9.1 Dada: Anti-Art and the Absurd

Dada emerged during World War I as a radical artistic movement rejecting traditional values and logic. Artists embraced absurdity and chance, creating provocative works that challenged societal norms and the very definition of art.

From readymades to photomontages, Dada artists used unconventional techniques to express their disillusionment. The movement's influence spread globally, paving the way for future avant-garde art and leaving a lasting impact on cultural expression.

Dada principles and philosophies

Rejection of traditional art and bourgeois values

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• Dada was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in Europe during World War I as a reaction against the brutality and irrationality of the war
• The Dadaists rejected traditional art forms, bourgeois values, and logical thinking, embracing instead absurdity, irrationality, and anti-art sentiments
• Dadaists believed that art should be accessible to the masses and not confined to the elite, leading to the use of everyday objects and materials in their artworks (found objects, readymades)
• The movement challenged conventional notions of beauty, skill, and artistic genius, often creating works that were intentionally crude, nonsensical, or offensive

Emphasis on the unconscious mind and chance

• The movement emphasized the role of the unconscious mind in the creative process, drawing inspiration from dreams, automatic writing, and free association
• Dada artists sought to tap into the irrational and spontaneous aspects of the human psyche, believing that this could lead to more authentic and revolutionary forms of expression
• The use of chance and randomness was a key aspect of Dada art, highlighting the role of the arbitrary in the creative process (Hans Arp's torn paper collages, Tristan Tzara's cut-up poetry)
• By embracing chance and the unconscious, Dadaists aimed to break free from the constraints of reason and logic, which they saw as contributing to the destructive forces of war and oppression

Dada's historical context

Impact of World War I

• The horrors and devastation of World War I led many artists to question the values and beliefs of Western civilization, giving rise to the Dada movement
• The war's senseless violence and the perceived failure of rationality and progress sparked a rebellion against traditional artistic and cultural norms
• Dada emerged as a response to the trauma and disillusionment caused by the war, with artists seeking to create a new form of expression that reflected the chaos and absurdity of the world around them

International scope and influence

• Dada emerged in Zurich, Switzerland, a neutral country during the war, where artists from various nations gathered and exchanged ideas (Cabaret Voltaire)
• The movement quickly spread to other cities, such as Berlin, Paris, and New York, each with its own distinct Dada community and characteristics
• The international scope of Dada allowed for a cross-pollination of ideas and techniques, with artists from different backgrounds and nationalities collaborating and influencing one another
• Dada's influence extended beyond the visual arts, impacting literature, music, and performance, and laying the groundwork for future avant-garde movements such as Surrealism and Fluxus

Prominent Dada artists

Marcel Duchamp and the readymade

• Marcel Duchamp, a French artist, is known for his "readymades," such as "Fountain" (1917), which challenged the definition of art by presenting everyday objects as artworks
• Duchamp's readymades questioned the role of the artist as a skilled creator, suggesting that the act of selection and presentation could be just as important as the act of creation
• Other notable readymades by Duchamp include "Bicycle Wheel" (1913) and "In Advance of the Broken Arm" (1915), which further pushed the boundaries of what could be considered art

Hannah Hoch and photomontage

• Hannah Hoch, a German artist, pioneered the use of photomontage, creating satirical and politically charged works that critiqued gender roles and societal norms
• Hoch's photomontages often combined images from popular media, such as magazines and newspapers, to create surreal and provocative compositions
• Notable works by Hoch include "Cut with the Kitchen Knife Dada Through the Last Weimar Beer-Belly Cultural Epoch of Germany" (1919) and "The Beautiful Girl" (1920), which challenged traditional notions of femininity and beauty

Dada media and techniques

Collage, photomontage, and assemblage

• Collage and photomontage were popular techniques among Dada artists, allowing them to juxtapose disparate images and create surreal, often satirical compositions
• Dada artists often used found materials, such as newspaper clippings, photographs, and everyday objects, to create their collages and assemblages
• Kurt Schwitters, a German artist, was known for his "Merz" collages and assemblages, which incorporated discarded materials found on the streets (train tickets, cigarette packaging)
• The use of collage and assemblage reflected Dada's rejection of traditional artistic materials and techniques, as well as its embrace of the everyday and the discarded

Performance and poetry

• Performance art and poetry were central to the Dada movement, with artists using these media to challenge conventional forms of expression and engage with audiences in new ways
• Hugo Ball, a German poet and playwright, founded the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, a hub for Dada performances and experimentation
• Ball's sound poems, such as "Karawane" (1916), used nonsensical language and abstract vocalizations to create a new form of poetry that broke free from the constraints of meaning and syntax
• Tristan Tzara, a Romanian-born poet and one of the key figures of the Dada movement, was known for his provocative performances and manifestos, which often involved elements of chance and audience participation (cutting up a poem and randomly reassembling the words)