Dali and the piano: the symbolic significance of the piano as instrument in the works of Salvador Dali

Year 2022, Volume: 3 Issue: 4, 187 - 201, 30.12.2022

Idlin Arshinova

Abstract

A distinctive feature of symbolism, a powerful force in art, is experimental thinking. It contributes to an innovative approach to artistic analysis and the rethinking of established or traditional perspectives of association. Despite the fact that a large number of studies have been devoted to various symbols in Dali's work, some of them have not received much attention. One of these symbols is the piano. It is present in many of the artist's paintings and is part of his childhood memories. The present analysis is based on these memories as well as the arc of his life and related works. Symbols other than the piano are also included so as to give a more complete analysis. The purpose of this study is to assess the significance of the piano as symbol and to show that it is of primary importance as are the more well- known ones such as the soft clock, egg, and elephants. This study is based primarily based on previously published materials on the Dali's life, works and associated symbols. Works on the history of surrealism as well as autobiographical memoirs of the artist himself also form a basis along with analyzes of his paintings. Based on the available facts, assumptions that formed the basis of the meaning of the piano symbol in the artist's paintings were deducted. The choice of sources was based on their reliability and objectivity. Since any research is based on facts and conclusions based on these facts, it is very important to use different sources in order to have the most objective vision of the problem. Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Office, Koha and data mining methods were used to create this article. Namely; identifying patterns (free search), using the revealed patterns to predict unknown values, analysis of exceptions found in patterns. The purpose of data mining (eng. Datamining) was to detect implicit patterns in data sets. The piano in the work of Salvador Dali is as significant as the well-known ones normally associated with Dali’s form of surrealism. This is a symbol that comes from early childhood, passes through adolescence and plays a large semantic role in adulthood. Koha pen-source automated library information system for librarians and readers. It would be most beneficial if more interdisciplinary studies concerning the relations between the representation of music or musical symbols and representational art were undertaken. It would be well if there were to be more collaboration between musicians or music scholars and artists or art scholars who command a higher level of knowledge in their respective fields.

Keywords

salvador dali, dali, piano, art, surrealism, paintings, symbols, symbols in Dali's paintings, piano image, piano in art

Supporting Institution

Yasar University

Thanks

I thank my thesis advisor Assoc. Prof. Paolo Susanni

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