Flight Out of Time

This book explores the origins of Dada through Hugo Ball's diaries and the original manifesto, highlighting his significant impact on modern art.

In Flight Out of Time, readers are introduced to the pioneering work of Hugo Ball, a key figure in the Dada movement. This collection features Ball's insightful diaries, which capture his thoughts and experiences during a transformative period in art and literature. Alongside these personal reflections, the book includes the original Dada manifesto, providing context to the revolutionary ideas that emerged from the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, which Ball founded in 1916. The manifesto serves as a foundational text for understanding Dada's challenge to traditional artistic conventions.

Hugo Ball was not just a poet; he was a multifaceted artist—philosopher, novelist, cabaret performer, journalist, and mystic. His sensitivity to the cultural currents of his time is evident in his writings, making Flight Out of Time a vital resource for anyone interested in the avant-garde movements of the early 20th century. The book also features a critical introduction by John Elderfield, which has been revised and updated for this paperback edition, offering fresh insights into Ball's contributions and the Dada movement as a whole.

Additionally, a supplementary bibliography of Dada texts published since the original 1974 hardcover edition enriches the reader's understanding of this influential artistic movement. Flight Out of Time is not just a collection of poems and manifestos; it is a window into the mind of a man who helped shape modern art and thought.