dadaist

Dadaist refers to an adherent of Dadaism, an avant-garde art movement that emerged in Zurich, Switzerland, during World War I. Dadaists reacted against the prevailing social, political, and artistic norms of their time, which they saw as having led to the senseless destruction of the war. The movement was characterized by its rejection of logic, reason, and aestheticism. Instead, Dadaists embraced irrationality, spontaneity, and nihilism.

Key characteristics of Dadaist art and thought include a deliberate disregard for traditional artistic conventions. They often employed found objects, collage, and photomontage, and their performances were frequently chaotic and provocative. The goal was to shock, disrupt, and question the very definition of art. Famous figures associated with Dadaism include Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Marcel Duchamp, and Hannah Höch. The movement spread rapidly, with centers developing in Berlin, Paris, and New York. While Dadaism itself was relatively short-lived, its radical spirit and embrace of anti-art concepts profoundly influenced subsequent art movements, most notably Surrealism.