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Dada: Art's Absurd Rebellion Against War
19 Mar
Summary
- Dada began in Zurich in 1916 as a protest against senseless war.
- Artists at Cabaret Voltaire created nonsensical art and poems.
- The movement's spirit spread across Europe during World War I.
The provocative spirit of Dada art first emerged in Zurich in 1916, a direct response to the absurdity of World War I. Artists and poets congregated at the Cabaret Voltaire, performing nonsensical poems and creating avant-garde pieces. Figures such as Emmy Hennings and Hugo Ball were central to this early phase.
Dada's artistic output, characterized by its deliberate lack of sense, was a protest against the unending conflicts plaguing the continent. This spirit quickly transcended its Zurich origins, spreading across Europe amidst the ongoing wartime chaos.
Experts like Emeritus Professor Dawn Ades and Professor Ruth Hemus have extensively studied Dada. Their work, including critical anthologies and analyses of Dada's female artists, sheds light on this influential artistic movement.




