SALVADOR DALI & PIERRE ARGILLET: Thirty Years of Collaboration

Argus, 1972-1973, Aubusson Tapestry, 249 x 307cm

SALVADOR DALI & PIERRE ARGILLET: Thirty Years of Collaboration is a unique anthology of works by iconic Surrealist artist, Salvador Dali. A selection of Dali’s etchings and drawings from the renowned Pierre Argillet Collection will be presented alongside porcelain works and tapestries, previously unseen in Singapore. This exhibition will also feature the first ever public display of two original copper plates, an exceptional opportunity for visitors to see these historical pieces up close. All works from the Pierre Argillet Collection have been authenticated and signed by Dali, and will be available for viewing and acquisition from 10th September to 5th October 2016.

Salvador Dali and Pier, e Argillet_Circa 1960's

Salvador Dali and Pierre Argillet, Circa 1960’s

The Argillet Collection is the result of a collaboration between Dali and Pierre Argillet, his publisher and confidante for over thirty years. This new exhibition endeavors to continue the journey started at REDSEA Gallery two years ago, when works from the collection were first shown in Singapore. Now featuring a plethora of previously unseen pieces in different mediums, it further highlights Dali’s capacity to be creative in so many fields and themes.

The tapestries and porcelain plates provide some of the highlights of the exhibition. Both were specifically conceived for museums – Dali’s Teatro-Museo in Figueres, Spain and Château de Vaux-le-Pénil in Melun, France, a Surrealism museum set up by Argillet. They were key in creating a ‘Dalinian’ environment in both institutions, with the tapestries adorning the walls and the porcelain plates being used for table settings. The Argus tapestry is considered one of the most extraordinary pieces of the collection and will be making its debut in Singapore this September.

Gretchen (Marguerite), Porcelain with Gold Leaf, 25.5cm diameter, Edition of 2000, Includes Atelier’s stamp: Raynaud, In Limoges, France

The limited edition porcelain plates were developed by Dali and Argillet in 1973. Six different subjects based on six of Dali’s famous etchings from the late 1960s were chosen for the plates and a famous porcelain maker in Limoges – Raynaud – was commissioned to create the designs. ‘Bleu de four’, a technique specific to Limoges, using deep blue and gold leaf patterns, was used and all plates were individually numbered. The delicate lines of the drawings as well as the pastel colours have been beautifully rendered in this limited edition series of 2,000.

Dali’s open-mindedness and innate ability to embrace a plethora of topics and themes can also be seen in his etchings and drawings, which address different topics, from religion to eroticism. Pierre Argillet’s daughter, Christine Argillet, spent much of her childhood in the presence of Salvador Dali, and experienced his receptivity and broad-mindedness first-hand. Her presence in Singapore during the opening week of this exhibition will provide invaluable insights into the collaboration between her father and Dali, and works they produced together.

Bullfight with Parrots, 1967, Heliogravure reworked in drypoint and hand-coloured on paper, 51 x 66cm,
Editions I-C on Japanese paper, 1-150 on Arches paper

The Collection has previously been exhibited at the following institutions: Musée Boymans, Rotterdam 1971; Musée Pushkin, Moscow, 1988; Reynolds-Morse Foundation, St Petersburg, Florida; Kunsthaus, Zürich and Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, 1989; Isetan Museum of Art, Tokyo; Daimaru Art Museum, Osaka and the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art, Japan, 1990. The Collection permanently resides at the Museum of Surrealism, Château de Vaux-le-Pénil, Melun, France and Dali’s Teatro-Museo in Figueres, Spain.