Building the revolution

Building the revolution is a new exhibition in Caixa Forum Madrid where Russian art and architecture between 1915 and 1935 can be admired until next 18th September, 2011.

Organized by building type, this exhibition presents the heroic years of Soviet architecture through vintage photographs from the Schusev State Museum of Architecture of each Project, juxtaposed with photographs made by Richard Pare over the past fifteen years.

Soviet architecture.

Function dictating external form

From 1917 Revolution to 1935, Russia experienced intense renovation in the visual arts and architecture: a new visual language was forged to proclaim the world of Soviet Socialism. Like European Modernist architecture, function dictated external form, which was manifested through pure geometric shapes often raised on pared-down columns, with banded horizontal fenestration and flat roofs.

There was a strong correlation between painting and architecture during the Russian avant-garde. Some works, such as those by Klutsis, Kliun and Stenberg, explicitly refer to architecture. Others, like Malevich and Rodchenko, explore the potential for two- dimensional art to transmute into constructions. All the artists identify a new visual language that informs their search for an art free of naturalistic.

Soviet art.

Radical housing designs

Socialist ideals of communal living generated radical housing designs such as those by Gingsburg in Moscow and Ekaterinburg and Nikolaev’s Textile Institute Student Housing in this same city.

The drive to eliminate illiteracy and disseminate Socialist ideals demanded new public schools. Commissioned by municipalities, industrial plants and trade unions provided communal educational, sporting and cultural activities as well as platform for the promulgation of Soviet Socialism.