Within Rodchenko’s manifesto of the constructivist group he makes a statement “technology is the mortal enemy of art”. Personally, I have to disagree with this statement for multiple reasons. At the time this quote was said was during the constructivism art movement within the Avent Garde. Constructivism fought the idea of creating art just for art, and went on to explore different ways to work and how they can incorporate it within everyday life. They created a variety of ways to promote the propaganda through different advertisements which still today inspire designers and artists. I came across an exhibition showcasing this month (July – October), the constructivist work and the whole exhibition is keeping the momentum of their ideas across all art form alive through this modern-day show. (Heide Museum of Modern Art, 2017)

Technology has benefitted many artists, not only within the way they produce their work but how they show and exhibit their work on the web. Constantly we as artists are pushing these technological boundaries to create new and much more creative artworks to be tried, played with and displayed. Technology has even allowed social media to take off for artists in the way that it makes it so much easier for unrecognised artists to get their name and work out.

Although I disagree with Rodechenko’s statement, I understand his intentions when saying it. It also states ‘we are also your last slave-workers’ (page 9 Who We Are; Manifesto of the Constructivist Group), this to me seems as if he felt under control by technology and by becoming part of the constructivism movement therefore allowed him to do whatever art forms he wishes, a sense of freedom.

Bibliography

Aleksandr Rodchenko, V. S. (2014, January 21). Who We Are: Manifesto of the Constructivist Group. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from issuu: https://issuu.com/rachelgweeks/docs/manifesto_issuu

Heide Museum of Modern Art. (2017, June 23). Call of the Avant-Garde: Constructivism and Australian Art. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/222785276