The Great Monster Dada Show

October 25–January 26, 2020 at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Norway

On October 25, 2019 the exhibition The Great Monster Dada Show will open at the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter. As the first comprehensive presentation of Dada in Norway, the exhibition will aim to place Kurt Schwitters in a larger Dada context, thoroughly present the women in Dada and point to the discussion about the origin of Duchamp's "Fountain" and present works by Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven.

Dada has been almost absent from the Norwegian art history, in spite of being the home country of Kurt Schwitters for several years. The German artist has been groundbreaking when it comes to our understanding of art today, and he created several important works of art together with certain Dada artists. In addition, he built not one, but two «Merzbaus» in Norway in the 1920s and 1930s. The first was located just a few kilometers from the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, at Lysaker. Unfortunately it burned down in 1951. The second one can be found at Hjertøya, an island outside the city of Molde on Norway’s west coast. Sparebankstiftelsen DNB in Norway, holds the largest collections of Schwitters’ art outside of Germany - and the collection is placed as a deposit at the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.

- The art centre has always, from day one, been a meeting place for different artistic expressions. With our history in mind, it is with great pleasure that the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter presents the first comprehensive presentation of Dada in Norway. By showcasing newly acquired artworks by important artists, such as Jean (Hans) Arp, Max Ernst, Hannah Höch, and Man Ray, this exhibition strengthens the art centre’s collaboration with Sparebankstiftelsen DNB, says Tone Hansen, the Director of the Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.

Although Dada is an art-historical paradox, as it was both an active form of art and at the same time non-existing. Dada was, and still is, an attitude with great relevance for contemporary artists today. Especially women played a significant role in Dada, and several were pioneering artists within their fields of art, such as Hannah Höch with her photo montages and Sophie Taeuber-Arp with her cross-disciplinary art. These women are well represented in the exhibition and through an essay by Dr Ruth Hemus in the catalogue. 

- The exhibition has an extensive public program with performance, talks, music, and workshops. The art centre was in its time pioneering through a cross-disciplinary program, which ran parallel with the exhibition program ever since the opening in 1968. With The Great Monster Dada Show we hope to continue this tradition, says Ana María Bresciani, curator at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.

Dada came into existence during World War I in the neutral Switzerland, when several artists and anarchists from different countries found refuge in the country. Many gathered at Cabaret Voltaire in Zürich, a short-lived arena, which functioned as nightclub, literary club, exhibition space, and theatre. In this spirit, Henie Onstad has invited contemporary musicians and artists such as Beglomeg, Morten Qvenild, Siri Hjorth and Pernille Mercury Lindstad, Marthe Ramm Fortun and Are Mokkelbost to perform at the Dada Cabaret, November 23 at Høvikodden. The public program also includes a live concert with legendary British cult band Nurse With Wound  on November 10.

The exhibition is complemented by a catalogue in both English and Norwegian, designed by Snøhetta.

Artists in the exhibition: Alfred Stieglitz, Alice Lex-Nerlinger, André Breton, August Sander, Baroness Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, Beatrice Wood, Carl Einstein, Céline Arnauld, Christian Schad, El Lissitzky, Erik Satie, Erwin Blumenfeld, Francis Picabia, Georg Scholz, George Grosz, Georges Ribemont-Dessaignes, Hannah Höch, Hans Richter, Jean (Hans) Arp, Jean Crotti, Johannes Baader, Johannes Baargeld, John Heartfield, Kurt Schwitters, Maria D’Arezzo, Marcel Duchamp, Marcel Janco, Man Ray, Marcel Słodki, Max Ernst, Otto Dix, Paul Éluard, Paul Joostens, Raoul Hausmann, René Clair, Richard Huelsenbeck, Rudolf Schlichter, Sophie Taeuber-Arp, Suzanne Duchamp, Theo van Doesburg, Tristan Tzara

Short summary:

Title: The Great Monster Dada Show

Exhibition period: October 25–January 26, 2020

Official exhibition opening: October 24, 7pm

Press preview: October 24, 10am (email mhj@hok.no to sign up)

Curated by: Ana María Bresciani from Henie Onstad Kunstsenter and Oda Wildhagen Gjessing from Sparebankstiftelsen DNB

Created in collaboration with: Sparebankstiftelsen DNB

Exhibition and catalogue design: Snøhetta

Dada-collection of longsleeves in collaboration with: 8392 – launch TBA

November 23: Dada Cabaret: Performance by Siri Hjorth and Pernille Mercury Lindstad, Marthe Ramm Fortun, Marcela Lucatelli, collage forum by Are Mokkelbost and talks by Ruth Hemus and Sverre Wyller, workshop with Harold Offeh and concerts with Morten Qvenild and Beglomeg

November 24: Dada Cabaret: Family day: Performance by Marthe Ramm Fortun, workshop with Harold Offeh and Marcela Lucatelli, concert with Tusmørke playing Bydyra, guided family tours, screenings and face painting.

Address: Henie Onstad Kunstsenter, Sonja Henies vei 31, N-1311 Høvikodden, Norway

Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11am-17pm, Monday closed