Barcelona- Dali Museum

The next city I'm visiting while in Spain next month is Barcelona, so it only makes sense it's the next city I preview in my museum tour series. I have heard from numerous people that Barcelona is their favorite city to visit in all of Spain. I have a feeling it's going to be one of my favorites, too, since it's the home to the Salvador Dali Museum. I feel so lucky that I'll be able to visit the museums for my two favorite artists, Picasso and Dali, on the same trip. Despite their many differences, the artwork of both artists inspire me to daydream (and inspired some of my own work - check out Dali on the "Katie's Work" page). I really feel like I get a peek into their worlds and inner minds every time I look at a new piece. Dali, especially, seems to have such a vivid, dreamlike imagination - that's why I love his artwork so much!

The Dali Museum isn't actually located in Barcelona but it's just a short train ride or drive away in the town of Figueres. Figueres was home for Dali for several years and the museum has one of the largest Dali collections in the world. According to the Barcelona Tourist Guide, Dali built the museum on top of the ruins of the 19th century Municipal Theater which was destroyed in the Spanish Civil War.

The Dali Museum in Figueres (image from www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com)

One of the pieces housed at the Dali Museum in Figueres that I am most eager to see is Galatea of the Spheres (1952). According to theartistsalvadordali.com, this painting was a protrait of Dali's wife, Gala. Dali considered Gala his world and his saviour and signed many of his paintings with her name. Also, this particular painting is an important piece in Dali's artistic progression. According to Dali, his early Surrealist works were based on that of a psychological world (Dali regularly called Freud his "father"). As Dali's work progressed and his view of the world changed, his interests and his artwork developed a more scientific approach:

"Today the exterior world and that of physics, has transcended the one of psychology. My father today is Dr. Heisenberg."

Dali's shift from the inner mind to science and physical space began with Galatea of the Spheres and came to a pinnacle with his manifesto on Nuclear Mysticism. But I could spend days talking about this topic, so I won't bore you with the specifics.



I can't wait for my trip in Spain and to see Dali's artwork firsthand. Check out below.


http://www.salvador-dali.org/dali/coleccio/en_50obres.html


[image & text http://www.theartistsalvadordali.com/galatea-spheres.htm]

Museu Picasso- Barcelona!

[image http://bit.ly/936rQ5]

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I will be taking a vacation in Europe in May. I'll be spending a week in Spain and a week in Paris - what better places to go for an art lover? Before I leave I want to have all my days planned out and all the museums I want to visit. Let's organize this list by city, shall we?

First up is Barcelona. I have heard from a handful of people that this city is by far their favorite to visit in Spain. The architecture, the food, the music, the art; they can't stop raving about how amazing Barcelona is. The first museum that I want to see in Barcelona will be the Picasso Museum. Picasso is by far one of my favorite artists - I can always go to his work for inspiration. And his life is just as amazing as his art.

Picasso lived in Barcelona off and on for several years. He first arrived in Barcelona as a child and spent several years studying at the School of Fine arts. He would leave the city to continue his studies and career but would return several times throughout his life. During his time here he built up a very close relationship with the community - many of his closest friends, family, loved ones and his biggest supporters lived in Barcelona. In addition, Picasso said that Barcelona served as inspiration for many of his works. Because it meant so much to him, both personally and artistically, Picasso wanted the city to be the home of his museum. The Museu Picasso was opened by his friend and secretary, Jaume Sabartes, in 1963.

There are 39 pieces in the permanent collection including his famous The Offering and one of my personal favorites, Seated Man. There are also examples of a lot of his earliest works, especially while he was studying in the city, which I am very eager to see in person. When I get to the Museu Picasso I will make sure to take write down everything that I am thinking, feeling and even taking a picture or two to bring back to share with everyone.

For more information about Picasso, his art and his life, check out http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/en/.

If you have any suggestions for museums or other sites to see during my European trip, please feel free to share them in the comments! And keep an eye open for the other museums I hope to visit as I continue to plan out my travel itinerary.