Kurt Schwitters

1887 (Hannover, Germany) – 1948 (Kendal, England)

Among Dada colleagues, Schwitters introduced himself to Hausmann in a Berlin café, got on particularly well with Arp, contributed to Richter’s magazine ‘G’ and appeared in his film ‘Dadascope’, and became close friends with Höch, who contributed to his continuously expanding Merzbau installation (he was a true pioneer of the genre, as well as a master of collage). He collaborated with his friend Lissitzky, published a children’s book with van Doesburg, stole a pencil from Mies van der Rohe, gave Moholy-Nagy advertising work, and had Grosz’s door slammed in his face. He risked his life sending Tzara microfilm of Hannover under the Nazis.