"All the experiments shown here are pictorial
and must be considered only as a preparation
for concrete material constructions."
-Liubov Popova
Artist for the exhibition 5x5=25, 1921
Constructivisim was an optimistic, primarily Russian, art movement inspired by the new technologies of the era, space, time, motion, and the hope of deinstitutionalizating art. It was most prominent in the late 10s through the 30s, though Constructivist elements are still used in art and architecture today.
Constructivisim is characterized by:
- sculpture and architecture (since the artists were concerned with space the constructivist would favor three dimensions over two.)
- use of new materials , such as plastic or steel
- clean cool often cubist-like images.
- a hard edged lack of sentimentality
- attempts to show the link between space and time through
- moving kinetic sculptures .
- minimalist lettering designs made of a small set of repeated elements.
- big words are used to discuss this art movement, unusual modern words further impart the anti-sentimentality essential to Constructivisim.
- communism (the art movement was closely tied to the revolution.)
- anti-communism (after the early stages of the revolution Stalin thought that constructivist's ideas were so strange and useless they had to be suppressed.)
- Bauhaus (This is where many constructivist artists went when they fell out of favor in Russia.)
- Unbridled celebration of the utopian possibilities offered by the new technologies and philosophy.
"Since space and time are the only elements of real life,
an art that is trying to grasp the essence of things
must be founded upon them."
-Sir. Naum Gabo
Constructivist sculpture and painter
"Technology and industry have confronted art
with the problem of CONSTRUCTION as and active principle
not as a contemplative invention."
-Varst Stepanova,
Artist for the exhibition 5x5=25, 1921