28/01/2026
110 Years of Dada
One hundred and ten years ago, in the chaos of a world at war, Dada was born at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich — not as a style, but as an act of refusal. Refusal of logic, nationalism, hierarchy, and the idea that art must behave. Back in January 2016, Dada on Tour arrived in Singapore for the first time, welcoming nearly 40,000 visitors during Art Stage Singapore, one of Southeast Asia’s leading art fairs. The exhibition marked the 100th anniversary of Dada — one of the most influential and revolutionary art movements of the 20th century — through two major projects: an immersive multimedia installation and a presentation of rare works by internationally acclaimed Dada artist Marcel Janco.
Born at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich in 1916, Dada rapidly spread to cities including New York, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, and even Tokyo. As a mobile exhibition, Dada on Tour had already traveled to Rio de Janeiro, New York, and Hong Kong before landing in Singapore, where it took visitors on a journey into the provocative and experimental world of Dada.
Inside a nomadic tent, visitors discovered the visions and actions of 165 Dadaists, among them Jean Arp, Hugo Ball, Marcel Janco, André Breton, and Marcel Duchamp. The multimedia installation featured Starry Heaven of Dada on the roof of the tent — mapping the development of the international movement between 1916 and 1923 — as well as Dada in Nuce, a 27-minute film retelling the story of Dada.
Looking back in 2026, this large-scale project stands as a powerful example of international collaboration. Dada on Tourwas made possible through the partnership of Cabaret Voltaire, Art Stage Singapore, Bruno Art Group, and generous sponsors, with major support from the Embassy of Switzerland. Additional contributions came from the Romanian and Israeli embassies, as well as Swissôtel. Together, these collaborations successfully introduced Dada to the Singaporean public — and its spirit continues to resonate today.
📸 # 17 @ Map Office, 2014
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AvantGardeArt