written by art historian & curator Mihaela Manolache
In the tumultuous aftermath of World War I, a radical artistic movement emerged that would forever change the landscape of modern art. Dadaism, characterized by its rejection of traditional aesthetic norms and its embrace of absurdity, satire, and humour, served as a powerful catalyst for artistic innovation. At the forefront of this avant-garde movement were two visionary artists whose groundbreaking works continue to resonate with audiences today: Marcel Duchamp and Hannah Höch.
Duchamp’s contribution to the intersection of humour and art is profound and multifaceted. His ”readymades”, everyday objects re-contextualised as art, defied conventional notions of craftsmanship and aesthetic value, inviting viewers to reconsider the very definition of art itself. Perhaps most famously, Duchamp’s ”Fountain” was an artwork that challenged the sanctity of the art object and sparked debates about the nature of artistic intention and authorship. Duchamp and Höch performances, manifestos, and visual works were characterized by a spirit of anarchic playfulness, challenging viewers to confront the absurdity of existence in a world ravaged by war and upheaval. So…
