Reframing Society: Russian Constructivist Photography

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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Reframing Society: Russian Constructivist Photography
Ellen Raimond, curator
February 2, 2008–May 18, 2008
North Balcony, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

Following the aftermath of the October Revolution of 1917, Constructivism emerged from within the Russian avant-garde both as an artistic practice and as a term expressing a belief in the birth of a new relationship between the artist and society. In their formally innovative photographs incorporating high or low vantage points, oblique angles, and dramatic diagonal compositions Alexander Rodchenko, Boris Ignatovich, and Georgy Zelma strove to revolutionize their countryman’s visual thinking. These photographers managed to capture through their lenses a changing way of life in the post-revolutionary era. This exhibition of photographs, selected from the Spencer’s permanent collection, seeks to explore how the Constructivist movement-armed with the mission of reinventing Russian society-successfully created images that were strongly rooted in design while reflecting the distinctive characteristics of Soviet life.

This exhibition is organized by Spencer Museum of Art Photography Intern Ellen Raimond in conjunction with the exhibition El Lissitzky: Futurist Portfolios.

Exhibition images

Works of art

untitled, Cornel Somogy (1910–2001)
Cornel Somogy (1910–2001)
untitled, 1933
Card Players, Bohumil Štastný (1905–1991)
Bohumil Štastný (1905–1991)
Card Players, 1930s
Working on the Metro, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Wrestlers, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Wrestlers, 1932
Formation, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Formation, 1931
Shaman, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Shaman, 1929
Accordion Band, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Three Generations, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Gorky Park, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Gorky Park, 1931
Air Mail, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Air Mail, 1932
Flying in Red Square, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Parachutes, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Parachutes, 1935
Camels Helping the Red Army, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Soldiers on Parade 7, November, Red Square, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Stalin, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Stalin, 1935
Steel Workers, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Durov, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Durov, 1931
On the Baltic Sea, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Fair, Tbilisi, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
LaSalle Monument, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
With Plank, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
With Plank, 1929
Near the Bolchoy [sic] Theater, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Komsomol Congress, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Dynamo, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Dynamo, 1930
Flower Delivery, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Strastnoy Boulevard, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Floors, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Floors, 1933
Dining Room, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Dining Room, 1937
Chess Tournament, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Shastokovich [sic], Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Stage set
Stage set, circa 1918–1920s
May Day Demonstration on Myasnitskaya Street, Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)
Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)
Izvestiia Building. Editorial Headquarters of Newspaper, Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)
Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)
Metro. Mayday Illuminations, Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)
Alexander Rodchenko (1891–1956)
Demonstration, May 1, 1937, Red Square, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
First Born, Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
First Born, 1927
Blast Furnace, Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Youth, Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Paul Harbaugh; Boris Ignatovich (1899–1976)
Youth, 1937
Gymnasts, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Gymnasts, 1932
Sportsmen on Parade, Red Square, Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)
Georgi Zelma (1906–1984)

Events

February 7, 2008
Talk
Ellen Raimond, Photography Intern
6:30–7:30PM
Gallery 404
April 3, 2008
Talk
Ellen Raimond, photography intern, and Professor Edith W. Clowes, chair and director of graduate studies in the department of Slavic Languages and Literatures
12:15–1:15PM
Gallery 404

Resources

Documents

Media Release