The Real Surreal (2020) by Haiiileen was an immersive mixed-media installation. It was presented at The Confidante Miami Beach in collaboration with The Dali Universe. The exhibition brought together contemporary artists inspired by surrealism’s dreamlike symbolism. It embraced boundary-defying imagination. The exhibition situated Haiiileen’s vibrant, light-based works within a dialogue with Salvador Dalí himself.
- Title: haiii on daliii (2020)
- Artist: Haiiileen (Aileen Quintana)
- Exhibition: The Real Surreal
- Presented by: The Dali Universe x The Confidante Miami Beach
- Curators: @theconfidante x @thedaliuniverse
- Location: Miami Beach, FL
- Dates: November 20, 2020 – January 19, 2021
- Medium: Mixed Media Installation | Resin, UV-reactive pigment, acrylic, LED light, plexiglass
- Year: 2020
Description
Installed in a corridor of radiant light and reflective dimension, The Real Surreal transformed an interior space into a multi-sensory experience. Haiiileen’s signature aura-inspired light sculptures and reflective paintings interacted with the architecture to create an otherworldly environment of movement, depth, and color.
The installation used geometry and gradient to build emotional landscapes — red, blue, and green light shifting across resin-embedded forms, echoing surrealism’s fascination with perception and illusion.
“Beyond real to be surreal — this show reminded me that surrealism is not just a dream, it’s a mindset. I wanted to merge Dalí’s world with mine — light, layers, and lucid imagination.” — Haiiileen
Conceptual Framework
- Surrealism Reimagined: The installation reinterprets surrealism through the language of color frequency, reflection, and optical geometry, drawing from Haiiileen’s synesthetic approach to reality.
- Synesthetic Emotion: Each glowing plane acts as a sensory mirror, encouraging viewers to feel the light rather than simply see it.
- Homage to Dalí: Echoing Dalí’s exploration of illusion, Haiiileen uses material manipulation — resin, glass, and pigment — to create portals between tangible and imagined realities.
- The New Surreal: The project serves as a bridge between modern Miami art innovation and historical surrealist tradition, expanding the genre into the digital and light-reactive era.
Installation Components
- Mediums: Resin, UV-reactive pigment, LED systems, acrylic, reflective paint.
- Structure: Series of illuminated panels and angular mirrors integrated into the hallway’s architectural space.
- Lighting Design: RGB-controlled light sources that cast gradients along the walls, producing an atmospheric “living canvas.”
- Framing Concept: Surreal “color portals” acting as both painting and sculpture.
- Spatial Flow: Installed in a narrow transitional passage, emphasizing immersion and transformation — a literal passage between realities.
Artist Reflection
“Dalí made me believe that surrealism could exist in real time — I just translated that through light. This installation was my chance to honor that lineage while bringing it into the now.”
Archival Significance
- Marks Haiiileen’s participation in The Dali Universe exhibition program — connecting her Miami-based contemporary practice with international surrealist heritage.
- Expands the conceptual lineage of her Aura Mirrors and Haiii Voltage works into the realm of historical dialogue.
- Symbolizes the post-pandemic revival of Miami Art Week installations, merging public hospitality space and fine art.
- Highlights her continued focus on blending architecture, perception, and emotional light mapping.
Archival ID: H2020-THEREALSURREAL
“The Real Surreal is where Dalí’s dream and my light meet — imagination turned electric.”
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