Six decades ago, renowned surrealist artist Salvador Dalí made one of his most eccentric proclamations, declaring the modest train station in Perpignan, France, to be nothing less than the "center of the world." According to the flamboyant Spanish artist, without this seemingly ordinary railway hub, "we would all be in Australia, probably surrounded by kangaroos."
The bizarre declaration came during one of Dalí's frequent train journeys between his beloved Catalonia and Paris in the 1960s. The artist, known for his theatrical personality and outlandish statements, experienced what he described as a moment of cosmic revelation while waiting at the Perpignan station. He became convinced that this particular location held mystical significance and served as the gravitational center of the universe.
Dalí's fascination with the station went far beyond a simple travel convenience. He believed that Perpignan represented a crucial junction not just for trains, but for cosmic forces that kept the world in balance. In his characteristically dramatic fashion, he argued that without this vital center point, the Earth's equilibrium would be so disrupted that humanity would find itself displaced to the opposite side of the globe, specifically Australia, where they would be "surrounded by kangaroos."
The artist's obsession with Perpignan station became a recurring theme in his work and public statements throughout the 1960s and beyond. He would often speak about experiencing profound visions and insights during his stops there, claiming that the station's unique position and energy made it a portal for artistic inspiration. Dalí incorporated this belief into several of his later works, creating paintings and sculptures that referenced his "center of the world" theory.
Local residents and railway officials initially regarded Dalí's proclamations with bemusement, but the artist's celebrity status eventually transformed the station into an unlikely tourist attraction. Visitors began making pilgrimages to experience what Dalí claimed was the cosmic significance of this French railway junction. The station management eventually embraced their connection to the famous surrealist, installing commemorative plaques and displays celebrating Dalí's unique relationship with their facility.
Today, sixty years after Dalí first made his extraordinary claim, Perpignan train station continues to honor its designation as the artist's chosen "center of the world." While modern travelers may not share Dalí's mystical interpretation of the location, his legacy has permanently linked this modest French railway station with one of art history's most colorful and unconventional figures. The station serves as a lasting reminder of how artistic vision can transform the mundane into the magical, even if it means saving humanity from an unexpected encounter with Australian marsupials.
