> REVOLUTION: RUSSIAN ART 1917-1932

Royal Academy, London
1st April 2017

Revolution: Russian Art 1917-1932 -  One hundred years on from the Russian Revolution, this powerful exhibition explores one of the most momentous periods in modern world history through the lens of its groundbreaking art.

Taking inspiration from a remarkable exhibition shown in Russia just before Stalin’s clampdown, this show marks the historic centenary by focusing on the 15-year period between 1917 and 1932 when possibilities initially seemed limitless and Russian art flourished across every medium. The show surveys the entire artistic landscape of post-Revolutionary Russia. Renowned artists including Kandinsky, Malevich, Chagall and Rodchenko were among those to live through the fateful events of 1917, which ended centuries of Tsarist rule and shook Russian society to its foundations.

Boris Kustodiev, The Bolshevik - 1920

Installation view 

Kazimir Malevich, Black Square - 1929 

 

It was fascinating to see photography, sculpture and film making by pioneers such as Eisenstein, and evocative propaganda posters from what was a golden era for graphic design. The human experience was brought to life with a full-scale recreation of an apartment designed for communal living, and with everyday objects ranging from ration coupons and textiles to brilliantly original Soviet porcelain.

A great show by the Royal Academy... As always though, the sheer numbers of culture hungry visitors made it very difficult to navigate the packed gallery spaces... At times, it was impossible to view the works on show!

8 out of 10.