«Embracing Necessity 1916 2002 2022» – 20 years since the squatting of the Cabaret Voltaire
20 years ago, on February 2, 2002, artists and activists squatted Spiegelgasse 1 - the place of origin of Dada. The squatting ended on April 2, 2002 with an eviction (according to the story), which was preceded by an agreement between the city and the squatters. Only since this action the place was perceived as a house for cultural activities again. A little more than 20 years later, we celebrate and reflect on this important initiative and have invited via circular letter actors of that time to visit the Cabaret Voltaire on June 24 and 25, 2022 or to show a contribution. The central questions are «How is space created and what does it mean to create space?». Both in 1916, in 2002 and in 2022, these questions were and are valid to ask when it comes to finding out to what extent cultural creation is made possible and what preconditions, narratives and after-effects are associated with artistic activity. We are looking forward to the following framework program, which maybe will be extended by spontaneous additions.
Friday, 24.06.2022
–6 p.m.: Opening: «ten pet bottles hanging on the wall» by Mark Divo and Pavel Emelianov. Presentation of selected photographs from that time
–8 p.m.: Podcast «Dada2025»: Last episode live at Cabaret Voltaire
A podcast series of the «Maison du Futur» has been running since February 2, 2022 to celebrate the anniversary. The last episode will be broadcast at the Cabaret Voltaire. Followed by a talk with Jean-Pierre Hoby, Mark Divo, Anja Nora Schulthess and Salome Hohl. The podcast is intentionally called «Dada2025» because this podcast has set itself a long-term goal - namely, to write the history of Cabaret Voltaire.
–Followed by: DJ Chiri Moya
Behind Chiri Moya is the artist Maja Hürst, also known as Tika.
–––Podcast «Dada2025» by «Maison du Futur»! With Mark Divo, Big Zis, Wanda Wylowa and Jean-Pierre Hoby
In memory of the squatting of the Cabaret Voltaire in February 2002, «Maison du Futur» is producing a three-part podcast with contemporary witnesses. Wanda Wylowa welcomes artist and then-squatter Mark Divo in the first episode in the studio. Mark Divo requested Franziska Schläpfer (Big Zis) as an additional conversation partner. In the first episode Mark Divo and Big Zis talk about the events of the occupation of the Wohlgroth-Areal up to this February 2002.
You can listen to this episode in two parts on SoundCloud and Spotify.
Part 1.1: «Dada2025»: Labyrinths of Memory
Part 1.2: «Dada2025»: Squats
The voice of Jean-Pierre Hoby can already be heard briefly at the very end of episode 1.1 and episode 1.2. Jean-Pierre Hoby was Cultural Director of the City of Zurich from 1983 to 2010 and was committed to maintaining the Cabaret Voltaire as a cultural institution. Today he is active as Vice President in the association Cabaret Voltaire. You can hear Jean-Pierre Hoby's perspective in the third part of our podcast. This will be broadcast from the Cabaret Voltaire – directly on the scene of the events being discussed. We are already looking forward to the recording session with him.
–––Podcast Episode 2: «Dada2025: Squatting the Cabaret Voltaire» by «Maison du Futur» – online With Mark Divo, Big Bis, Wanda Wylowa, Jean-Pierre Hoby and Salome Hohl.
Part 2: «Dada2025»: Squatting of the Cabaret Voltaire
This is the second part of our «Dada 2025» podcast. Wanda Wylowa, Mark Divo and Big Zis (Franziska Schläpfer) talk about the squatting of Cabaret Voltaire in February 2002, after telling the back story in the first episode.
Between the shooting of the two-part episode 1 and episode 2, a war has broken out in Europe. This has an impact on episode 2: the word "occupations" is suddenly coined differently.
Episode 2 is about – besides these shocks in the present – the occupation of the Cabaret Voltaire in February 2002, but also already to some extent about the consequences of this occupation and the subsequent institutionalization, which of course is judged differently in Zurich. Salome Hohl, the current artistic director of the Cabaret Voltaire, and the vice president Jean-Pierre Hoby selectively complement the conversation between Wanda Wylowa, Mark Divo and Big Zis.
You can listen to this episode on Spotify.
