1916-1924
Modernist factions


de stijl [nl]
bauhaus [de]
purism [fr]
constructivism [ru]
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Rodchenko

Out of all artistic movements in the first decades of 20th century, I find the processes in Russia  the most exciting. 
After WW1 and 1917 October revolution, Russia's political and social structure changes drastically. In this turmoil of events Constructivism sprouts out of Futurist roots, rejecting the idea of "art just for arts sake" in favour of art with social purposes. As well as other parallel avant-garde movements - Rationalism and Suprematism - Constructivism centers around Vkhutemas (Russian state art and technical school founded in 1920 in Moscow), where such artists as Alexander Rodchenko, Kazimir Malevich, El Lissitzky, Liubov Popova and Varvara Stepanova teach. The school has a basic program compulsory to all students (not unlike Bauhaus), consisting of teachings about:

• the maximal influence of color
• form through color 
• color in space
• color on the plane
• construction
• simultaneity of form and color
• volume in space
• history of the Western arts
• tutelage.

 In 1920 the First Working Group of Constructivists arrive at a definition of Constructivism as
"the combination of faktura: the particular material properties of the object, and tektonika, its spatial presence". 
They work on three dimensional designs, as well as on graphic design. 

A.Rodchenko, Construction 2

Naum Gabo, Column

Sternberg Brothers, Apparatus 

V.Tatlin, Monument to 3rd Inernational

Inspired by Vladimir Mayakovsky's words "the streets our brushes, the squares our palettes", constructivists participate in public life throughout; they also work closely with Bolshevik government on propaganda posters, street festivals and decorations. 

El Lissitzky, Beat the Whites with Red Wedge,1919

All art in Soviet Union is to serve the socialist idea - paintings, posters, performances, buildings - all has to be brought to the masses. The Revolution makes new demands on processes of building and presses for new mass housing, new official buildings, new towns an development of the old. At 1919 Congress of the Communist Party Lenin initiates a new policy for better living conditions, educational facilities, including easy access to artistic treasures. Alexander Vesnin, one of Constructivists leaders, calls architects to 'enter into actual life, work in order to organise life, remember that the architect is the shaper of life; he is the appointed builder of socialism'. However, in 1932 Joseph Stalin promulgates the decree "On the Reconstruction of Literary and Art Organizations", making Socialist Realism a state policy. It rejects the non-representative forms of art, because they 'are not understood by the proletariat' (therefore couldn't be used by the state for propaganda). Form and content are often limited, with erotic, religious, abstract, surrealist and expressionist art being forbidden. Form, including internal dialogue, stream of consciousness, nonsense, free-form association and cut-up are also disallowed. Social Realism pushes out these "decadent" art styles, such as Impressionism, Cubism (which existed before revoliuton, so were accounted as 'bourgeois") and Constructivism.The latter is alive for two more year, but then also succumbs.

Example of socialist realism

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This idea of creating a completely new society with new values, where everybody works for a common benefit, a new mechanised life of progress was utopian, but after the October revolution, majority of the people sincerely believed it. And I find it amazing how so many people, especially artists, collectively worked towards this better world, and so strongly held on to this ideal, and were so clear on their agenda what they wanted to create. I admire such passion and effort to change the world. Compared to the creative process I go through, it must  differ quite a lot. Especially in my current project, I design not to express my ideals, morals and values,  but to create a temporary physical and emotional experience, hardly planning that it will change somebody's life.
Or should I, as a designer, take a responsibility of making a world a better place?