Kurt Schwitters' Ursonate – Ein Sprachkunstwerk

DT Context: Ursonate [We play until death picks us up].

The Ursonate was created in the environment of Dada at the intersections of poetry, music, typography, and performance. The Hanover-based Merzkünstler (1987-1948) worked on its development for decades beginning in 1921 and described it as his "most comprehensive and important poetic work." The abstract composition, produced by linguistic means, is a rhythmic sound structure (ranging from "strictly military" to "lamely tender") that is considered one of the most extensive and influential works within modern sound poetry to this day. Isabel Schulz introduces us to Kurt Schwitters' transmedial linguistic artwork.

Dr. Isabel Schulz In 1996 Isabel Schulz came to Hanover. The Kurt Schwitters Archive, which is based there, is looking for an art historian to collaborate on a complete catalog of Schwitters' works. At first, it was mainly a job for Schulz, then, the longer she stayed in Hanover, it became a life's work - with more and more activities. She is also the honorary director of the Kurt and Ernst Schwitters Foundation, which the widow of Schwitters' son Ernst established at the Sprengel Museum in 2001. So it's all about Schwitters for Isabel Schulz. (Deutschlandradio Kultur)