Russian Constructivism

Russian Constructivism

By: Agapi & Meline

Introduction to Constructivism

• Constructivism started around 1915 in Russia by Vladmir Tatlin and Aleksandr Rodchenko.
• They thought art should show the modern industrial world directly.
• They were inspired by Pablo PIcasso's cubist art, especially Tatlin's abstract pieces made with industrial stuff.

Principles of Constructivism

• Constructivists cared more about how objects were made than how they looked.
• They saw objects as if they were made in a factory, like cars or airplanes.
• They thought of Constructivism as a skillful way of organizing materials.

Development and Suppression

• Russian artists embraced Contructivism by 1921.
• Manifesto published a Lef magazine in 1923, outlining Constructivist principles.
• In the 1920s, the Russian government stopped people from doing Constructivism, but it spread to the West thanks to Naum Gabo and Antoine Pevsner

Influence and Exhibition

• Had a major influence on modern sculpture.
• Naum Gabo and Antoine Pevsner played a significant roles in bringing Constructivism to the West.
• Constructivism is celebrated in exhibitions like "Rodchenko & Popova: Defining Constructivism" at Tate Modern and "Naum Gabo" at Tate St Ives

Aleksandr Rodchenko

• He was born in 1891, a prominent Russian artist.
• Key figure in the avant-garde movement, particularly Constructivism.
• Declared the end of traditional painting in 1921.
• Viewed art as professional expertise rather than a spiritual calling.

Artistic Evolution

• Transitioned from painting to photography in the mid 1920s.
• Experimented with new perspectives, challenging perceptions.
• Used photography as a tool for social commentary.

• Depicted disparity between Soviet idealism and lived reality.

Legacy and Recognition

• Exhibited widely internationally.
• Criticized at home for the formalist approach.
• Found support abroad, exhibited in Germany, US, Czechoslovakia.

• Died in Moskow in 1956, leaving behind a significant artistic legacy.

Exhibitions and Publications

• Numerous exhibitions showcasing Rodchenko's work.
• Themes include Constructivism, photography, and avantgarde art.
• Rodchenko's diverse body of work is celebrated through presentations and books.