Thursday, January 5, 2023

The Persistence of Genius --- Day 12/8

Walk: No, Still storming

Distance: Yoga to the Rescue


Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931, oil on canvas


Something about this painting turns Ciwt's stomach, in person at MoMA when she gets to New York, but even just seeing a picture of it.  Is it the slick, slimey (to her) paint, the sickening (to her) palette, the liquid ghastly images (her again)?  Could be all three plus some semi and unconscious things she knows nothing about.

But, in spite of being repelled, or, more accurately being drawn by 'the fascination of the abomination,'* she acknowledges it has continually been the most visited painting in the most visited modern art institution in the world for good reason.  Its surreal sensual power has persisted for nearly a century now because it is, quite simply, genius.


*Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness

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