Dada: Zurich, Berlin, Hannover, Cologne, New York, Paris

by Leah Dickerman, Brigid Doherty, Sabine T. Kriebel

Along with Russian Constructivism and Surrealism, Dada stands as one of the three most significant movements of the historical avant garde. Born in the heart of Europe in the midst of World War I, Dada displayed a raucous skepticism about accepted values. Its embrace of new materials, of collage and assemblage techniques, of the designation of manufactured objects as art objects as well as its interest in performance, sound poetry and manifestos fundamentally shaped the terms of modern art practice and created an abiding legacy for postwar art. Yet, while the word Dada has common currency, few know much about Dada art itself. In contrast to other key avant-garde movements, there has never been a major American exhibition that explores Dada specifically in broad view. Dada --the catalogue to the exhibition on view in 2006 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington and The Museum of Modern Art in New York presents the hybrid forms of Dada art through an examination of city centers where Dada Zurich, Berlin, Cologne, Hanover, New York and Paris. Covered here are works by some 40 artists made in the period from circa 1916, when the Cabaret Voltaire was founded in Zurich, to 1926, by which time most of the Dada groups had dispersed or significantly transformed. The city sections bring together painting, sculpture, photography, collage, photomontage, prints and graphic work.
Relying on dynamic design and vivid documentary images, Dada takes us through these six cities via topical essays and extensive plate sections; an illustrated chronology of the movement; witty chronicles of events in each city center; a selected bibliography; and biographies of each artist--accompanied by Dada-era photographs.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Design, Reference, History

432 pages, Hardcover

First published November 15, 2005

Reviews

[Chris Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good a broad history of Dada as you’re going to get, written with intelligence and thoughtfulness. Nicely thorough too

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a huge and beautiful catalogue from the DADA Retrospective that took place in New York (MOMA) and Paris (Centre Pompidou). Wonderfully organized and just a thrill to get in its pages.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The accompanying catalog for the traveling Dada show, this book is beautiful and a wonderful source. Marcel Duchamp how I adore you.

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth its tome-y price tag.

[Tatiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

somehow, with my limited knowledge of art and the dada period, this is missing some of my favorite parts.