts, ideas and artworks of the Renaissance period. Dali was eccentric by nature and he drew attention of his critics who remained mostly irritated by his weird antics and outrageous behaviour and public actions. Dali was passionate about style, statement making and luxury. There have been several films, sculptures and photography exhibitions carried pout by Dali in collaboration with other artists.     

Dali was an excellent draftsman who produced skilled technical drawings. Dali gave many art lectures around Europe. But his fame was greatly popular in the USA. Dali’s most famous paintings include “The Metamorphosis of Narcissus”, “Landscape Near Figueras”, “Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening” and “The Great Masturbator” which are some of his greatest symbolic art representations. Besides painting Dali indulged in writing and produced some great literary works like “The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí”, “Diary of a Genius” and “Oui: The Paranoid-Critical Revolution”. Dali created great many lithographs, etchings and graphic arts. Dali was a self proclaimed genius who is referred for his paintings even in the modern times.

Funny fact: Salvador Dali once conned Yoko Ono out of $10,000 by sending her a piece of dried grass instead of a hair from his moustache.

Fearing that the widow of John Lennon might use it for occult purposes, the surrealist master sent a blade of dried grass when she asked for some hair.

The story has come to light in recollections by Amanda Lear, a French singer, actress and model, who met Dali in the mid 1960s and remained close to him until his death aged 84, in 1989.

          "Throughout his life, Dali could never resist the lure of a cheque," Miss Lear, now in her 60s said. "Once he even sold a hair of his moustache to Yoko Ono. Well, almost."

She went on to explain that "Dali thought that Yoko Ono was a witch and might use it in a spell. He didn't want to send her a personal item, much less one of his hairs. So he sent me to the garden to find a dry blade of grass, and sent it off in a nice presentation box.

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                                                                                                                                      by Marina A.