Suprematism

The creation of Suprematism Suprematism was an art movement founded in Russia during the First World War. The first examples of this art style were some sketches that Kazimir Malevich designed in 1913. In 1915 the Russian artists Kseniya Boguslavskaya, Ivan Klyun, Mikhail Menkov, Ivan Puni and Olga Rozanova joined with Kazimir to form the Suprematist group. Together they created “The Last Futurist Exhibition of Paintings".

Style and concepts Realism considered a distraction Black, colored and white Uses simple geometric shapes and colors

Major ArtistS of Suprematism Two major artists that contributed the most to the movement of Suprematism were Kazimir Malevich and El Lissitzky . Malevich was the founder of Suprematism and his artwork lead to what we now know today as abstract art. His most famous and important pieces included a variety of geometric forms. Malevich’s work ultimately resulted in influence what we know as today as Modern Art. Malevich worked in a variety of styles, but he is mostly known for his true Russian avant-garde post-World War I through his own unique philosophy of perception and painting, which he termed Suprematism. He invented this term because, ultimately, he believed that art should transcend subject matter. He believed that the truth of shape and color should reign 'supreme' over the image or narrative.

Major ArtistS cont. El Lissitzky followed Malevich in the Suprematism spectrum. His artwork was architecture like and also include a variety of basic shapes and colors. Like Malevich he also challenged the conventions of art. His most famous piece “Proun 99” showed the effects of using both two and three dimensional objects together. Both artists helped contribute to how the Suprematism Movement was seen by the eyes of the world.

Malevich’s “Black Square” (1915)

Lissitzky’s “Proun 99” (1925)

Decline of Suprematism Malevich’s own esoteric concepts prevented the movement itself from gaining widespread appeal. In 1924 Stalinism took hold of Russia and limited the freedom of artist. In 1934 the doctrine of Socialist Realism became official policy, and prohibited abstraction and divergence in Russia. While Suprematism mostly died out in Russia. Suprematism’s implications were well received in Europe and the United States, effecting the realm of abstract art.

Into the West In 1927, a Berlin exhibition was well received, sparking interest throughout Europe and the United States. Alfred Barr later brought several of Malevich’s Suprematist works to the MoMa. This ground breaking exhibition played a huge role in the influence of American Modernism. El Lissitzky helped promote suprematism outside of Russia, and used many suprematist forms in his work. These echoes from the past can still be seen in contemporary architecture, and most famously, in the works of Zaha Hadid.

citations Ng, Tracee. "Suprematism Movement, Artists and Major Works." The Art Story. The Art Story Contributors, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. Malevich, Kazimir. Self Portrait. 1933. Russian Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia. "Suprematism : Design Is History." Suprematism : Design Is History. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015. "Suprematism | Artsy." Suprematism | Artsy. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2015.