An Exhibition in London - Constructivism

Building the Revolution: Soviet Art & Architecture 1915-1935

Recreation of Tatlin's Tower
at Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly, London

Visited the Royal Academy of Arts today on Piccadilly for the exhibition "Building the Revolution: Soviet Art & Architecture 1915-1935" taking place between 29 October 2011 and 22 January 2012. 

Link: Royal Academy of Arts: "Building the Revolution"

It showcases avant-garde art forms, constructivism, Popova's 'Painterly Architectonics', photos of architecture during that period and a recreation of Tatlin's Tower in the courtyard to the front of the Academy.  Examples of avant-garde architecture covered: state, communications - Shabolovka radio tower, industry, housing, education, recreation and health, including the Voroshilov sanatorium in Sochi - I shall be looking out for the sanatorium on my next visit to Sochi. The exhibition ended with the various construction phases of the Lenin mausoleum, from a temporary plywood structure to the current day granite mausoleum.


Constructivism was suppressed in the 1920's with the new Soviet leader Stalin, who went on to demolish churches and build huge statements to his ruling years, namely the Stalin skyscrapers: the 'Seven Sisters' in Moscow.

I would recommend a visit if you are at all interested in the early Soviet era, as Russia invited Europeans, Le Corbusier amongst them, to help them construct a new Russia.

Time Out London review

Propoganda Kiosk by Gustav Klutsis

Recommended reading: 

"We" by Yevgeny Zamyatin about citizens of the One State living in a condition of 'mathematically infallible happiness'. Banned from publication in Russia in 1921.

"The Foundation Pit" by Andrey Platonov, a dystopian novel describing lives of some Soviet workers who believe they are laying the foundations for a radiant future but as they work harder and dig deeper ...

Recommended Reading: "We" & "The Foundation Pit"

LINK: Interesting presentation of the Russian avant-garde era.