Western Art - Constructivism - Integrating Art and Social Change, Geometrically

Constructivism - The Conceptdisplacement of capitalism with a different type of
Constructivism is an art style, reflecting optimism.system for production as well as distribution. A
It is focused on art as a medium of socialstyle of art thereby developed that was closely
purpose. Artists working on this style were notassociated with industrial production. Artists,
impressed by abstract ideas. On the contrary,including Alexander Rodchenko, Vladimir Tatlin, and
they made efforts through their creativity toWasily Kandinsky, promoted this style.
portray concrete concepts. Graham Potter hasConstructivism - The Intricacies
defined Constructivism as a "type of totallyArtists working with this art style were of the
abstract (non-representational) relief construction,idea that the finest creations were not those
sculpture, kinetics and painting. The work isdepicting Fine Art, but those of the practical kind,
ordered and often minimal, geometric, spatial,which portrayed man and machines together, that
architectonic and experimental in the use oftoo aesthetically. Several artworks, designed
industrial material."during the early part of the movement, were
Origin and Spreadreflective of the period of revolution and fused
Constructivism originated in the Soviet Union andpolitical ideology with art. The themes in
was not a wholly artistic movement. Overall, theConstructivist Art are depicted using geometric
term Constructivism came to represent a trend,forms and are not usually emotional and overall
wherein arts, such as sculpture and painting,the style is minimalistic. Most geometrically shaped
associated closely with manufacturing, applied arts,figures and objects were made from glass, wood,
as well as architecture. It is said that Kazimirand sheet metal, things generally used as part of
Malevich used the term Construction Art, for theindustrial design.
first time, in a contemptuous sense to refer toConstructivist Examples
Alexander Rodchenko's works, in 1917. TheThe creative outlook of the artists of
concept of Constructivist Art had a profoundConstructivism was integrating materialism with
influence, much beyond the Soviet Union. Itspirituality. One of the most famous Constructivist
spread into other artistic hubs, including London,pieces by Vladimir Tatlin is 'Monument to the Third
Paris, Germany, and even the United States.International' (1919-20), an iron frame 22 feet tall,
Constructivism - Historywith a cube, cone, and a revolving cylinder, all
Before the First World War, Futurism and Cubismmade out of glass, resting on it. Another excellent
influenced the Russian avant-garde more.example of Constructivism is Naum Gabo's 'Head
However, following the 1917 Russian Revolution,no 2' (1916). However, in the recent times the
they began looking for ways to express theinfluence of Constructivism has been more in
Soviet dreams of those times that included thearchitecture.