Review of Tom Sandqvist's 'Dada East' Examines Romanian and Jewish Influences on Zurich Dada
In his 2006 publication 'Dada East: The Romanians of Cabaret Voltaire,' Tom Sandqvist explores the Dada movement in Zurich, focusing on the Romanian and Jewish heritage of prominent figures such as Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, and Arthur Segal. Released by MIT Press, the work posits that Dada's creativity was shaped by Romanian peasant culture and Jewish customs, with Sandqvist claiming that Tzara's poetry and Segal's concept of 'artistic equivalence' were influenced by Hassidic practices. However, in a review dated October 18, 2007, Magda Radu critiques Sandqvist's approach, pointing out inconsistencies in associating Jewish identity with Dada, particularly concerning Tzara's assimilation. She also questions the validity of the Romanian literary influences discussed in the book, deeming Sandqvist's arguments as speculative and lacking clarity.
Key facts
- Tom Sandqvist's book 'Dada East: The Romanians of Cabaret Voltaire' was published in 2006 by MIT Press.
- The book examines the Romanian and Jewish cultural backgrounds of Dada Zurich participants Tristan Tzara, Marcel Janco, and Arthur Segal.
- Sandqvist argues that Romanian peasant culture and Jewish traditions like Hassidism influenced Dada's artistic innovations.
- The review critiques Sandqvist's methodology as inconsistent, especially regarding Jewish identity and assimilation.
- Romanian literary sources discussed include Symbolist poets Alexandru Macedonski and Ion Minulescu, and absurdist writer Urmuz.
- The book is part of a growing Western interest in Central and Eastern European avant-garde.
- Precedents include Steven Mansbach's 1997 book and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art's 1910-1930 avant-garde exhibition.
- The review was published on October 18, 2007, by Magda Radu on ARTMargins Online.
Entities
Artists
- Tom Sandqvist
- Tristan Tzara
- Marcel Janco
- Arthur Segal
- Emmy Hennings
- Richard Huelsenbeck
- Marc Chagall
- El Lissitzky
- Franz Kafka
- M.H. Maxy
- Victor Brauner
- Sasa Pana
- Ilarie Voronca
- F. Brunea-Fox
- B. Fundoianu
- Benjamin Fondane
- Ion Vinea
- Adrian Maniu
- Alexandru Macedonski
- Ion Minulescu
- Ion Luca Caragiale
- Urmuz
- Demetru Demetrescu-Buzau
- Hugo Ball
- Constantin Brancusi
- Ion Pop
- Ovid S. Crohmalniceanu
- Ioana Vlasiu
- Leah Dickerman
- Andrei Cornea
- Steven Mansbach
- Timothy O. Benson
- Magda Radu
Institutions
- MIT Press
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Cambridge University Press
- National Gallery of Art
- ARTMargins Online
- Cabaret Voltaire
- Simbolul
- Contimporanul
- Unu
- Meierei Café
Locations
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Bucharest
- Romania
- Moldavia
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Cambridge
- London
- United Kingdom
- Washington
- Baltic
- Balkans
- Slavic countries
- Central Europe
- Eastern Europe
- Yiddishland