RUSSIAN CONSTRUCTIVIST WORK
(AD138: FASHION ILLUSTRATION AND IMAGING – IDENTITY AND THE BODY)
Although initially, I really did not think that Russian Constructivist history would be relevant to my project, as I looked deeper, I found that a lot of the strength and colours used within their posters and propaganda related directly to my work.
Here are some examples of the work I really like:
(Figure 1)
(Figure 2)
(Figure 3)
After researching deeper, and thinking back to my trip to Bratislava, Slovakia in which I did a ‘Communist Walk’ where I learnt about all the ways in which the people, the town and the architecture were influenced and effected by Communism and Russia at the time, I found a lot of things that I thought I could use within my zine.
An obvious aspect of the propaganda and posters is the colour red. The colour represents so many different moods and ideas and emotions such as: Power, Passion, Love, Hate, Anger, Sex, Menstruation. All of these ideas come into my work as I try and defy insecurities and empower women. I think seeing the impact that these posters make, resonates with the impact that i am trying to create by tackling these themes that relate to the colour red.
On my trip to Bratislava, I saw a lot of statues and sculptures of women. The tour guide pointed out the largeness of the women’s hands and feet. He explained that this was to show their ability and the importance of them working. Women in that time would be working in the same way as the men, due to the Communist Ideals of equality and utilitarianism. Clearly, it can be seen that these cultures that have gone through Communist Rule, are going backwards in time. People of all kinds are losing rights and appreciation in the eyes of the rulers. I think this is something I am combatting when I am demonstrating the power of women within my zine.
Furthermore, the poses and strength that is portrayed within these posters reenforces the ideas that I am demonstrating within my zine.
I decided to take influence from the fists and strong hands that are seen within the posters and propaganda and turn them into a repetitive feature within my zine to really emphasise the message I am trying to give to my readers.
(Figure 4)
I really wanted this symbol to become a repetitive feature to be in my zine to create familiarity and be like little reminders between the ‘articles’ of my zine to improve the rhythm and pace of my zine. I feel as though it works well for this, and again, it adds to the hand rendered feel to my zine, as each one is slightly different.
Figures
Figure 1 – “Russian Constructivist Poster.” http://rosphoto.org/events/photomontage-in-russian-constructivist-posters/.
Figure 2 – “Red Star Over Russia Exhibition Poster.” http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/exhibition/red-star-over-russia.
Figure 3 – “Russian Constructivist.” http://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/a/agit-prop.
Figure 4 – By Kynza Kendall-Jones