Few people realize that when they walk through the plaza at the end of Felipe II Avenue in Madrid they are passing one of the only monumental squares designed by the great Catalan artist Salvador Dalí. The square is marked with a sculptural monument dedicated to science and technology, centered around a figure of Isaac Newton placed in front of a giant dolmen.
In 1985, the Madrid City Council took the initiative to dedicate a public space in the city to Dalí, and commissioned the surrealist artist to create a work for the space. Several meetings between Dalí and representatives of the city took place in Figueras, where Dalí lived. Finally he gave his consent to the project, and created two sketches.
In the agreement, it was stipulated that the square would adopt the name “Salvador Dalí” and in it a monumental complex called “El Dolmen de Dalí” would be erected. The stone dolmen, built in granite and rising 43 feet tall, is formed by an oval-shaped natural rock placed horizontally on three carved granite pillars. The bronze sculpture represents an abstract, masculine figure standing on a cubic pedestal of polished black granite. The figure is holding a pendulum, with another one hanging within the hollow chest.
This work is an adaptation of a 1969 Dalí sculpture titled “Homage to Newton,” which in turn is based on a small image represented in his 1949 painting “Phosphene de Laporte.” On each of the pedestal’s four faces is a carved letter, composing the name “Gala,” Dalí’s wife and inspirational muse.
Know Before You Go
Salvador Dalí's Square and the monument are located at the end of Felipe II Avenue (Avenida de Felipe II) in the Salamanca District. The nearest tube station is Goya, reached by lines 2 and 4.
Pia kuna pia uwanja wa Felipe II, ambao ni moja ya viwanja vya kihistoria zaidi vilivyobuniwa na msanii maarufu wa Kikatalani Salvador Dalí. Piafu hiyo ina alama ya sanamu iliyowekwa kwa ajili ya sayansi na teknolojia, iliyozungukwa na sanamu ya Isaac Newton iliyowekwa mbele ya dolmen kubwa. Mwaka 1985 Baraza la Jiji la Madrid lilianzisha mpango wa kumpa Dalí nafasi ya umma na kumpa kazi ya kuchora. Mikutano kadhaa kati ya Dalí na wawakilishi wa jiji ilifanyika huko Figueras, ambapo Dalí aliishi. Hatimaye alitoa idhini yake kwa mradi huo, na kuunda michoro miwili. Katika makubaliano hayo, ilibainishwa kwamba uwanja huo ungepewa jina <unk>Salvador Dalí<unk> na ndani yake jengo kubwa lililoitwa <unk>El Dolmen de Dalí<unk> lingejengwa. Dolmen ya mawe, iliyojengwa kwa mawe ya graniti na yenye urefu wa futi 14, imefanyizwa na mwamba wa asili wenye umbo la mviringo uliowekwa kwa usawa juu ya nguzo tatu za mawe ya graniti. Sanamu hiyo ya shaba inawakilisha mtu asiye na maana, wa kiume anayesimama juu ya nguzo ya mraba ya graniti nyeusi iliyopakwa rangi. Mfano huo unashikilia penduli, na nyingine inalingana ndani ya kifua kisicho na kitu. "Kutoka kwa mchoro wa Dalí wa 1969 ""Homage to Newton"" (Heshima kwa Newton), mchoro huo unaonyesha picha ya mchoro wa Dalí ya 1949 ""Phosphene de Laporte"" (Phosphene de Laporte) na picha ya mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro wa mchoro)." Salvador Dalí Square ni eneo la kumbukumbu la Salvador Dalí, ambalo liko katika barabara ya Felipe II, katika wilaya ya Salamanca. Kituo cha chini ya ardhi cha karibu zaidi ni Goya, kinachoweza kufikiwa na mistari ya 2 na 4.