Dada Quotes

“To all appearances, the artist acts like a mediumistic being who, from the labyrinth beyond time and space, seeks his way out to a clearing.”
― Marcel Duchamp

“I speak only of myself since I do not wish to convince, I have no right to drag others into my river, I oblige no one to follow me and everybody practices his art in his own way."

- Tristan Tzara "Dada Manifesto 1918”
― Tristan Tzara

“That's a beautiful speech, but nobody's listening. Let's go.”
― Alfred Jarry, Ubu Roi

“An original is a creation motivated by desire. Any reproduction of an originals motivated be necessity. It is marvelous that we are the only species that creates gratuitous forms. To create is divine, to reproduce is human.”
― Man Ray

“Every word that is spoken and sung here (the Cabaret Voltaire) represents at least this one thing: that this humiliating age has not succeeded in winning our respect.”
― Hugo Ball

“Eternity is the best policy.”
― Kurt Schwitters

“Every page should explode, either because of its staggering absurdity, the enthusiasm of its principles, or its typography.”
― Tristan Tzara, Manifesti del dadaismo

“Punctuality can go to the devil.”
― Hugo Ball, Flametti, or The Dandyism of the Poor

“With the sound of gusting wind in the branches of the language trees of Babel, the words gave way like leaves, and every reader glimpsed another reality hidden in the foilage.”
― Andrei Codrescu, The Posthuman Dada Guide: Tzara & Lenin Play Chess

“Why can't a tree be called Pluplusch?”
― Hugo Ball

“Doa ku seakan paku di peti mati mu. Tajam mendalam.

Menembus dadamu,
menjelma dunia rapuh, penuh kegelisahan tak berarti .
.
#andradobing”
― andra dobing

“I did exhibitions with the Surrealists (in Paris, in 1929) because their attitude revolted against 'art' and their attitude toward life itself was wise, as was Dada’s.’ Hans Arp”
― Lepota L. Cosmo, Love in Paris - Poetic Guide to the Romance of the City

“Dada n'a aucune prétention comme la vie devrait être. Peut-être me comprendrez-vous mieux quand je vous dirai que dada est un microbe vierge qui s'introduit avec l'insistance de l'air dans tous les espaces que la raison n'a pu combler de mots ou de conventions.”
― Tristan Tzara, Seven Dada Manifestos and Lampisteries

“Try to be empty and fill your brain cells with a petty happiness. Always destroy what you have in you.”
― Tristan Tzara

“Oh, this century of glowing light and barbed wire, primordial strength and abyss!”
― Hugo Ball, Ball and Hammer: Hugo Ball's Tenderenda the Fantast

“Neo-fluxus, neo-dada, stuckism, experimental art, are noncontinuous, usable concepts.”
― Vladan Kuzmanovic

“This is Zürich for me: The old town that reeks of Dada, James Joyce and Cabaret Voltaire.”
― Ryan Gelpke, 2017: Our Summer of Reunions: Braai Seasons with Howl Gang (Howl Gang Legend)

“Alive or dead," he told himself, "I am just so much manure. One hundred and sixty-five pounds of it, belong by right to the nearest field of corn. Take me out among the hills and lay me down there, a willing hostage from mankind, a tribute to the silent way, the august overlordship of the Vegetable Kingdom.”
― Robert M. Coates, The Eater of Darkness

“All in all, my dearest: art was a teething problem.”
― Walter Serner, Last Loosening: A Handbook for the Con Artist & Those Aspiring to Become One

“Let each dance be a step in changing this world.”
― Charmaine J Forde