Russian Constructivism

Art is not concerned with the meditation about what is and how it came to be. That is a task for knowledge. Knowledge is born of the desire to know, Art derives from the necessity to communicate and to announce.

Naum Gabo

Russian Constructivism was one of the most important artistic and architectural movements that emerged mainly in Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. An emphasis on the use of new materials and technologies and a focus on the functional aspect of design characterized it. According to (Britannica, 2015), “Constructivism, Russian Konstruktivizm, Russian artistic and architectural movement that was first influenced by Cubism and Futurism”.

With the need to establish a new language that would give an aesthetic to the Russian revolutionary movement, constructivism abandoned the aesthetics that other artistic movements proposed and proposed that art be thought of as a process of building the brain. According to (theartstory.org, 2012), this process involved artists breaking free from ateliers and workshops and starting to use other spaces that were not common to them.

By freeing themselves from the old notion of art, constructivist artists began to use other spaces and see what they could do to solve the everyday problems of Russian society. This made the idea of “productivism” gain strength by adopting aesthetic principles from constructivism and applying them to photography, graphic design, fashion and cinema.

“By the early 1920s Constructivism art had evolved to accommodate the idea of Productivism which took the aesthetic principles of Constructivism and applied them to “everyday” art such as photography, fashion, graphic and textile design, cinema, and theater.”

(theartstory.org, 2012)”

One of the key figures of Russian Constructivism was the artist and architect Vladimir Tatlin, who is known for his proposal for the Monument to the Third International, a towering steel structure that would have served as the headquarters for the Communist International. Tatlin’s work was influential in the development of the Constructivist movement, as it demonstrated the potential of new materials and technology to create innovative, functional designs.

Another important figure in Russian Constructivism was the architect and designer El Lissitzky, who was known for his use of geometric shapes and bold colours. Lissitzky’s work was heavily influenced by the Bauhaus movement in Germany, and he is considered one of the most important figures in the development of Constructivist architecture.

In addition to architecture and design, Russian Constructivism also had a significant impact on the graphic design and typography fields. The work of the artist and designer Alexander Rodchenko, for example, is considered to be a major influence on the development of modern graphic design.

Despite its initial success, Russian Constructivism was eventually suppressed by the Soviet government, which saw the movement as a threat to the traditional values of Soviet society. Many of the key figures in the movement were exiled or imprisoned, and their work was largely forgotten until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The characteristics of Constructivism:

1. Knowledge construction: Learners actively build their own understanding and knowledge based on their experiences and interactions with the environment. Knowledge is not merely transmitted from teacher to learner but instead constructed by the learner.
2. Prior knowledge: Constructivist teaching takes into account the prior knowledge and experiences of learners, recognizing that each individual brings unique understandings to the learning process. Teachers help learners connect new information to their existing knowledge.
3. Social interaction: Constructivist theory highlights the importance of social interaction and collaboration in the learning process. Learners benefit from discussing ideas with peers, working together on group projects, and engaging in cooperative learning activities.
4. Problem-solving and inquiry-based learning: Constructivism encourages learners to engage in problem-solving and inquiry-based activities. These activities help learners develop critical thinking skills and deepen their understanding of the subject matter.
5. Real-world context: Constructivist learning is most effective when it is situated in authentic, real-world contexts. Learners are more likely to retain and transfer knowledge when they can see its relevance and applicability to their lives.
6. Learner-centered approach: Constructivist teaching emphasizes a learner-centered approach, where the learner’s interests, needs, and goals are taken into account. Teachers act as facilitators and guides, supporting learners as they explore and construct their understanding.
7. Reflection and metacognition: Constructivism encourages learners to reflect on their learning processes, think about their thinking (metacognition), and make adjustments to their strategies and understanding based on these reflections.
8. Multiple perspectives: Constructivist learning values the idea that there can be multiple valid perspectives on any given topic. Teachers encourage learners to explore different viewpoints and consider how their understanding might differ from others.
9. Assessment as part of the learning process: Constructivist assessment strategies focus on the process of learning, rather than just the final product. Formative assessment, such as feedback during the learning process, is considered more valuable than summative assessment, which evaluates the learner’s performance at the end of a learning unit.
10. Scaffolding: In constructivist teaching, teachers provide learners with temporary support or “scaffolding” to help them achieve more advanced levels of understanding. As learners become more proficient, the support is gradually removed to promote independence and autonomy.

Bibliography

Constructivism (no date) Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/art/Constructivism-art (Accessed: March 4, 2023).

Constructivism (art) (2023) Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivism_(art) (Accessed: March 4, 2023).

Tate (no date) Constructivism, Tate. Tate. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/c/constructivism (Accessed: March 4, 2023).

Constructivism movement overview (2012) The Art Story. The Art Story Contributors. Available at: https://www.theartstory.org/movement/constructivism/ (Accessed: March 19, 2023).

Pictography

Fig.1 – Tate, N. and Williams, G. (no date) Naum Gabo: Tate St Ives, Tate. Available at: https://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-st-ives/naum-gabo (Accessed: March 19, 2023).

Fig. 2 – Inventingabstraction (2013) Inventing abstraction at the Museum of Modern Art, Tumblr. Available at: https://inventingabstraction.tumblr.com/post/47026219946/vladimir-tatlin-composition-1916-vladimir (Accessed: March 19, 2023).

Fig. 3 – Vladimir Tatlin (no date) Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vladimir-Yevgrafovich-Tatlin (Accessed: March 19, 2023).

Fig. 4 – Hillegas, L. (2019) What is constructivist art?, Artsy. Artsy. Available at: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-constructivism-brought-russian-revolution-art (Accessed: March 19, 2023).

Fig. 5 – Alexander Rodchenko: Books (please)! in all branches of knowledge (1924) (no date) Artsy. Artsy. Available at: https://www.artsy.net/artwork/alexander-rodchenko-books-please-in-all-branches-of-knowledge (Accessed: March 19, 2023).