Defining Constructivism: Rodchenko and Popova at the Tate
Currently on view at the Tate, Defining Constructivism explores work by two of Russia’s most influential avant-garde artists, Alexander Rodchenko and Lyubov Popova. Charting their evolution from abstract painting to graphic designs, the show includes cinema and theatre poster designs, books and costumes as well as paintings and sculpture.
This couldn’t be a more timely review of heavy weight constructivists at a time when the term, and meaning of the movement are constantly being thrown around (See Shepard Fairey/ObamArt). The ideas of constructivism are often not sited directly as the movement itself and ideas behind it are often lost in the coopting of the term for the needed purpose. That’s precisely what makes the Tate show so special. You can see first hand, what the movement was about, how it was embodied in these two leading figures and how its spirit was defined by the philosophy that drove this work.
The Constructivists challenged the idea of the work of art as a unique commodity, explored more collective ways of working, and looked at how they could contribute to everyday life through design, architecture, industrial production, theatre and film. In addition, constructivists sought to speak directly to the ‘common man’ and give something tangible through art to everyone.
Of course, one might argue that figuration and representation are a more common language than abstraction, but constructivism at its core has a rather Utopian world view. A new Russian Utopia, rising from the ashes of its past.
For more info on this be sure to check out the Tate exhibit in person or online here.
There are also some good articles on the subject here: