The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali - Essay Example

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali is one of the work of art that would reflect Surrealism very clearly. First of all, Surrealism is a cultural movement that has greatly affected art where Surrealist works would reflect elements of surprise and unexpected juxtapositions. Applying this knowledge to “The Persistence of Memory”, there are certain elements of the art and at the same time principles of design that shows this art being one. A strong interpretation of mine on this art has a lot to do with the use of object Salvador Dali used as a focal point to his art and at the same time the movement and life it gives to its artwork using different elements of art and design.

The clock literally is a very clear illustration of time which tells us of things that we cannot get back anymore or perhaps the notion of fleeting objects and at the same time, the use of a clock metaphorically can be attributed to our memories. As a whole, the artwork tells a story where the fading clock is a strong symbolism for human’s memory which is something that we want to hold on to for as long as we can and yet is able to slip away. This is also the irony that it communicates especially creating the mood through the strong contrast between the light and dark colors.

At first glance, you one would be able to see the opposing reflection of softness and hardness theory. This is seen through the variety of use of shape and form where the art uses free form or natural shapes to demonstrate the softness of the art that would give you an illusion of softness and non rigidity while using a mixture of the three-dimensional shapes and lines such as of the trunk that helped the art achieve the clarity of hardness, achieving the comparison with what stays and what are fleeting.

Also, the contrast of dark and light colors here, repeatedly used creates that balance between the irony of our memories fleeting and at the same time the reality that time is something that is supposed to slip away. When it comes to the principles of design, movement is one of the greatly used principle in the artwork by using of the soft elements of the artwork such as the melting clock and letting it fill up negative space which is space around the hard objects and make it lean towards it, copying the shape of the latter.

Indeed, the art leaned on the use of movement to express a fading and melting state of the clock, directing it to the copy the shape or direction of the hard objects. Also, the clock is a strong symbol has been repeatedly used to represent time or memory. When it comes to proportion, there is consistency portrayed in the artwork by pairing a balanced number of the hard objects with the soft ones, making the meaning being reflected by the artwork consistent. Also, emphasis is used through the contrast of dark and bright colors to express reality and at the same time the irony we face when we want to bring back memories and yet it has its way of making us forget.

Indeed, The Persistence of Memory is an art that expresses a hard knock reality about time and memory constantly fleeting away and yet still is able to portray this in a less heavy manner by using abstract style and design. This could be considered a distortion of reality that Salvador Dali did a great job with which is an art that we can consider as a reference to pop culture as well.Bibliography:"Elements and principles of design." Watercolor, Watercolor Painting, Watercolor lessons, watercolor instruction, watercolor technique, watercolor techniques, watercolor tips, learn watercolor. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Mar. 2012. .