In an era of chaos came an explosion of creativity - edgy, provocative, yet utterly compelling.
Germany at the start of the 20th century was a country in turmoil. With the formation of the Weimar Republic, replacing the old imperial system, came a dramatic shift in thinking. In the new metropolis of Berlin and beyond, a period of intense creativity flourished amid chaos and revolution.
Bold new movements such as Expressionism, Dada, Constructivism, Bauhaus and New Objectivity exploded onto the turbulent social landscape. The artists' interest in experimentation extended across art forms, forging influential directions in painting, photography, design, decorative arts, film, theatre, street art and political satire.
The mad square: modernity in German art 1910-37 brings together over 200 diverse works exploring the fascinating and complex ways in which artists sought to portray the modern world. Featuring leading artists such as Max Beckmann, Otto Dix, George Grosz, Hannah Höch and El Lissitzky among others, this major exhibition is drawn from renowned international and Australian collections.
Published to accompany the exhibition opening at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in August 2011.
Focuses on great aesthetic innovations that were made by artists throughout Germany in painting, sculpture, graphic art, photography, film and the decorative arts in years from 1910 to 1937