The Dadaists and their influences

The Dada movement was one of the shortest movements after the world war 1. It started around 1916 and ended in 1924. Even though this movement was not that long, it was spread equally around the American and European continents. The countries and states that this movement affected were, New York, Paris, Barcelona, Berlin, Cologne, and Hanover in Germany. The Dadaism promoted confusion and they did everything in direct opposite of normality that art stood for. This movement gave the opportunity to test people how they saw art since art was known as boring and had restrictions, this movement ignored it. This movement did not affect the product and spatial design sector but left a big impact in Literature (Poetry), Fashion design, Graphic design, and Theatrical performances. These sectors were targeting the political issue at that time and to protest they made use of these methods to send their message.

 Another factor that one can take note is that this movement made use of abstraction, expressionism, and cubism. Also, this movement involved surrealism.  

Most of their acts were performed in ‘Cabaret Voltaire’ in Switzerland(Europe) and would have looked like this :

Dada and Cabaret Voltaire’(Switzerland)- 1916

Most of the Dadaism exhibitions where installations and most if the products that were exhibited were readymade. This movement was all about colourful, wittily, and sarcastic works and ideas.

Marcel Duchamp, ‘Fountain’, 1917

                                                                              Marcel Duchamp ,’L.H.O.O.Q’,1919

Like Marcel Duchamp, there were more influential Dada artists and these are:

·        Jean Arp

·        George Grosz

·        Francis Picabia

·        Man Ray

·        Christian Schad 

From these powerful artists, many 21^st Century artists were influenced by these movements, if not directly there was still the same approach in their work.

Development in the graphical design sector, designer Paula Scher work was inspired by ‘Theo Van Doesburg’ work. She used the same idea of using typography in different sizes and fonts, creating backgrounds that attract the eye, and she also inserts illustrations to be the main focal point of her work. Another artist that was influenced by the Dadaist movement was Tadanori Yakoo, a Japanese graphic designer that made use of bold lines, different types of typography in Japanese language, striking in colour work making also the illustrations the main focal point.

                                                                        ‘Kleine Dada Soirée’-Theo Van Doseburg,1922 

                                                                              Poster for Public Theatre- Paula Scher 

                                                                              ‘In El Paso’ – Tadanori Yokoo – 1960

Another sector which made progress during the time was the Fashion design industry. An important designer that wanted to send a message addressed to politics in the USA, was Franc Fernandes. He communicated his message via a dress which the pop artist Lady Gaga appeared at the MTV music awards back in 2010. The famous ‘Meat Dress’ was made from prime ribs meat which its meaning was to not discriminate gay and lesbians in the US Army which they were serving their country like other members in the army.

                                                                              ‘Meat Dress’ – Franc Fernandez, 2010 

Theatrical performances now a day they are still getting inspired by the Dada movement. This is not being performed only in theatres but also as an installation in art museums all over the world. A Gallery that exhibited installations like these was the ‘Black C Art Gallery’ in Florida back in 1966 with a ‘Dada-inspired performance’ installation. 

‘Dada Inspired Performance’- Black C Art Gallery 1966

References 

Dada and Cabaret Voltaire’ by ‘ImagePlanet Chanel’ found on ( [video information]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkl92oV1kMc [accessed on 26^th April 2017 at 6.45pm

Dada Inspired Performance’- Black C Art Gallery by ‘Black C Art Gallery Channel’ 1966 found on [video information]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgJIcc9FzF4[accessed on 26^th April 2017 at 7.25pm

‘Paula Scher Interview’ by Andy Butler ,July 10, 2013  found on [online]http://www.designboom.com/design/paula-scher-interview/[accessed on 27^h April 2017 at 1.16pm

‘Meat Dress’ by france Fernandez, 2010 found on [online] http://francfernandez.com/#meat-dress [accessed on 2^nd May 2017 at 11.52am

‘Dada’ by unknown writer  found on [online]https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/themes/dada[accessed on 3^rd May 20170 at 4.32pm

‘Dada’ by unknown writer  found on [online]http://www.theartstory.org/movement-dada.htm[accessed on6th May 2017 at 2.48pm

‘Tadorri Yokoo: The Artist by design’ by Edan Corkill found on [online]http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2011/08/07/people/an-artist-by-design/#.WSORq8bTXIU[accessed on 6^th May 2017 at 12.53 am