DaDa Art

Dada was an anti-art movement formed during the

First World War in Zurich in negative reaction to the
horrors and folly of the war.

The art, poetry and performance produced by dada

artists is often satirical and nonsensical in nature
z Dada was, officially, not a movement, its
artists not artists and its art not art

z Dada began in Zurich and became an

international movement. Or “non-
movement” (1916 to 1922 )
z Its purpose was to ridicule what its
participants considered to be the
meaninglessness of the modern world

z They used any public forum they could find to

(metaphorically) spit on nationalism, rationalism,
materialism and any other -ism which they felt
had contributed to a senseless war.
 Dadaism examples

MARCEL DUCHAMP
'Fountain' 1917 (ready-made)
MARCEL DUCHAMP
'L.H.O.O.Q', 1919 (ready-made)

The term readymade was first used by French artist Marcel Duchamp to
describe the works of art he made from manufactured objects. It has since
often been applied more generally to artworks by other artists made in this
way
•The main artists associated with Dada were Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco,
Richard Huelsenbeck, Jean (Hans) Arp, Raoul Hausmann, Hannah Höch, John
Heartfield, Kurt Schwitters, Johannes Baargeld, Johannes Baader, Max Ernst,
George Grosz, Hans Richter, Francis Picabia, Man Ray and Marcel Duchamp.
z Dada was about not following any rules.

z Dada was intended to provoke an

emotional reaction from the viewer
(typically shock or outrage).

z Dada was calling anything or nothing art

Abstraction and Expressionism were the
main influences on Dada

Dada was directly responsible for

Surrealism
z Dada self-destructed when it was
in danger of becoming
"acceptable".
Dada notes
•Dada was a form of artistic anarchy that challenged the social, political
and cultural values of the time.
•Dada embraced elements of art, music, poetry, theatre, dance and
politics.
•Dada aimed to create a climate in which art was unrestricted by
established values.
•Dada was anti-establishment and anti-art.
•The name 'Dada' means 'hobbyhorse' or the exclamation "Yes-Yes".
•The Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich was the birthplace of Dada.
•After the war the Dadaists relocated to Berlin, Cologne, Hanover and
New York.
•The Dadaists published 'manifestos' and magazines to help
communicate their ideas.
•The Dadaists used techniques such as automatism, chance,
photomontage and assemblage.
•The Dadaists introduced the concept that an artwork could be a
temporary installation.
•The Dadaists expanded the boundaries and context of what was
considered acceptable as art.
•Several Dada exhibitions caused public outrage and were closed by the
authorities.