Vkhutemas and Constructivism
Vkhutemas and Constructivism
The article talks about the revolutionary years of 1918 to 1920 when the Fine Arts section was led by important names like Nikolai Punin, Osip Brik, and David Shterenberg while the studios were established in many cities in Russia. Osip Brik in his statement said that their focus is on the growth of the art culture, but in 1918, Lenin abolished the Academy of Arts. The academy was the center of arts in Russia, brought forward, and polished a lot of artistic talents and innovations . The Free Art Studios established during those times were seen as an opportunity and freedom for the artists to search independently via this artistic institution. The main idea of the Free Arts Studio was to attract young art students.
The students who were already enrolled in the Academy of Arts were eligible to enroll in the Studios while the others were also welcome. Their educational background was not important as long as they were interested in art. The students were also allowed to select the instructor of their own choice and they were allowed to work independently in various fields of engraving, mosaics, sculpture, architecture, and painting. Despite all the opportunities provided, the complete independence caused problems within the workshops as clashes were seen based on superiority and certain trends of art. The art was divided between Constructivists and Vkhutemas and by the end of 1920, Constructivism was removed from Vkhutemas, however, its impact on art caused the battle to continue.
Vkhutemas emphasized on easel painting, representational forms, and realism and in 1926, the name was changed to Vkhutein. With the change of the name, some fundamental changes were also seen which focused on specialization. Constructivism was restricted to a year, followed by Vkhutein, which by 1930 had also dissolved, into different institutes. The writer took a historical approach, informing the readers about the rise of both the forms of art and how by the end, they had separated into different fundamentals. He talked about the abolishment of the arts academy at the start of 1980 and the construction of the Studios that gave a chance to all the artistic minds to explore their selves. He also wrote about the problems that the studios faced due to lack of guidance and complete independence of the students.
Bibliography
Marks, S. G. (2003). How Russia Shaped the Modern World: From Art to Anti-semitism, Ballet to Bolshevism. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
