In Search of Dali Part 2
Salvador Dali House – Museum (Portlligat, Cadaques)
Dali’s House
” I have been made in these stones, here I have shaped my personality, discovered my love, painted my work and built my house. I cannot separate myself from this sky, this sea, these rocks. I am tied forever and ever to Portlligat, where I have defined all my most sincere truths and my roots.”
Dali’s relationship with Cadaques began very early on. His father was born there and owned a house on the beach. It was a place for summer, free time and happy memories. In the summer of 1929, Dali met Gala, who would become his wife and muse. He was visited by Reme Magritte and his wife, Paul Eluard and Gala with their daughter, Cecile, and a few others in the arts circle. When they returned to Paris in Autumn, Gala stayed a few more weeks in Cadaques, and from then on would remain with Dali forever.
The house is a series of 7 fisherman’s huts each measuring some 22 square metres. In 1930, he moved into the first hut, attracted by the landscape, the light and the isolation of the place. Over the course of forty years, he created his house little by little, bit by bit. This house in Portlligat was the only home Dali ever owned. It is here where Dali was inspired and worked.
” The decoration of the house is extraordinary, surprising. The exact description would perhaps be never before seen. I do not think there is anything similar in this here or in many other countries. The decoration of houses is always the same according to the social class of those who live in them: the bourgeoisie, the petit bourgeoisie, etc. It is the common, constant place. They have not paid great attention to the matter. Dali’s home is unusual. He must have made a precise and exact description of it. It contains only mementos, obsessions, set ideas of the owners. There is nothing traditional, or inherited, or repeated or copied. Everything is an undecipherable personal mythology. There are many things, the meaning of which only the owners are aware of. There are works of art ( by the painter ), Russian things ( owned by Madame Gala ) , stuffed animals, steps with geological walls, which rise and fall, books ( something unusual with this person in mind ) , vulgar or very refined objects, etcetera. ” – Josep Pla
On 30 June 1982, when Gala died, Dali went to live in the Castle of Pubol and finally abandoned Portlligat. ( That will be the subject of the third instalment to follow )
( Some say it is in the shape of a mishapen anatomy )
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