“My mystical paradise starts in the plains of Empordà, flanked by the hills of Albera, and finds its completion in the bay of Cadaqués”.
Salvador Dalí
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Dalí Universe is thrilled to announce a spectacular collaboration that transcends the traditional boundaries of the gallery space.
In a prestigious partnership with Clarendon Fine Art, the Dalí Universe’s esteemed British partner, the most visionary works from our collection are setting sail across the azure horizons of the world’s most sophisticated boutique ships: EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II.
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This is not merely an exhibition at sea; it is a homecoming. By bringing Dalí’s three-dimensional masterpieces onto the sea, we are returning the Master to his most vital source of inspiration: the crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean.
Clarendon Fine Art has masterfully curated an onboard experience that transforms the elegant interiors of the Explora fleet into a sanctuary of Surrealism. Guests are invited to encounter a breathtaking selection of bronze, silver, and gold sculptures from the Dalí Universe Collection, displayed alongside works by other 20th-century legends and contemporary masters.
Onboard, the gallery experience is both intimate and exclusive. From the iconic melting clocks to the spindly-legged majesty of the cosmic elephant, the iconography present within these ships captures the very essence of Dalinian thought.
These works are not merely on view; they are available for acquisition, offering collectors a rare opportunity to own a limited-edition piece from the Dalí Universe Collection.
To truly understand Salvador Dalí, one must understand his relationship with the water. While the partnership with Explora Journeys represents the height of modern luxury travel, it also mirrors a profound historical truth: for Dalí, the sea was the ultimate catalyst for the subconscious.
The bond between the Master of Surrealism and the sea began in the sun-drenched fishing village of Cadaqués. It was here that a young Dalí became obsessed with the Mediterranean light, a light he described as “the most beautiful in the world”, and the jagged, metamorphic rocks of the Costa Brava.
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These geological forms, eroded by the wind and salt, became the “soft” shapes that would later populate his dreamscapes.
In 1930, Dalí and his muse, Gala, settled in a humble fisherman’s hut in Port Lligat. This site became the center of their universe. As Dalí famously remarked: “I cannot paint anywhere else. I need to see the sailors, the colour of the olive trees… to feel the peace of the landscape”. For Dalí, the sea was not a backdrop, but a living entity, a vast reservoir of symbols that reflected the depths of his own mind.
By placing the Dalí Universe Collection aboard EXPLORA I and EXPLORA II, we invite the traveler to step into the mind of the Master of Surrealism. Just as the sea of Port Lligat was essential to Dalí’s existence, the sea environment of Explora Journeys provides the perfect silence and vastness required to appreciate the fluidity of time and reality.
The Clarendon Experience ensures that art is not confined to a single room. It takes center stage across the ship, in theaters, lounges, and even by the pool, through dazzling exhibitions and captivating seminars. This immersion allows guests to engage with art in an environment of unprecedented elegance, where the transition from the horizon outside to the sculpture inside is seamless.
Dalí Universe is proud to continue this journey with Clarendon Fine Art. Together, we are bringing the surreal universe of Salvador Dalí to the forefront of the luxury travel experience, uniting the spirit of exploration with the joy of collecting.
We invite you to embark on this journey through the subconscious, a celebration of form, imagination, and the sublime power of the sea. Onboard Explora I and Explora II, art becomes more than a sight to behold; it becomes an unforgettable part of the voyage itself, proving that while Dalí’s roots were firmly planted in the rocks of Cadaqués, his vision was always destined to sail the world.
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