Salvador Dalí and Hans Arp. The Birth of Memory

The two artists met in André Breton’s circle of Parisian surrealists almost a century ago. Arp's innovative reliefs from the period show similarities to those in Dalí's paintings. The boundaries between humans, animals, plants and simple everyday objects are removed.

Dalí's early work of the 1920s and 1930s is often characterized by abstract, organic forms that proliferate and grow, which was also typical of Arp.

Salvador Dalí is considered one of the most famous artists of the 20th century and his art has also found its way into international pop culture. As a master of self-dramatization, he left behind countless photos, worked in advertising films and designed objects. Dalí was both an artist and a brand.

As an early multimedia artist, he experimented with the medium of film and with optical illusions such as anamorphoses, stereoscopes and holograms.

An augmented reality production in the exhibition, opens up new worlds of experience for the senses. It connects Dalí's imagery with the real landscapes of the Rhine.

Like Ludwig van Beethoven, Salvador Dalí was one of the most radical artists of his time – eccentric, brilliant and always reinventing himself. He broke the boundaries of all genres by realizing his potential in painting, sculpture, artisan craftwork, film, books and music.

Dalí and Beethoven were both visionaries filled with innovative ideas and Dalí repeatedly referred to the great composer. In his memoirs, he describes how he saw Beethoven's head in a cloudy sky after a storm and also depicted the vision in drawings. Beethoven's compositions will also be heard at listening stations, in the multimedia guide and in a concert series.