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Russian Constructivism

Russian constructivism emerged after the 1917 October Revolution as an artistic movement that sought to create a new world with new social values and structural techniques. It emphasized formal simplicity and original forms using pure geometry. Constructivism started with abstract painting but artists began using it in three-dimensional forms and structures. However, the movement was frozen under Stalin and later rejected as it became too advanced for society to accept. Some notable early constructivist architects included Vladimir Tatlin, known as the father of constructivism, and Konstantine Melnikov, who sought new forms to meet new societal demands but was later silenced for being too individualistic.

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Saurav Shrestha
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302 views3 pages

Russian Constructivism

Russian constructivism emerged after the 1917 October Revolution as an artistic movement that sought to create a new world with new social values and structural techniques. It emphasized formal simplicity and original forms using pure geometry. Constructivism started with abstract painting but artists began using it in three-dimensional forms and structures. However, the movement was frozen under Stalin and later rejected as it became too advanced for society to accept. Some notable early constructivist architects included Vladimir Tatlin, known as the father of constructivism, and Konstantine Melnikov, who sought new forms to meet new societal demands but was later silenced for being too individualistic.

Uploaded by

Saurav Shrestha
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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  • Introduction: Describes Russian constructivism, its origins, and influence followed by a philosophical background.
  • Konstantine Melnikov: Covers the work and architectural style of Konstantine Melnikov, highlighting his design solutions.
  • Vladimir Tatlin: Discusses Vladimir Tatlin's life, contributions to constructivism, and influence in architecture and art.

Introduction

Russian constructivism is the terminology given to the


movement occurs after the October revolution. Russian
constructivism is the movement or change in the history of art
and architecture after the first world, which create a new a
new world with the new social awareness and structural
technique. It went parallel along with De stijl in Holland and
art nouvea which is mark by the abstract relation based on
logic, pure geometry that came into explanation being with
new tools and materials. In simple word “this movement
expresses formal simplicity, an attitude to the production of
original forms and image”. The pure geometric form like
cone, cylinder, were not distorted but articulated in varieties
of ways while retaining their definite geometric identity.
Constructivism started with abstract painting influenced by
Cubism and futurism. Painting the two dimensional fantasy
was transferred by the constructivist artist to three
dimensional forms that occupied real space whether in the
form of model, counter relief or real structure.
Constructivism marked a major advance after the October
revolution and Stalin, a political figure with a strong
influence but good classiest that he was, froze the movement.
Constructivism with its age, become so advance that the
society could not accept or understand their vision and so the
constructivist suffered the end with rejection.

ARCHITECT AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION

Although constructivism seems to develop during 1917-


1923, the traces of it could be seen earlier in Vladimir
Tatlin’s work in 1913. Even before 1917 a revolutionary
group of artist likes Kasimir Melevich, Vladimir Tatlin and
Alexander Rudtschenle. Much extravagant constructivist idea
came up during this race. Some of them whose work were
notable are Vladimir Tatlin, Konstantine Melnikov, Vesnin
Brother, Ivan Ilich Leonidov etc.

VLADIMIR TATLIN
Vladimir Tatlin was born in Moscow in 1895. He was trained
at the Moscow school of painting, sculpture and architecture
and at the Penza art school. He is known as the father of
constructivism. He explains that constructivism is all about
how the artist reflects ideas to the society. He defines it as the
“art into life “his constructivist ideas were inspired by
Picasso painting.
His first constructivism idea can be seen in the form of
painterly relief’s with combination of metal, wood and glass.
And abandoned the traditional tools and technique like brush,
oil paint, canvas etc. according to him constructivist object
also occupied real space. So the painterly relief’s used the flat
wall as the background and the counter relief’s used the
intersection of two walls as background.
Vladimir Tatlin ins best known for an architectural project
the monument for third international (1919-1920) in Moscow
which represent post revolutionary aesthetic in Russia. It was
the industrial, kinetic, innovative, symbolic scheme to house
the congress halls of the state. This monument shows what
constructivism is?
The structure was 990ft high with cube pyramid and cylinder
made of glass, suspended inside the giant spiral. The lowest
cube contain congress hall and would turn about its axis once
a year. The pyramid which is located at the middle was for
administration and would turn about its axis once a month
and the cylinder hung at the topmost part contained press and
public facilities and would turn about its axis once a day. The
main concept behind this structure was dynamism i.e.
movement or change brought with time. His structure
becomes a symbol for international modernism.
KONSTANTINE MELNIKOV
Konstantine melnikov was born in Moscow in 1890
. He studied architecture in Moscow school of painting,
sculpture and architecture. He was one of the brilliant,
imaginative architects of the twentieth century and was
consider as one of the major innovators of early soviet
architecture. He was among the architect to seek new form in
response to the demand of new understanding. He was
highly influenced by the work of Vladimir Tatlin.
He was an individualistic who searched for unique design
solution. he introduce new planning solution for direct and
dramatic expression in the massive form, which can be
clearly seen in his entry for Paris exposition of 1925 which
included a diagonal stairs that led to entries at the center of
building effecting dramatic interpretation of exterior and
interior space.
His work were too expressionistic, too individual, so
incapable of mass production, even critics find hard to
criticize his work. Architect accused him of formulizing the
architecture and put him to house arrest and after which he
was silence an architect.

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