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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
One of Madrid's most famous squares dedicated to Salvador Dalí has become the center of a dispute over preserving the artistic heritage. Researcher and art historian Francisco Lara stated that during the square's reconstruction in 2003–2005 years the original paving, which the artist conceived as part of the “Dalí Dolmen” composition, was destroyed. He now asks the Spanish Ministry of Culture to determine who is responsible for protecting the author's concept and whether the changes were made legally.
In the very center of Madrid's Chueca district, near Movistar Arena, lies Salvador Dalí Square — one of the most recognizable art spaces in Spain's capital. At its center stands the sculptural ensemble “Dalí Dolmen,” created by the artist, conceived as a monument to science and humanity's technological achievements.
The composition includes a 13,1-meter tall black bronze sculpture of “Phosphena Laporta,” a black granite pedestal with the inscription “Gala” in honor of the artist's wife, and a special circular paving.
It is precisely the latter that has become the subject of the dispute.
The paving was part of Dalí's concept.
According to researcher, curator, and art historian Francisco Lara, the original paving was not merely a maintenance element.
Concentric circles and radial lines diverged from the base of the dolmen, and the peculiar “waves” extended toward the streets of Goya, Jorge Juan, and Lombía. Thus, the composition guided pedestrians toward the monument and gradually drew them into its artistic space.
Architect Alfonso Guemes, who developed the project, described the space as one where the city lines lead to the monument.
Lara believes this indicates the unity of the sculpture and the surrounding space. In his view, the square was part of the artwork itself, not merely a place where the sculpture was installed.
The reconstruction altered the concept.
“Dalí Dolmen” was conceived in 1985 year based on an agreement between Salvador Dalí and the then-mayor of Madrid, Enrique Tierno Galván.
However, in September 2002 year, the city authorities approved the reconstruction of the square. Work proceeded in 2003–2005 years, and the original paving was ultimately destroyed.
According to representatives of the Goya-Dalí Residents Association, neither the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation nor the company Ararte, which owns the rights to the image of the “Dalí Dolmen,” were informed about the changes.
They also emphasize that the initial agreement provided for any changes to be approved by a special trilateral commission involving the city council, the Foundation, and Ararte.
Why mention Dalí's moral rights?
A separate role in the dispute is played by the fact that in 1982 year Salvador Dalí proclaimed the Spanish state his universal heir.
Subsequently, the state was vested with the relevant powers to manage the artist's heritage and protect his works. Lara therefore calls for determining who today is responsible for enforcing Dalí's moral rights with respect to this work.
In 2010 year, the Dalí Dolmen complex was entered into Madrid's Community Inventory of Cultural Value as a culturally significant object. However, in Lara's view, the protection proved incomplete, as it concerns primarily the sculpture itself rather than the entire concept along with the surrounding urban space.
Attempts to restore the square.
In 2016 year, district residents petitioned then-mayor Manuela Carmena to return the square to its original appearance. The corresponding proposal was included in the participatory budget for 2017 year and approved, but could not be implemented.
After José Luis Martínez-Almeida came to power in 2019 year, the issue remained unresolved.
New work on the square was carried out in 2025 year. The project provided for repairing the existing surface, replacing granite elements, and reconstructing the circular area around the monument.
The works were completed in May 2026 year, but they did not entail a full restoration of the original design.
“They replaced the original with something new.”
Architect and technical advisor of Madrid's Citizenship and Heritage Association Albertro Tellería criticized the latest reconstruction.
In his view, the city authorities could have restored the original paving at least in the immediate vicinity of the monument, but instead created a new design.
Now Francisco Lara asks Spain's Ministry of Culture to study the documentation on the creation and reconstruction of the square, to establish the body responsible for Dalí's moral rights, and to determine whether measures were taken to protect the author's concept.
He emphasizes that the author's moral rights remain in force, so the question of preserving the original concept of the “Dalí Dolmen” remains relevant.
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Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "У Мадриді спотворили задум Сальвадора Далі: активіст вимагає повернути площі первісний вигляд". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: NARDEP 24.
