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| Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory, 1931, oil on canvas |
Something about this painting turns my stomach, in person at MoMA when I get to New York, but even just seeing a picture of it. Is it the slick, slimey (to me) paint, the sickening (to me) palette, the liquid ghastly images (me again)? Could be all three plus some semi and unconscious things I knows nothing about.
But, in spite of being repelled, or, more accurately being drawn by 'the fascination of the abomination,'* I cannot help but acknowledge The Persistence of Memory has continually been the most visited painting in the most visited modern art institution in the world for good reason. Its surreal sensual power has persisted for nearly a century now because it is, quite simply, genius.
*Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness
