Dada 101 Anniversary Exhibition Planning and Production Department
Dada101Anniversary Exhibition
Introduction
0. What is Dada?
1. "Dada 100th Anniversary" explanation
2. "Dada 100th Art Competition" Document of the winner
3. "Dada 101 Anniversary Exhibition"
Members
Display items List
Location and Date
Reference
Introduction
Welcome and thank you for your visit. 2016 was the 100th anniversary of Dadaism movement and commemorating events were held all over the world. In Japan, Swiss Embassy organized Dadaism’s 100th Anniversary Art Competition however the organizer was unaware that this competition, from the start, was to be swallowed by unexpected turbulence. This act of riot and outcome was interesting not only as entertainment but shall be notified in the history of art. I took this opportunity to invite all the stakeholders and rioters who participated in our work in order to present and record on this occasion. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all staffs, concerned parties, and cooperators for the successful completion of this exhibition. (text by Dada 101 Anniversary Exhibition proposer Akinori Tomosaka)
0. What is Dada?
Dada is a concept; "kill art" declared at Zurich, Switzerland in 1916. Hugo Ball who fled from Germany with the outbreak of First World War gathered at Cabaret Voltaire. Together with others who fled from nearby European countries as Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, Hans Arp, Emmy Hennings including young Swiss artists as Sophie Taeuber, the movement began. It basically involved manifestos, literatures, performances, paintings and formative arts, movies, and music which became international movement. With slight deterioration, Dada survived in the early 1920s surprisingly as art. Dada has been influencing (goodly or badly) on not only various art movements that were born after Dada (eventually Dada allowed them to be born) but also non-art movements whether accepted or unaccepted. (text by Sakurako Yamamoto)
1. "Dada 100th Anniversary" explanation
Last year, 2016 was the 100th year after "birth" of Dada that began in Zurich. Many events named after "Dada 100th anniversary" were planned all over the world. Especially in Switzerland, events such as exhibitions and symposiums were held under the support of the Swiss government. At the same time the Swiss government took initiative to organize "Dada 100 anniversary" in other countries through embassies and other organizations.
They developed many collaborative projects with international cultural groups just like the international characteristics that historical Dada movement had in the 1910s to 1920s. By celebrating "Dada 100th anniversary," the Swiss government appealed tradition of Switzerland i.e.love for the freedom of creation and artistic diversity. Approximately 100 "Dada 100th anniversary" projects of which the Swiss government involved directly or indirectly were named "dada 100 Zurich" regardless of local place (excluding Japan).
The planning, management, and publicity of "Dada 100th Anniversary" project became the "nationworking art" or "nation vitalizative art" of Switzerland and was introduced to the world. It was started by a private organization in Zurich, "Dada Jubilee" which consisted of about 40 members. Looking at the special web site of "Dada Jubilee", we found that when they explained Dada, they placed emphasis on Hugo Ball. "Dada 100th" was calculated starting from July 14, 1916 when Ball introduced his first performance at "Cabaret Voltaire" in Zurich. It was not concentrated on other dates - such as Tristan Tzara, an exile from Romania who wrote the "Dada manifest" or whom had published the Dada magazine. In order to successfully connect the "international" characteristics of Dada movement to the "nation vitalization art" or "national offshore art" of Switzerland, a "site-specific" legend such as "Cabaret Voltaire" and its superintendence, Ball was necessary as a mediator.
"Cabaret Voltaire," now currently managed as a cafe bar and event space by the support of the Swiss government. "Dada Jubilee," also involved in the operation was a hub of the commemoration project of the "Dada 100th anniversary" promoted by the Swiss government.
Outside of the Swiss government group, we found only few events of "Dada 100th anniversary" so far.
According to Mr. Fumi Tsukahara, a researcher who visited Moeneshti of Romania (where Tzara was born) last year, "Dada 100th anniversary" in Romania was uneventful. Mr. Tsukahara analyzed that Tzara was exiled by abandoning Romania and as he was a Jew, it was difficult to handle within Romania.
※ Audited at lecture by Fumi Tsukahara "Dada 101 and Yurari Matsuzawa - from Cabaret Voltaire to the Room of Ψ" 36th talk event of "Yu Gakkai", an association to research Yutaka Matsuzawa, January 13, 2017.
In Japan, about 40 "Dada 100th Anniversary" projects were held by collaboration of the Swiss Embassy in Japan together with Japanese public and private organizations.
There were about 100 projects of "Dada 100th anniversary" that the Swiss government group organized therefore Japan had more projects than other countries. In these events, the monster which appeared in TV drama "Ultraman" and "MAVO", an art group formed in Japan before the second world war were introduced as Japanese unique acceptance of Dada.
Mr. Miguel Perez-La Plante, Head of Culture and Public Affairs at the Embassy of Switzerland in Japan, and Ms. Sachiko Shikata, a curator, mainly promoted these events. Unlike in the other countries, these events were not called "Dada100 Zurich" but "Dada100 Tokyo." "Dada 100th Anniversary" projects involving the Swiss embassy Japan were also held in Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, and Fukuoka. "Dada100Tokyo" distributed free paper, "Dada newspaper" managed by Mr. Perez also posted informations on Facebook. As a start the "Dada100Tokyo" announcement by Mr. Perez and Ms. Shikata appeared on the English video presentation site "Pecha-Kucha" in January 2016. Thereafter a catchy press release in which the Swiss ambassador Urus Boucher and monster from Ultraman, "Dada" appeared in May 2016. It was taken up by major media such as the Asahi Shinbun and the Mainichi Shinbun.
Outside of the Swiss government group, we found only a few "Dada 100th anniversary" events in Japan. An example.→( book-festival at Gifu Library)
Speaking about this exhibition, the exhibition initiated because the Swiss embassy in Japan had done strange things. We shall report about this in the next section, but however, all the members were (probably) irrelevant to Switzerland. (text by Sakurako Yamamoto)
2. "Dada 100th Art Competition" Document of the winner
One of unique "Dada 100th Anniversary" projects in Japan was the "Dada 100th Art Competition." The Swiss Embassy in Japan organized the project by themselves. The catch copy of this project was "Become a Dadaist." Partcipants sent pictures and videos of their "Dada work" by e-mail to the organizer, the Swiss Embassy in Japan. These pictures and videos were posted on the Facebook album of "Dada 100 Tokyo." （FB link is not avialable, so see Pic1.) All viewers who saw the album could vote "Good" on the particular work. The winner was decided by majority "Good" vote on Facebook and the prize for the winner was journey to Switzerland.
Journalist Shoichiro Oda, artist Kenji Takamura, activists Daichi Higashino and Sakurako Yamamoto saw this infomation about "Dada Competition " almost coincidentally at the same time. The above four took this invitation seriously and entered the competition, "Become a Dadaist." Oda made documentary videos of 'anti-election activity' named "false election campaign" organized by Koichi Toyama, the extraordinary leader of Kyushu Fascist Party <Warewaredan> . Higashino and Yamamoto also belong to this party. After editing, Oda submitted the documentary of Fascist as a "Dada work." Politically Oda is anti-fascist therefore in his work he avoided proclamation of pros and cons regarding the activities of Toyama. He did not decide the activities as art or politics therefore all decisions were decided amongst the viewers. In his work, he used "Gymnopedie" numbers in order to differentiate from the context of "avant-guard" which was accepted as heeling music.
Yamamoto,Higashino, and Takamura wanted to wastefully send Oda to Switzerland. They used the winning decision system of "Dada Competition" in order to get organizational votes for the "election campaign." As a result the "election campaign," video of Oda which described the "anti-election campaign" of fascist won the most "good" on Facebook. The Swiss embassy acknowledged Oda as the winner of "Dada 100th Art Competition" and officially awarded at the German Cultural Center in Japan ceremony. Oda received air tickets for two to Zurich and hotel accommodation rights as first prize winner.
In the end of 2016, Oda departed safely to Zurich with his family. He travelled around Switzerland and Italy (mostly at his own expense), and returned back to Haneda safely in January 2017. As Oda carried pictures of Toyama on this trip, he placed it at "Cabaret Voltaire." Oda also hanged Toyama photo upside down at Loreto square where Mussolini was hanged to death.
For more detailed records of "Dada Competition," refer to "Mainstream" 04 issued by Higashino and Yamamoto; summary site and article by Toyama are also available. (text by Sakurako Yamamoto)
3. Dada 101 Anniversary Exhibition
If the calculation of the Swiss Federal Government was correct, 2017 should be "101st anniversary of Dada." Public institutions however had no plan to organize the 101st anniversary, therefore we celebrated. We wanted to make the next century of destruction and denial as pleasant as possible.
In addition to Oda, Takamura, Higashino and Yamamoto who participated in the "Dada Competition" last year, we invited Takahiro Hirama as a guest member. Hirama seemed to be a Dada, everyone wanted to be like him. He had done meaningless things naturally and happily.
Akinori Tomosaka, the proposer of this exhibition, made a place where art and politics could interact . Activity of Tomosaka was to surpass the former "Cabaret Voltaire" to receive attention.
We also provided a talk show by Koichi Toyama, the extraordinary leader of the Kyusyu Fascist Party and star of "Dada Competition," the entry work by Oda. As the Swiss embassy in Japan certified Oda as 'No.1 Dadaist in Japan,' Toyama must be certified as 'No.1 Dada-work in Japan' meant that the entry work itself was Toyama. (text by Sakurako Yamamoto)
Members
Yoichiro Oda Born in 1975. Editor. Fake Dadaist. While engaged in editing magazines for many years, I have an interest in Mr. Koichi Toyama's activities. I interviewed Mr. Koichi Toyama's "false election campaign" in the Tokyo Governor's election in 2016, and released live-action movies every day on the net. When I sent this movie to the Dadaism Competition hosted by the Swiss Embassy in the same year, I became a target of mischief by the Main Stream editing department, and got the first prize by the block votes.
Akinori Tomosaka Born in Tokyo in Imperial era 2646. Cosmopolitan (world citizenic) fascist (unityist). As a philosophy of the "Great East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere" as the World Ethnic Federation, advocated "co-prosperity" . Struggling with the aim of being an activist and ideologue. Fascinated by extensive knowledge of Mr. Koichi Toyama, for several years, exchange with Kyushu Fascist Party and Mr. Oda Yoichiro and others. Recently interested in art. Moderator at Artificial Intellectual Aesthetics Art Conference Study Association. Appreciating everyone.
Kenshi Takamura Born in Kobe, Showa 59. Painter. There is nothing on the red meat group. Often from the Ru and other people face and out of the door. No evidence to see.
Daichi Higashino Studied avant-garde art. Now practicing fascism. Kyushu Fascist Party <Warewaredan> member. Studied for half a year since 2009, Koichi Toyama's "Black KUTV" (school of revolutionarist). Chief editor of artistic magazine "Mainstream."
Sakurako Yamamoto Studied Dada. Now practicing Dada. Kyushu Fascist Party <Warewaredan> member. Editor of artistic magazine 'Mainstream.'
Takahiro Hirama (special guest) New · Methodist. Born in 1983. In August 2010, solo exhibition "Takahiro Hirama First Retrospective Exhibition", "Maran Mersenne + Jean-Jacques Rousseau as Anti-Improvisation Performance" "Maran Mersenne + Jean as a 10-year Delayed Method Music" = Jacques Rousseau "simultaneous exhibition". In September of the same year, New・methodist declaration. Members of Nokata Heights since June 2015. Founder of Artificial Intellectual Aesthetics Art Conference Study Association, which was established by artist Hideki Nakazawa from May 2016.
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Koichi Toyama (talk show guest) Born in 1970. Japanese revolutionary fascist. Former a left wing activist (anarchist). After imprisonment, turned to fascism. Extraordinary leader of the Kyusyu Fascist Party <Warewaredan> . Anti-democracy. Movie(English ver.) (1)Japanese Revolutionary Fascist Koichi Toyama Runs for Tokyo Governor (2) 2008 United States Presidential Candidate from Japan
Display items List
Location and Date
2017/04/14-16
HowhightheMoon Koenji, Tokyo, Japan
reference
"Mainstream 04" Higashino and Yamamoto, 2016/10
“Dadaismo reviviĝis” Ookubo Masami "Monato" (Esperanto magazine) 2017/05
Yen's research about DADA competition 2016/11/16
"Conspiracy of Dadaist" Koichi Toyama "Jinmin no Teki" 2016/09
Special Thanks for supervising the translation : Kei
