Dada Art History

"Dada is the sun, Dada is the egg. Dada is the Police of the Police." - Richard Huelsenbeck

Dada Art Defined: A European movement in the arts that flourished from about 1916 to 1920 and beyond. Based on the principles of deliberate irrationality, cynicism, and anarchy....and, of course, the general rejection of the laws of society. Its followers used non sequiturs and absurdities to create artwork, literature, and performances which defied intellectual analysis.

The Dadaist Cabaret Voltaire, founded in Zurich in 1916, started the process of fusing cabaret and fine art. This development reached a climax in 1920 at the First International Dada Art Fair, where the local Dadaists broke down the barriers between these two art forms with their performances. Dada art presented revolution in a humorous way, but with serious intent.

Our favorite Dadaist here it Lord's is Marcel Duchamp, the French Dada artist, whose small but controversial output exerted a strong influence on the development of 20th-century avant-garde art. Born on July 28, 1887.

Duchamp had a female alter ego named Rrose Selavy. Click here to read more about Rrose Selavy.

Another good Dada site that's good but not as good as ours.

Das Poop, the now legendary Dadaist band, recorded a song called Rrose Selavy back in the 1960s. Lord's Rendezvous has attained exclusive rights to this track that was recorded in a French Army Surplus Store.

Click here to listen to Rrose Selavy. (free mp3)

Check out our Dada T-Shirt and other Political T-Shirts! This great shirt is based on the Treason of Images by René Magritte. More Dada T-Shirts are on the way!

July's Dada Is... Competition winner is: Dada is Ice cream in the A: drive. - Tristan (For more Past Winners go to Dada Art)

Here at Lord's......

two scoops of mayonnaise on a warm day.

...wearing too much eyeliner because you ate all your black lipstick.

...cold gravy in your purple silk underpants chased with a tall glass of Peruvian Syphilis.

...infectious....with or without disease.

... not a fudgesicle with teeth doing a handstand.

... an infant creeper with Communist ramblings.

...not the taco flavored anti-fungal cream cheese that you squish between your toes.

... a hypercolor intestine wraped around an apple that's blended inside a lunchbox.

... Revolutionary Cue Balls.

Tell us what you think Dada is or is not.........as part of our Monthly Contest:

Contest Winners:

January 2004 - Kyle Wade
Dada is soft butt crust.

February 2004 - Stacey Preston
Dada is walking eyesight on a path of candlestick destruction.

March 2004 - James Ortsac
Dada is a man lactating over a lazy eye.

April 2004 - Kenneth Jackson
Dada is the world's longest donkey tail.

May 2004 - Thomas Toren
Dada is a fast talking tortuga.

June 2004 - Dallas Richards
Dada is a sprinkler head shooting out Tang and quenching your loins.

July 2004 - Tristan
Dada is Ice cream in the A: drive.