100 Years since the October Revolution
In the context of Artecitya by Helexpo - 52nd Dimitria Festival Kick-off
[Exhibition] [New Media] [Exhibition format investigation]
Videos by Media LABattoir
ABOUTThe exhibition Revolution in Art presents the evolution of visual arts in Russia, through the work of avant-garde artists, groups and movements from 1900 until 1923, alongside historical developments.
Emblematic works of art, literature and cinema, as well as rich photographic material – documents of the era, become alive through 19 large-scale video projections, making the spectator a part of history. Works by artists such as Malevich, Mayakovski and Eisenstein are brought to life alongside photographs of everyday life in Russia – from the Czar’s Court to the vast farmers’ fields. Developments in the fields of art and politics are presented side by side, in a narrative that starts from the causes of the Revolution and takes us until its aftermath. The exhibition includes references to the Revolutions of 1905-07 and February 1917, Russia’s position in World War I, the claims and strikes of farmers and workers, the activities of the plethora of political groups, the October Revolution, the Civil War, the vision of international revolution and the final victory of the Bolshevik Party. At the same time, the exhibition presents the artistic developments, not linearly, but in the spirit of socio-political events, in multiple layers that cut through history’s linear narrative. With the exhibition Revolution in Art, the programme Artecitya by Helexpo further expands on the theme introduced by this year’s Art Science Technology Festival – THE NEW NEW, as it investigates the possibilities that technology offers for the change of the traditional exhibition format. At the same time, it focuses on a moment in history when political, social and artistic developments unraveled hand-in-hand. The large-scale projections highlight the creative dialogue between politics and art and on the role of artists in the construction of the day after. TEXT1917. Art in the Revolution
Maria Tsantsanoglou Artistic Director of the State Museum of Contemporary Art – Costakis Collection Russian art of the 1910s and ‘20s produced some of the most innovative avant-garde movements. However, the Russian avant-garde movements would not have been the same without the socio-political context within which they were created: from feudalism and the industrial crisis to the demands of workers and farmers and the 1905-07 Revolution; from World War I to the October Revolution and the vision for an ecumenical revolution; and finally, from the Civil War to the victory of the Bolsheviks. Alongside historical events, the rapid scientific developments, the technological advances and the social changes of the late 19th and the early 20th centuries lead artists to the exploration of theories around art that would question the fragmented approach to visible reality and would perceive the world as an undivided unity of organic changes to be understood through the complementary combination of scientific, ideological and aesthetic experimentations. Russian avant-garde artists produced their best work in the midst of social adversity, revolutionary thinking, vision, participation and courage. Until 1917, the avant-garde artists’ relationship with power was heretic and reactionary. The anti-authoritarian messages of their manifestos, their painted faces and eccentric clothes matched the overall atmosphere of constant strikes, demonstrations and flyers and the emergence of a plethora of political groups. Later on, during the first years following October 1917, the faith to collective action and the revolutionary mentality lead to an extraordinary climate of collaboration between power and art. This resulted to the establishment of artistic organisations and schools of innovative teaching methods, as well as to the first contemporary art museums in the world. It is a fact that during the first decades of the 20th century, art in Russia closely follows the social and political developments, playing a substantial and innovative role. Between the 1900s and the 1920s, artists never ceased proclaiming their role in society. The Cubofuturists called for solidarity among artists and the synthesis of arts; the Suprematists proclaimed the unseen side of life and the artist’s power to perceive and communicate it to the world; the Constructivists changed people’s relationship with objects of everyday use. Lyubov Popova painted the darkest moments of World War I using collage and sawdust; Kazimir Malevich gave lectures on Suprematism and offered the ticket earnings to the fight against famine during the Civil War; Olga Rozanova painted monochromatic green paintings, because there were no other colours available; Alexander Rodchenko denounced painting and defined himself as a constructivist at a time when the civil war victims were millions and calling yourself an artist was reminiscent of old times; Vladimir Tatlin and Gustav Klucis dedicated their work to the idea of the revolution and to the creation of a new aesthetics for everyday life. Photos: George Kogias
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Venue: Thessaloniki International Fair – Pavilion 2, 1st Floor Opening: 01 October 2017, 20:00 Opening party with Dj Giannis Tsoukalas Duration: 1/10-3/12/2017 Opening hours: Monday-Friday 17:00-21:00, Saturday 11:00-14:00 & 17:00-21:00, Sunday 11:00-14:00 Organisers TIF - HELEXPO / "ARTECITYA" Municipality of Thessaloniki – 52nd Dimitria Festival State Museum of Contemporary Art – Costakis Collection Under the Auspices of the Consulate of Russia. With the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Concept Elli Chrysidou Research, Texts SMCA – Maria Tsanstanoglou Consultant, Research, Texts Igor Voronkov Exhibition design, Direction of projections & videos Emmanouil Papadopoulos Scenografy Giannis Katranitsas Audiovisual material, Direction of projections & videos Gavrilos Psaltakis Coordination Vicky Dalkrani (HELEXPO), Dimitris Kourkouridis (Exhibitions Research Institute), Lela Tsevekidou, Sophia Simeonidou (Department of Culture – Municipality of Thessaloniki), Lydia Chatziiakovou (ArtBOX) Assistant for the collection of material Angeliki Charistou (SMCA) Graphic Designer Viktor Goudaras Video documentation Media Lab Photo documentation George Kogias Audiovisual Equipment DIAPASON Most of the images belong to the Costakis Collection of the State Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition includes screenings of the emblematic films by Sergei Eisenstein: Potemkin, October and Strike. Courtesy: New Star. The presentation of the protagonists of the revolution was inspired by Herman Axelbank’s movie “Tsar to Lenin”, 1937. The project is funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author. The Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
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