B EN FA R R OUIL401 C O N T E X T O F P R A C T I C E V I S U A L E V A L U AT I O N
I chose to look at periods of Social and Political upheaval of my essay. During my initial research and image gathering, I found the art that came out of the Russian revolution in 1917 the most visual engaging. The Aesthetic is bold and really grabs the viewer.
As my essay topic became more focussed, I started to look more in depth at the Constructivists. Especially the Work of Rodchenko and El Lissitzky. ‘His images were as direct and arresting as a shout in the street. They were not fantasies, like modern advertising, but organizations of what was available: what the street gave’ (Robert Hughes, 1991, p95). - About Rodchenko’s posters
My thought was that I could apply a constructivist propaganda style to contemporary issues
I was struggling for an idea of what to explore visually. I was learning more about the constructivists but didn't’t have a topic that I cared about to apply the constructivist aesthetic to
Because of a lack of ideas and motivation the drawings I was doing weren’t very developed or exciting.
While researching into how the constructivist style is used in design today I found the work Shepard Fairey did when commissioned to create the brand image for Saks Fifth Avenue in spring 2009. Because it has been created digitally the aesthetic is really crisp and clean, which was then something I wanted to respond to in my work. I liked the combination of constructivist principles with a modern digital aproach. Creating a communist propaganda style campaign for an expensive clothing outlet shows how the Aesthetic can be twisted and appropriated today.
Seeing this advertisment for Russian Vodka in a constructivist style in order to represt Russian authenticity showed me how the constructivist aesthetic has come to signify Russia. My idea was to create work that portrays what I think of as Russia today.
CORRUPT RUSSIA Russia has gained a reputation for corruption and dodgy coverups. For me Putin as a figure head represents this tainted view of Russia in the west. Images of some of the recent controversies Russia has been implicated in:
Lenin and Stalin were celebrated, and in Stalin's case glorified, through art. I want to juxtapose the constructivist aesthetic with a negative portrayal of Russia's president.
STATE-SPONSERED DOPING IN ATHLETICS It took a while, but eventually I found a topic that I wanted to make work about. Russian Athletics was involved in State cover up with a government set up lab to cover up and destroy positive drug tests. Russia have now been banned form Athletics, and Athletes like Mariya Savinova (a gold medal winner at London 2012) could be banned for life. I’ve used the Constructivist Aesthetic, which was used to celebrate russia’s new era after the revolution, to create Dynamic posters representing Russian athletics fall from grace.