Dalí masks in 'Money Heist' contested by painter's foundation
Estate of surrealist genius in talks with TV producer over image rights, while artist's hometown commemorates 30th anniversary of his death
The Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation, which manages the estate of surrealist artist Salvador Dalí is involved in a legal dispute surrounding the use of the Dalí-inspired masks used in the Spanish TV series on Netflix, 'La Casa de Papel' (Money Heist).
According to confirmed media reports, the foundation's lawyers are currently in talks with the Atresmedia production company, which makes the series, to come to an agreement about the use of the painter's image rights.
The mask resembling Dalí's distinctive features, including his iconic thin curling moustache, has become a popular meme on the internet, but the series makers claim there was no need to ask for permission to use it as they define it as a "caricature."
Nevertheless, the artist's foundation believes the use of the mask in the series "infringes" Dalí's image rights, and the talks aiming to come to an agreement with the production company are part of an effort to "regularize" the use of the image.
The dispute comes a little over a year since the controversial exhumation of Dalí's remains to settle the paternity suit launched by Pilar Abel, who claimed to be his daughter. However, forensic examination of the remains showed that they were not related.
Figueres pays tribute to its most famous son
Meanwhile, Wednesday was the 30th anniversary of the death of surrealist genius, and his hometown council and the foundation that bears his name commemorated the date with a floral offering at the artist's grave in the crypt of the museum dedicated to his memory.
The mayor of Figueres, the town in northern Catalonia where the painter was born and where his Dalí Theatre and Museum is located, said during the commemoration that wherever he went Dalí had always been an "ambassador" for the city.
Referring to the imminent refurbishment of the house in which Dalí was born, mayor Jordi Masquef said that the artist's house and the Dalí Museum together will form the "spine" of the institutions remembering the painter's work and figure.
Dalí died in Figueres hospital on January 23, 1989.