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| European: American: The Thirties - Art Deco and Streamline Style Australian: Federation, the European influence Contemporary
- the Australian way of life
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Russian Constructivism Constructivism was an influential Soviet (Russian) art movement of the 1910's-20's. It included the first nonrepresentational constructions and introduction of kinetic elements (components that moved or changed over time). Constructivists applied a 3D Cubist vision to sculpture, influenced by such works as Picasso's reliefs of 1912-13. In particular, they experimented with building up a sculpture from nothing by adding elements (such as paper, metal etc) rather than traditional sculptures which were created by taking away material from a solid block (of stone, wood etc). Many
of the principles of Constructivism were more widely adopted by
other Moderist streams in other countries. For
the purposes of this module, assume the terms "Cubo-Futurism"
and "Suprematism" are forms of Russian Constructivism.
No doubt the groups and individuals at the time found their differences
more significant than their similarities, but in terms of their
impact on art & design and the part they had to play in the
development of Modernism, I think it's fair to consider the following
as one group - the Russian Constructivists. |
Examples
of Constructivist architecture can be seen at: |
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Aleksandr
Rodchenko
(1891-1956) - also called Alexander Varvara
Stepanova (1884-1958) |
 
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SUPREMATISTS Perhaps ironically, one of the leading figures of the Constructivist movement worked in a very independant way In fact, he called what he did Suprematism, not Constructivism. Kasimir Malevich (1878-1935) also called Kazimir Malevich. Most
remembered for his famous ground-breaking Modernist paintings such as
the much copied "White on White" and "Black Square".
Also
the designer of a nice tea-set, "exclusively" available from
a number of online sources: "Kasimir
Malevich shows teapots can even be political with his “Suprematist Teapot
and Three Cups.” The Russian artist founded the Suprematist movement,
which sought to free art from the burden of the object. When critics
complained his teapot didn’t pour well, he replied, “It is not a teapot,
but the idea of one.” Malevich also dabbled in architecture with his "Architecton" models, although I'm doubtful any building he designed ever actually got built. kmtspace.com/suprematist-arch.htm Over
his very long career, his painting style varied a great deal. |
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El Lissitzky (1890-1941) Typographer,
book designer and architect. Theorist on Modernism, and often collaborated
on projects with Malevich. Natalia Goncharova (1881 - 1962) There were a number of influential women in the Russian Avant Garde during this period. So many men were killed in the Revolution and World War 1 that the position of women in Russian society had, by necessity, beacome one of equality in many respects. Natalia Goncharova was a graphic designer, painter, set designer and much more. www.rollins.edu/Foreign_Lang/Russian/gonch.html |
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| Contextual factors to consider:
Some key technical innovations:
Meanwhile, in Fine Art:
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