Constructivism

Constructivism.

What is Constructivism? The word constructivism derives from construct and this says it all! It is something being constructed. According to thefreedictionary.com construct means, to form by assembling or combining parts; build. The term constructivism was first used by Russian artists in 1921.

Piet Mondrian.

 Basically constructivism covers works of art which are described as abstract, geometric works which are constructed, or organised.

In the modern art and contemporary artists had their own philosophy. Whilst the traditional painters had an aim for example painting the Madonna. Modern artists had to use their rational mind to make their own painting, to make a balanced composition. A good example of a painting from the modern era is that of Piet Mondrian a constructivist. Mondrian wanted to build up his picture out of the simplest elements: strait lines and pure colours. 

Mondrian said,” I found that the right angle is the only constant relationship, and that, through the proportions of dimension, its constant expression can be given movement, that is, made living.” (Flanagan,1962, p.246)

Tatlin and his invention of the stove.

Art is envious! The view point on art was changing art wasn't seen as a media to be used to send messages to people but Art as the subject matter of itself. Constructivist rejected the idea that art works are “composed”, and are therefore, “composition” (Little,2004,p.114). That is why they adopted the term Construction to break away from tradition and break the barriers between the artistic and the industrial. A very good example of art used for the industry is Tatlin’s stove. Tatlin was a sculpture and changed his carrier to a designer. This stove was designed to work with minimum fuel and exerts maximum heat. Designed for the poor.  

 This was Vladimir Tatlin and Alexander Rochenko point of view in 1921 that art isn't “Art for art’s sake.” This opposed Malevich and Kandinsky’s argument that art must remain as essentially spiritual activity apart from the utilitarian needs of society.

Art metamorphosed into a new language of form which is easily understood, like in the Gothic era where cathedrals were built and decorated with arts so the biblical message could arrive to people even those who are illiterate.  The same did the artists of constructivism.  They wanted harmony and order like the classical time in their art. So constructivists used old ideas and techniques but changed the philosophy of thinking on art.

Gerrit Rietveld from De Stijl.

   

The Bauhaus.

Art changes as a practice directed towards social purposes. This caused the recreation of art, a revolution. Now art was used not for the pleasing of the eye like the traditional painting but for everyone's basic everyday needs. Constructivism left an impact on art, an evidence of this are De stijl and the Bauhous which were two styles influenced from the constructivism.

Bibliography

Flanagan, G.A.,1962, Understand and Enjoy Moder Art,New York: Thomas Y.Crowell Company.

Gombrich, E.H.,2010, The Story of Art, 16th edition, London: Phaidon Press Limited. 

Little,S.,2004, isms understanding art,London:Herbert Press.

Mikhail Oparin,2010, Russian Constructivism, [video online] Available at :<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQURCU6jN58> [Accessed 21 October 2014].