Rodchenko, 1924.

Constructivism was an Avant Garde art movement founded in Russia, 1913, by Tatlin and Rodchenko. Constructivism disregarded creating art for ‘art’s sake’ and instead constructed a new form of art which could be described as architectural, experimental and abstract. The movement had a social purpose that “sought to push people to rebuild a utopian society” ( Flask, no date) that contrasted from their current one.

Propaganda came in the form of posters, book covers and advertisements, the production of which, continue to artistically influence graphic designers of today. In the manifesto of the collectivist group, Rodchenko (1992, p. 219) states “technology is – the mortal enemy of art”. Though I admire their policies to push the boundaries of art, I have to strongly disagree with this statement for a variety of reasons.

Technology has the ability to redefine art by giving artists new methods of expression, for instance, photography is a popular artistic medium that allows people to capture the beauty in everyday life. Also, computers and phones are hugely beneficial when it comes to needing inspiration – social media is a great platform for finding, sharing and even selling art, it is easily accessible too.

Technology has the power to enhance traditional forms of art, for instance an illustrator could draw an image and then scan it onto a computer to refine it before making a print. Software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop similarly provide artists new tools and resources to create stunning outcomes that cannot be traditionally made – technology is therefore an asset to art.

Flask, D. (no date) Constructivism : design is history. Available at: http://www.designishistory.com/1920/constructivism/ (Accessed: 20 October 2017)

Danchev, A. (2011) 100 Artists’ Manifestos: From the Futurists to the Stuckists. Penguin, p. 219.

PHOTO: Rodchenko, A. (1924) Portrait of Lilya Brik. Available at: https://bigother.com/2010/03/06/the-dominant-ctd/rodchenko/ (Accessed: 20 October 2017).