disintegration of the persistence of memory

The hands of the watches float above their dials, with several conical objects floating in parallel formations encircling the watches. The dead olive tree from which the soft watch hangs has also begun to break apart. Behind the bricks, the horns receding into the distance symbolise atomic missiles, highlighting that despite cosmic order, humanity could bring about its own destruction. These represent the breakdown of matter into atoms, a revelation in the age of quantum mechanics. The plane and block from the original is now divided into brick-like shapes that float in relation to each other, with nothing binding them. The landscape of Cadaqués is now hovering above the water.

Disintegration depicts what is occurring both above and below the water's surface. In this version, the landscape from the original work has been flooded with water.

It was originally known as The Chromosome of a Highly-coloured Fish's Eye Starting the Harmonious Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory, and first exhibited at the Carstairs Gallery in New York in 1954. It is a 1954 re-creation of the artist's famous 1931 work The Persistence of Memory, and measures a diminutive 25.4 × 33 cm. La Desintegración de la Persistencia de la Memoria or The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory is an oil on canvas painting by the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dalí. This work represents an important shift in the artist's creative path.The Disintegration of the Persistence of Memory With the Disintegration of Persistence of Memory, Dali re-evaluates and reinvents his own artistic history based on his new fascination with and understanding of the world of science. In his later painting, it is clear that the subconscious is no longer Dali's primary focus. The melting watches which had been the focal point of Persistence of Memory are seen here as a reminder of Dali's earlier interest in using physical, mundane objects to represent the expression of subconscious human desires and drives.

The grid of blocks is intended to show the disintegration and reintegration of matter in relation to the space/time continuum. In the new work, the seascape of the previous painting is pulled back to reveal a new grid-like structure meant to visually represent quantum mechanics. Instead of representing the interior or psychological world through surrealistic images (as he had previously done), he now wanted to explore the external world through physics.ĭisintegration of Persistence of Memory is a figurative breaking down of his earlier work, The Persistence of Memory. In the 1950s, Dali was fascinated with the connection between science and math and metaphysics and religious faith. In order to do so, he painted the Disintegration of Persistence of Memory as a deconstruction of a specific previous work. Dali's new scientific interests were taking hold and he wished to make a distinct and clear break between his new work and his former paintings. This later work of Salvador Dali's represents his movement away from his surrealist period. The Salvador Dalí Museum, St Petersburg, Florida

Disintegration of the persistence of memory