DADA in Germany
(Hannover)
Kurt Schwitters
and the
MERZ
Kurt Schwitters
Hannover 1887-1948 Kendal (England).
Started to study “applied arts” in 1908. Then
studied abstract art at the Royal Art
academy of Dresden until 1914. Worked as
a draughtsman until conscripted in 1917.
Return to civil life and study sculpture in
1918. Discover the concept of “Merz” a word
play – truncation – on Komerz. A technique
of recuperation that involves throwaway
pieces that are the remnant of industrial
products: a collage of pieces of natural and
colored wood, tram tickets, stamps and
other “poor” materials, together with some
pictorial additions. He also produced poetic
texts made up of fragments of words and
phrases taken from the most banal everyday
language or counterpointed by elementary
sounds. Travel to Berlin in 1918 to meet with
Arp (abstract art) and meet with the Dada.
History has it that he was rejected by them
as too esthetical.
Publishes Anna Blum in Dec. 1919 and
this brings him fame. 1920 His Merz are
part of a vanguard exhibit arranged by
Katherine Dreier at the Société
Anonyme (the first incorporation of the
MoMa) in New York. He starts to have
public recitals for his literary works.
1922 Participates in the meeting DADAConstructivist in Weimar. Forge long
lasting links with constructivist paraDada groups in Holland (Theovan
Doesburg ) Russia (El Lissitsky ) and
the Bauhaus movement in Weimar.
1923 Creates the magazine Merz
1924 Publishes Nasci with El Lissitsky.
Creates the Merz Werbe advertising
agency.
1925 Visit by Katherine Dreier. Interest
in photography. Publishes the
“Scherzo” of Ursonate.
«Huelsendadaism is
oriented towards politics
and against art and
against culture. I am
tolerant and allow every
man his own view of the
world, but I am
compelled to state that
such an outlook is alien
to Merz. As a matter of
principle, Merz aims
only at art, because no
man can serve two
masters.»
Dada and Constructivists 1922
Travels to Paris, starts work on the Cathedral of Erotic
Misery.
1928 1928 Visits Italy and joins French group of abstract artists
“Cercle et carré”. Meets with Duchamp and Dreier to prepare
a MoMa exhibit in New York. Travel in the Mediterrannée and
works until 1932 on diverse projects.
1932 Joins the French group “abstraction-création”. Return to
Hannover to produce the first model of the “Cathedral” now
renammed “Merzbau”.
1934 Moves to Norway
1936-1937 Schwitters exhibit at the MOMA.
1938 Art exhibit in London
1940 Escapes Nazi troops invading Norway. Arrives in England.
Arrested. Interned in the Isle of Man.
1942 Liberated. Moves to Barnes.
1943 Allied bombing raids destroy the “Merzbau” in Hannover.
1944 Move to Ambleside in the Lake District. New Merzbau
“Merzwall”
1946 Receives a grant from the MOMA to restore the Merzbau in
Hannover. Very ill.
1947 Terminally ill he tries to finish the Merzbau III in England.
1948 Dies on January 8. His body is transferred to Hannover.
1927