If you happen to find yourself in Madrid this summer, the exhibition
Building the Revolution. Soviet Art and Architecture 1915-1935
will be on view at CaixaForum (Paseo del Prado, 36) till September 18.
Definitely worth a look!
From the Press Release:
The Soviet State that emerged from the 1917 Russian Revolution fostered
a new visual language aimed at building a new society based on the
socialist ideal. The decade and a half that followed the Revolution was a
period of intense activity and innovation in the field of the arts,
particularly amongst architects, marked by the use of pure geometric
forms. The new State required new types of building, from commune
houses, clubs and sports facilities for the victorious proletariat, factories
and power stations in order to bring ambitious plans for industrialisation
to fruition, and operations centres from which to implement State policy
and to broadcast propaganda, as well as such outstanding monuments as
Lenin’s Mausoleum. Building the Revolution. Soviet Art and Architecture
1915-1935 illustrates one of the most exceptional periods in the history of
architecture and the visual arts, one that is reflected in the engagement of
such constructivist artists as Lyubov Popova and Alexander Rodchenko
and and Russian architects like Konstantin Melnikov, Moisei Ginzburg and
Alexander Vesnin, as well as the European architects Le Corbusier and
Mendelsohn. The exhibition features some 230 works, including models,
artworks (paintings and drawings) and photographs, featuring both
vintage prints from the 1920s and 30s and contemporary images by the
British photographer Richard Pare. Building the Revolution. Soviet Art
and Architecture 1915-1935, is organised by the Royal Academy of Arts of
London in cooperation with ”la Caixa” Social Outreach Programmes and
the SMCA-Costakis Collection of Thessaloniki. The exhibition forms part
of the Official Programme of PhotoEspaña 2011 and of the 2011 Dual Year
Programme from Spain to Russia and from Russia to Spain.
More information (Press Release in full, photos of exhibition, information on CaixaForum): http://press.lacaixa.es/socialprojects/view_object.html?obj=816,c,14261
