Always had a soft spot for Rodchenko. Unfortunately missed this Tate Exhibition, so this book is a welcome reference. However like most of my Art Books, they sit on the shelf looking impressive and get rarely used. Maybe in retirement I will read them all.
Written by Margarita Tupitsyn with an essay by Christina Kiaer. Available from Tate Shop.
Alexander Rodchenko (1891-1956) and Lyubov Popova (1889-1924) were figureheads of the Russian avant-garde during its most exciting period following the Russian Revolution, a heady period when they and other artists dedicated themselves to creating a new world. As leading lights in the Constructivist movement they were responsible for an astonishing array of iconic works. For the first time male and female artist are given equal status, throwing new light on their achievements and tracking the extent of their influence, still felt today.
The book concentrates on four key periods. From the Revolution in 1917 to 1921 both artists believed that abstract art had the potential to transform everyday life. The legendary 5 x 5 = 25 exhibitions, which created a community of artistic and revolutionary endeavour, are examined in depth. Between 1921 and 1924, the year of Popova's tragically early death, both artists abandoned art for art's sake and put their artistic skills at the service of the Revolution. The final section follows Rodchenko's later move into photography, the medium for which he is perhaps best remembered, and explores his involvement with film.
The lives and work of these two artists, along with their extensive network of colleagues and collaborators, provide a key to the whole Constructivist project. For the first time the issue of gender is explored; is there a difference between the approach of a female Constructivist and a male one? The wealth of new scholarship and previously unpublished works the book includes make it indispensable for anyone wishing to know more about the art of this fascinating period.
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