A landmark cultural event unfolds as “Dalí Comes to India,” a traveling exhibition featuring the works of legendary surrealist Salvador Dalí, opens at the Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre on the sidelines of the India Art Fair 2025. Presented by the Bruno Art Group, the exhibition showcases over 200 original works from the Pierre Argillet Collection, offering Indian audiences an unprecedented opportunity to experience Dalí’s imaginative and provocative artistry.
Curated by Christine Argillet, daughter of Dalí’s publisher Pierre Argillet, the exhibition runs from February 7 to 13 before moving to Massarrat by Bruno Art Group at Savitri Cinema Complex, GK-2, from February 15 to March 16.
“This is a significant moment for art lovers in India,” says Christine Argillet, who dedicates her career to preserving and exhibiting her father’s collection. “Dalí’s work is not just surrealism—it’s an exploration of the subconscious, of dreams, of the very essence of human creativity.”
The exhibition highlights Dalí’s most celebrated etchings, watercolors, and tapestries. It features key works from collections such as “Mythologie,” “Les Chants de Maldoror,” and “Faust,” which showcase the artist’s fascination with mythology, alchemy, and psychological exploration.
Motti Abramovitz, Owner & CEO of Bruno Art Group, emphasizes the importance of bringing Dalí’s works to India. “This exhibition is a tribute to Dalí’s enduring vision. It’s the first time that such an extensive collection of his works is being displayed in India since his visit in 1967. To further enrich the experience, we have also invited artists closely aligned with surrealism, such as New York-based painter Yigal Ozeri and Swiss sculptor Dr. Gindi,” he explains.
Ozeri, known for his hyper-realistic paintings, presents “My Territory: India,” a series capturing India’s diverse landscapes and people with stunning detail. Dr. Gindi’s sculptures, meanwhile, explore themes of human existence and transformation, echoing the introspective nature of Dalí’s work.
Even decades after his passing, Salvador Dalí (1904-1989) remains one of the most influential figures in modern art. His works, from “The Persistence of Memory” with its melting clocks to “The Elephants”, continue to captivate audiences with their dreamlike distortions of reality.
The exhibition also features etchings from Dali’s other key series such as “Secret Poems of Apollinaire” and “Don Juan,” each reflecting Dalí’s fascination with symbolism, literature, and surrealist techniques. Highlights include 50 prints from The Songs of Maldoror, where Dalí reinterprets childhood traumas, and 16 etchings from Mythology, created using his unique “hasard objectif” technique. The collection also presents 242 individual copper etchings from 1960–1972, offering a broad perspective on Dalí’s artistic evolution. Complementing the showcase, the exhibition features sculptures by Dr. Gindi, exploring themes of human existence and transience, alongside Yigal Ozeri’s photorealistic paintings from his My Territory: India series, capturing the vibrancy of Indian life with breathtaking detail.
“In today’s digital era, where virtual and real worlds blend, Dalí’s exploration of time, space, and consciousness feels more relevant than ever,” says Christine Argillet. “His work forces us to question our perceptions, making it as thought-provoking today as it was in the 20th century.”
The Pierre Argillet Collection, one of the most comprehensive private collections of Dalí’s works, has previously been exhibited in leading museums such as the Pushkin Museum in Moscow and the Dalí Museum in Figueres, Spain. Its arrival in India marks a historic cultural exchange, allowing Indian audiences to immerse themselves in the visionary world of surrealism.
As the exhibition welcomes visitors, Dalí’s surreal dreamscapes transport them into a realm where imagination reigns supreme, reality bends, and art defies convention.