“The Hallucinogenic Toreador” by Salvador Dalí | Style Imitating Art

June 6, 2022 / 20 Comments

It is my turn again to choose the artwork to inspire your style for the next round of Style Imitating Art. I had another idea in fabric arts but since my last pick featured fiber arts by Anne M. Bray, I decided to hold off on that one for another time. But that left me with no ideas of what I wanted to feature until I had a hallucinogenic epiphany a few weeks back.

About Style Imitating Art

Style Imitating Art is hosted by Salazar of 14 Shades of Grey, Terri of Meadow Tree Style, and Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge. Style Imitating Art challenges us to draw style inspiration from pieces of art. Every other Monday, one of the hosts, acting as presenter, selects an inspiration image that they will each post on their blogs. The following Monday, each host shares her art inspired outfit. Participants are invited to submit their art inspired outfits to the presenter by 10:00 p.m. EST on the Tuesday following the hosts’ art inspired outfit posts. The following day, Wednesday, the presenter will share all of the submissions on her blog.

You don’t have to be a blogger to join either! In fact, you don’t even have to join but you can still use the art to inspire an outfit just for the sake of trying something different. If you want to share your inspired outfit, we invite you do so on Instagram or any other social media platform that you prefer. Just be sure to tag Salazar, Terri, and Shelbee or use #TeamLOTSStyle and #StyleImitatingArt so the hosts know you have joined. Go have some fun in your closets and join the SIA challenge next week!

This Week’s Presenter

Well, you already know it’s me! Continue reading to learn about my hallucinogenic epiphany.

The Artwork
The Hallucinogenic Toreador by Salvador Dalí
Image Source
A Little About the Art & Why I Chose It

The Hallucinogenic Toreador is a multi-leveled oil on canvas painting by Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí which he created in 1969-1970. The painting was an effort to transmit his wife’s dislike for bullfighting which he accomplished by combining symbolic images and optical illusions with antagonizing yet familiar motifs that are integral parts of Spanish bullfighting. A representational portrait of Dali’s wife, Gala, appears in the upper right corner with a serious rigid expression on her face indicating her passionate dislike for the sport.

This painting is filled with all sorts of repetitive images, optical illusions, and other surrealist techniques which can make it difficult to understand everything that is going on in the image. You can find really clear and concise descriptions and interpretations of the painting here and here. It is a fascinating work once you look at all the minute details. The Hallucinogenic Toreador is currently on exhibit at the Salvador Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Why did I choose such a painting? First of all, I have to admit that the works of Salvador Dalí do not appeal to me at all. In fact, I find most of them dark, disturbing, and plain old ugly. Although I am a fan of the surrealism movement and its efforts to develop new techniques for the unconscious mind to express itself, the unnerving depictions and illogical scenes that are trademarks of this genre make me very uncomfortable for some reason.

So how did I decide on Dalí when I clearly am not a fan? Well, a few weeks ago Jeff and I decided to take a mini trip of the hallucinogenic sort right in the comfort and safety of our living room. Hours after we began our adventure when the synesthesia and visual distortions were beginning, I looked around my environment and realized that the room resembled The Persistence of Memory except there were melting blankets instead of melting clocks. Then I asked Jeff, “Why does our living room look like a Salvador Dalí painting right now?” and we cracked up laughing.

So I decided right then that Dalí was my man for this next challenge. I wanted to steer away from “The Persistence of Memory” because it is so recognizable that most of us are already familiar with it. My search of Dalí works quickly yielded “The Hallucinogenic Toreador” and it was absolutely perfect considering the source of my inspiration.

I have some ideas for how to style this but I am not entirely sure yet how they will work. There are so many colors and details to inspire an outfit, I am excited to see how creative you all get!

If you want to be featured with your art inspired outfit in my gallery post on Wednesday, June 15, 2022, be sure to submit your photos to me at shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com by 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, June 14, 2022. 

Happy styling! 

Keeping it trippy on the edge, 

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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