Lecture Notes: Dadaism Art Movement

Introduction to Key Questions

• Why is a urinal considered a piece of art?
• What does the word "data" represent?
• Can everything and anything become a work of art?

Emergence of Dadaism

• Origin: Born at Cabaret Voltaire, Zurich, Switzerland, February 1916
• Context: During World War I, artists fled to neutral Switzerland
• International Movement: Artists from Romania (Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco), Germany (Emmy Hennings, Hugo Ball), and France (Jean Arp)

Philosophical Stance

• Anti-Everything: Against war, bourgeois, nationalism, establishment, conventional art
• State of Mind: Andre Breton described it as anti-meaning, anti-museum, anti-materialism
• Name "Dada": Could mean a baby sound, a rocking horse, or "yes, yes" in Romanian - represents everything and nothing

Dadaist Art Characteristics

• Cabaret Voltaire: Hub for Dada performances, poetry, dances, exhibitions
• Dada Poetry: Nonsensical, based on chance; Tristan Tzara's method involved cutting words from a newspaper and drawing them randomly
• Randomness & Spontaneity: Jean Arp's collage technique involved dropping pieces and fixing them where they landed

Spread and Influence

• Post-War Transition: Spread to France, Germany, USA
• Berlin Dada Group: Led by Hannah Höch, Richard Huelsenbeck, Raoul Hausmann; politically active
• Photo Montage: New art form using media images to convey political messages and feminist views

American Dada and Marcel Duchamp

• Fountain by Duchamp: A signed urinal, redefined as art by artist’s choice
• Ready-Mades Concept: Ordinary objects transformed into art based on intellectual choice, not object itself
• Influence: Duchamp's philosophy impacted conceptual art, performance art, post-modern art

Legacy of Dadaism

• Foundation for Surrealism: Dada laid groundwork for new art movements
• Relevance Today: Influences conceptual art, performance art, and contemporary artists like Banksy

Conclusion

• Reflection: Dadaism remains a significant influence in 20th-century art and beyond, shaping modern conceptions of art.
• Engagement: Encouraged audience interaction and further exploration of other art movements.