At its height, the Dada movement not only upended European art, it also brought that tradition into unprecedented dialogue with non-European forms of expression. This book offers the first extended analysis of Dada’s exploration of non-Western art and culture. Richly illustrated essays present close analyses of artifacts from Africa, Asia, and Oceania in the context of Dada and through an ethnological lens. Contributors also investigate the ways in which the influence of Dada can be seen in postcolonial discourse and in the context of cultural transfer.

Featuring works by Jean Arp, Hugo Ball, George Grosz, Raoul Hausmann, Hannah Höch, Man Ray, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Tristan Tzara, and many other artists, this is a major work that will enable a broad rethinking of Dada’s aims and achievements.

Dada Afrika is published in conjunction with exhibitions at Museum Rietberg Zürich and Berlinische Galerie, Berlin in spring and summer 2016.

 

Winner of International Tribal Art Book Prize (PILAT) 2016.