Surrealism Artist Research 2

Artist Research

Salvador Dali - 1936

Content:

I would describe this piece as abstract and uncanny. The sculpture is of a ‘Lobster Telephone’. The sculpture is imagined, as it isn’t a common object in everyday life. I think Dali has tried to achieve something unique and abnormal in this sculpture. This piece is very exaggerated, as it isn’t of objects you would put together. This gives the effect that the sculpture comes across as uncanny and abnormal in society.

Formal Elements:

Dali has composed this piece to make it look normal, with the lobster taking the place of the actual phone part of the telephone. This exaggerates the surrealism as it makes it feel familiar however it isn’t.  The piece has been arranged specifically, so that the lobster takes the place of the phone, however it still looks like a telephone with the bottom and cord attached. The colours are very contrasted, creating a build-up of contrasts. The bright orange colour of the lobster tends to dominate, as it is so bright that it draws attention mostly to the lobster. There are different textures in the sculpture, this can be seen in the shiny material of the telephone and the duller lobster, and also the ridges in the lobster’s tail.

Process:

Dali’s sculpture was made using various materials, such as steel, plaster, rubber, resin and paper. To make this piece Dali sculpted a lobster and painted in the textures and colours, he then would have attached it to the telephone cord and placed it onto the telephone. This piece would have been evolved slowly over time, as it would’ve taken a while to build up the lobster and paint with detail and accuracy.

Mood / Meaning:

The sculpture is supposed to have sexual connotations as fresh seafood was photographed by Horst P. Horst and George Platt Lynes on live nude models. A lobster was used by the artist to cover the female sexual organs of his models. Dali also used to often draw close analogy between food and sex.