THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CONSTRUCTIVISM
COAEPXAHE ( TAB L E OF CON T E N T S )
INTRODUCTION 01 . INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS
06. THE REDS AND THE WHITES
02. USE OF SHAPES
07. PROPAGANDA
03. USE OF COLOR
08. ARCHITECTURE
04. T YPOGRAPHY
09. THE FATE OF THE CONSTRUCTISTS
05. POLITICAL INFLUENCE
10. THE END OF CONSTRUCTIVISM
The first time the word "Constructivism" was used was by: Kazimir Malevich describing the artist Alexander Rodchenko's work in 1917. the The Constructivists believed that with the revolution the shaping of a modern, industrius and Utopian Soviet society was possible. They believed in an art with a new order (as opposed to the old order which had lead to the war). The Constrcutivists experimented with various media such as: photography, architecture, painting, literature and graphic design.
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WHO WERE THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS ? The Constructivists believed that through the Bolshevik revolution a new bright, modern and industrial future was possible for Russia. They created art in favor of the revolution, aiming to appeal to and inspire the Russian population to take action. Among the most influential Constructivists of the time were: Naum Gabo, El Lissitzky, Kazimir Malevich, Laszlo-Moholy Nagy, Liubov Popova, Vladimir Tatlin and Alexander Rodchenko. The Constructivists were usually very involved in the political parties that surrounded them. And they also experimented with many mediums including: photography, architecture, graphic design, painting and literature.
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ALEXANDER RODCHENKO WAS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE LEADERS OF THE CONSTRUCTIVIST MOVEMENT. HE AND HIS WIFE REJECTED THE FINE ARTS. THEY WANTED TO FOCUS ON A NEW KIND OF IMAGERY THAT SERVED THE NEW COMMUNIST RUSSIA. AND ITS WORKER POPULATION.
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USE OF SHAPES Constructivists wanted to avoid "pure art" instead they favored abstract, geometric form. These forms most commonly consisting of: squares, circles, and triangles were used for simple symbolisms and ideas. Their goal being that when the viewer is looking at them they are presented with imagery they do not see in everyday life in return evoking certain feelings. Drawing their influence from Cubism and the Avant Garde they did not want to portray everyday objects in their imagery. Through abstract shapes they tried to link their art to tangible ideas (often political).
The shapes had a modern simplicity to them. They took the place of the overly decorative art that was popular at the time of the Imperial Government. Which had just been overthrown in the revolutions of 1917.
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3 AS WELL AS EXPERIMENTING WITH GEOMETRIC SHAPES THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS ALSO WERE AMONG THE FIRST ARTISTS TO EXPERIMENT WITH PAINTING THREE DIMENTSIONAL SHAPES. PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT THEY COULD ACHIEVE ON A TWO DIMENSIONAL SURFACE.
USE OF COLOR The color scheme of many typical Constructivist works were usually: red, tan or gold, black and on occasion blue or green. There are several reasons for the specific choices of color that the Constructivists used, however a significant factor was due to economic necessity. Russia during the early 1920's had a significant lack of resources which had an impact on the movement. The most iconic color that was used in Constructivism was red. Red was the color of the (then new) Communist Party which had just over thrown the old Imperial government. It was the color of revolution. The goal of most Constructivist paintings and posters was to grab the viewers attention, the use of bold colors was one of the ways they succeeded in doing this.
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USE OF THE SANS SERIF The sans serif became the revolutionary new typeface preferred by the Constructivists, for its geometric simplicity due to its lack of serifs (which was considered to be to decorative for their vision). The geometric sans serif was bold and contrasted nicely with their use of shapes and bold colors. White space with their use of type and shapes in order to contrast the elements. Most of the Constrcutivist posters that were produced were created with basic letterpress. They emphasized Another typographic style that proved to be very popular among the Constructivists was the use of their angled type. Some of the angled typography is harder to read than others but it was an exploration of white space and form as well as order and interaction with other visual shapes.
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POLITICAL INFLUENCE
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Constructivism was a movement that was born from the spirit of revolution. In 1917 there were two major revolutions in Russia. The first overthrew the corrupt Czarist Government and the second placed the Bolsheviks (who later called themselves the Communist Party) into power. In October Vladimir Lenin, the leader of the Bolsheviks lead a coup against the provisional government and anyone who was not a Bolshevik. The Bolsheviks were made up of soldiers who returned from WW1 to poverty and under paid workers together they formed the Red Guard (later becoming the Soviet Red Army).
1917 BOCCTAHNE!
THE REDS VS THE WHITES A popular theme in Constructivist posters and paintings is the "The Reds vs. The Whites." The most famous of them being El Lissitzky's "Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge." The Whites (White Guard) had the support of the Western Allies, and vastly outnumbered the Red Guard. The Whites were a conservative group which consisted of: Revolutionary Socialists against Lenin's party, monarchists and some former Czarists. The Red Guard (Communists) were made up of former Imperial soldiers, factory workers, and peasants. Lenin's message of "Peace, Bread and Land" appealed to the mass Russian population who were impoverished and tired of war. The Red Guard although outnumbered lead by Lenin they beat the White Guard in 1917.
REVOLT!
1919 1917
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THE OCTOBER REVOLUTION
VLADIMIR TATLIN REVEALS HIS PLAN FOR THIS MONUMENT THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL
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CONSTRUCTIVISM AND PROPAGANDA In 1920 the Constructivists dedicated their art to the Communist party and used their art to create propaganda posters. Most of these posters advertised Communist party programs, and supporting the party's agenda. Many of these posters were aimed at encouraging worker education and literacy. Another popular topic among these posters was the depiction of the strong hard working Russian laborer and soldier fighting the evil temptation that was Capitalism. All of the men, women and children that were shown on these posters were always smiling, always happy to be apart of the Commuist society. Lenin was frequently represented on these posters, leading the revolution. These posters allowed the party to manipulate the population and control the media.
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DONT BELIEVE ANYTHING THEY TELL YOU. BECAUSE EVERYONE IS LYING. EVERYONE.
MANY PEOPLE IN RUSSIA AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTIVISM WERE ILLITERATE. IN ORDER TO CONNECT WITH THE TARGET AUDIENCE, THE LOW INCOME WORKERS BRIGHT COLORS AND BIG IMAGERY WAS USED IN PLACE OF TEXT. IN ORDER TO COMMUNICATE THEIR MESSAGE.
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CONSTRUCTIVIST ARCHITECTURE
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1924
1921
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The Constructivists experimental movement was stopped in its tracks during the power struggle for leadership of the new Communist State after Lenin's death in 1924. Once Stalin came to power the Constructivist aesthetic was declared "too revolutionary" for the use of state propaganda. Stalin proclaimed that all future design should follow the strict and conservative guidelines of Socialist Realism. Those Constructivists who refused to cooperate with the new demands either fled the country, retired as artists and looked for new professions or were taken by the KGB in the dead of night. Many would end up in the Soviet work camps known as: Gulags.
Constructivist architecture was one of the art forms that emerged from the art movement. The architecture of this movement actually inspired many painters of the time. Constructivist architecture emphasized the use of the (then new) materials such as: glass and steel. It also focused on cubists form in the buildings like slants and geometric forms. Architects like Vladimir Tatlin focused on minimal and modern design for their buildings. Another important characteristic of most of these buildings is how many windows they have. There were always many, many windows to let as much light in as possible they were also usually rectangular shaped although in some cases they were circular.
THE MOST FAMOUS WORK OF CONSTRUSTIVIST ARCHITECTURE WAS NEVER ACTUALLY BUILT. THE TOWER IF IT HAD BEEN CONSTRUCTED WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN TALLER THAN THE FAMOUS EFFIEL TOWER IN PARIS. WHICH AT THE TIME WAS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT.
WHERE ARE THE CONSTRUCTIVISTS?
THE DEATH OF VLADIMIR LENIN
THE FIRST WORKING GROUP OF CONSTRUCTIVSTS ARE ESTABLISHED.
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10 RUSSIAN CONSTRUCTIVISM WAS THE MOST RADICAL , AMBITIOUS AND TRAGIC MOVEMNENT IN THE LAST CENTURY.
THE END OF CONSTRUCTIVISM Constructivism was a movement born from revolution, it could not have come into existence without the uprisings of 1917. It was brought to life my artists and intellectuals who believed that with the new Communist government a Utopian and modern society could be a possibility for war torn Russia. They succeeded in creating powerful and radical art and design that was the first of its kind. Inspiring future graphic design and architecturall movements. The Russian Constructivist movement was the most radical, ambitious
and tragic movement in the last century. It was the very government that they had believed in, fought for and created for, that outlawed their art. It was the party that they had hoped would introduce a better more humane and progressive society that oppressed their country and it's population for years to come. And it was because of this that the Constructivists had to flee, or give in to Stalin's strict ideals of what was "art" if they wanted to survive.
1935 1925
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EL LISSISZKY CREATES HIS FAMOUS PHOTO COLLAGED SELF PORTRAIT, "THE CONSTRUCTOR"
STALIN OUTLAWS CONSTRUCTIVISM
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INDEX CONCLUSION Constructivism was one of a few art movements in history that only came into existence because of a countries political situation. The Constructivist movement was a group of artists and intellectuals reacting to what was happing around them politically. Constructivism was a response to revolution, war and a change in government power. Constructivism was born from a revolting people. Because of this it was destined to be a short but powerful and loud movement. Constructivism and the 1917 revolutions shared the same fate neither could exist without the other.
SOURCE INFO
IMAGES
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