Well hello, Dali! THE LUME at Newfields has just unveiled “Dali Alive,” its latest multisensory installation with new images, fun hands-on activities, themed food and drink, and much more.
Moving pictures set to music are the centerpiece of the 30,000 square-foot immersive space, recounting the amazing life and art of Surrealist painter Salvador Dali (1904-1989) across time and continents.
Defined by colorful dream-like images that stretch the boundaries of reality as depicted in pieces like “The Persistence of Memory,” Dali’s work is a perfect choice for this large-scale setting. Some of the bolder art may be a little more challenging for viewers than the previous Monet and Van Gogh exhibits, but equally impressive.
Further into the experience, a permanent café area has been transformed into “El Mercado Surreal,” where guests can enjoy Spanish-influenced tapas, snacks, wines and cocktails. And the reimagined “Let’s Get Surreal” activity room gives visitors of all ages a chance to electronically create their own Surrealist masterpieces, and to walk into several 3D vignettes and pose for photos.
On the way out, make sure you take a minute to admire four authentic Dali watercolor paintings on display from the Newfields Indianapolis Museum of Art collection for the first time in 45 years, and pick up a souvenir to take home in the merchandise area.
Dali Alive is now open in THE LUME at Newfields through March 2025. For tickets and more information, go to discovernewfields.org.