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Art Ravels: Lobster: It's What's For Dinner

Art Ravels

Arts and Culture Unwound

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Lobster: It's What's For Dinner



Dali, 1936

Surrealists seemed to dig this red crustacean. It's one of those natural objects that look like a dream. Especially creepy when they are alive and brown with their antennae poking about your living room as you urge them to race.

Yes, tonight is the night of the great lobster race. We're upping the ante tonight, as my boyfriend and I will be having company for dinner. So instead of just two lobsters, we'll have six lobsters. You line them up and then urge them to move forward. It sounds slightly more exciting than it is, given that these are not fast land animals. In an ideal world, the winner of the race would avoid the pot and become a cherished household pet. However, life is short and brutish. All the lobsters are going in the pot tonight. [Insert evil grin]

As much as I enjoy these events, live lobsters creep me out Annie Hall style. So what I'm wondering is--did Dali use a real deccissitated lobster for his ridiculous, iconic telephone? I'm going to assume it is plastic for my own sanity.

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13 Comments:

Blogger Chris Rywalt said...

Plastic? That was 1936. They didn't have plastic. The lobster is plaster.

I read these were perfectly functional phones, too.

September 17, 2009 at 8:03 AM  
Blogger Art said...

Actually Bakelite was invented around 1909 and a bunch of other plastics followed. That doesn't mean you aren't right about the phone being plaster; it seems more likely.

I always assumed they were useless! Much cooler to have them work.

September 17, 2009 at 10:38 AM  
Blogger Chris Rywalt said...

I was being hyperbolic. Of course plastic existed in 1936. It wasn't in wide use, however, and certainly wasn't available for studio use by wacky sculptors.

I got the materials from the Website of the National Gallery of Australia, which apparently has one.

I could use a crazy, rich patron like Edward James myself.

September 17, 2009 at 11:34 AM  
Blogger Chris Rywalt said...

I have a craving for lobster now, thank you.

September 17, 2009 at 12:05 PM  
Blogger Art said...

May I reccomend the fishmonger on Grand and Eldrige? $5/lb!

September 17, 2009 at 12:43 PM  
Blogger Chris Rywalt said...

When my kids were younger, when we went into the supermarket they'd always run up to the lobster tank to say hi. I'm not sure I could bring a lobster home.

September 17, 2009 at 12:47 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

"The lobster phone was also know as the 'Aphrodisiac Phone' because you talked into the lobsters genitalia..."
I don't get it, but, please, don't anybody try to explain that one to me.

September 17, 2009 at 3:45 PM  
Blogger Chris Rywalt said...

You know, it's a little known fact about lobster genitals....

Actually, I got nothing.

September 17, 2009 at 4:10 PM  
Blogger Kathleen Benton said...

I hope you enjoyed your dinner last night.

I'll share with you another use for lobster found by Salvador Dali. You'll find it strategically placed on a naked lady in this photograph taken by George Platt Lynes during the filming of "Dream of Venus" in 1939. (Scroll down to the end of the blog to find the photo.)
http://www.youcanhireanartist.com/elegantly-dressed-wednesday-salvador-dali/

- Kathleen Benton

September 17, 2009 at 6:16 PM  
Blogger Art said...

Oh Kathleen, I enjoyed the post but not so much the lobster photo...She was NOT elegantly dressed.

September 18, 2009 at 9:52 AM  
Blogger Sebastian Anthony said...

Lobster racing...? Really?

You crazy [sadistic] Americans.

September 18, 2009 at 12:01 PM  
Blogger Art said...

Oh Mr. Seb, you have no idea. http://www.twitpic.com/i6byv

September 18, 2009 at 12:14 PM  
Blogger Sebastian Anthony said...

Frackin' BARBARIANS!

September 18, 2009 at 12:18 PM  

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