COURSE PROJECT

Art Appreciation - GE6115 (-:

THE PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY

Salvador Dalí, 1931

Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dalí y

Domenech
was a Spanish surrealist artist renowned for his technical
skill, precise draftsmanship, and the striking and bizarre
images in his work.
Question:
Research and Critique an Art. Do not forget to include the picture and the author/owner
of the art.

Answer the following:

1. Explain the meaning of this art.
2. Discuss its definitions.
3. Explore your ideas and feelings about the art presented.
4. How is Art Appreciation related to your program?

In this art critique paper, I will analyze the work of one of the twentieth century's
most intriguing artists, Salvador Dalí. As an enigma and well-known surrealist, he is
perhaps best known for his strange and fantastic works, specifically The Persistence of
Memory (1931), is considered a masterpiece of Surrealism.

Salvador Dalí represents a dreamlike state, and our distorted sense of time is shown
by the melting and deformed clocks. It is like suddenly waking up and realizing it still the
middle of the night, thinking it was already morning, I interpret that the melting clocks
represents the hours gone, the moments we can never go back to, and can only be
revisited in memory.

At first glance, it appears to be a simple landscape, in the distance a tranquil sea

merges with the sky with a rocky cliff on the right side. To the left of the foreground is a
block of wood that serves as a table; on it are two clocks and a small tree, The third
clock is the most curved of them all; it hangs from the branch of the tree with no leaves
that protrudes from the table, it may mean that one is still hanging on to the past times,
where all was well, a time where you weren’t worrying for your future, how to pay your
rent, if you’d ever finish college, or thinking back to that one jeep ride you forgot to pay.
In the center of the picture is the fourth and final clock which is on a rock that bears a
passing resemblance to a face (that sleeps) due to its prominent lashes and nose;
however, this face does not stand upright either; it is deformed. This face could reflect
the face of death, but it could also be a self-interpretation of Dali himself, as it was a
recurring motif in his other works.

My final conclusion is that the artist is intending to convey to the viewer that
nothing that nothing is eternal, time runs out sooner or later; It is our nemesis and
friend.  This was relayed ‘beautifully abstract’ because of the artist's choice of colors..
and because of the wonky ways I interpreted whatever those clocks seem to be
conveying, they appear to be slipping away from the surfaces they are mounted on, as
a viewer, I imagined many temporalities; the deformation of the clocks demonstrates
time's relativity. The passing of time has melted them, but they continue to perform their
role of providing time.

The word "art" refers to a broad range of works, ranging from paintings to
sculptures, architecture to design, and, more recently, digital art. Everyone can admire
and wonder at art, and since art is subjective in nature, it appeals to a wide variety of
people. However, Art Appreciation, in my opinion, refers to the examination and study
of the art forms to which we are exposed. It can be highly subjective, depending on an
individual's specific tastes and preferences, especially if they have prejudices, or it can
be based on a variety of criteria, including the design and mastery demonstrated in the
piece. Art appreciation also entails a more in-depth examination of the piece's context,
historical significance, and history, as well as an analysis of its origins.

Art appreciation is important for a variety of reasons. It's an excellent way to learn
about the work's origins and the era in which it was created. Artists also use their work
to address personal concerns and societal issues. By analyzing and putting ourselves in
the shoes of the artist, we will gain a deeper understanding of how culture functioned
differently in the past than it does now. We should empathize with and relate to their
personal struggles. It enables us to value art in terms of how it relates to us and what it
means to each person. It delves into the origins and meaning of the craft, as well as the
artists' personal lives. It enables one to conduct a critical analysis of a work on the basis
of design, mastery, and technique. Most significantly, however, art appreciation inspires
thought and study, prompting us to look beyond the obvious and broaden our horizons.