Russian collage: from Picasso’s devotees to originality
Collage holds a special place in the history of 20th century art. It is one of those phenomena that seem to remain passively on the sidelines, yet contribute to the creation of major trends in culture. It is believed that collage appeared in art in 1912, when Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso began experimenting with it in search of new means of expression. In Europe, the technique was taken up and used with relish by many representatives of Futurism, Cubism, Nouveau Realism, Dadaism and, in the USA, Pop Art. Collage has always developed separately, within different artistic movements.
In Russia, collage has always had its own isolated way, which has seen the trials of war and Soviet propaganda, the grip of ideology, the difficult recovery in the 90s and the blossoming of advertising in the 21st century. We have selected the most significant artists in the history of Russian collage who have influenced its development.
In Russia, collage has always had its own isolated way, which has seen the trials of war and Soviet propaganda, the grip of ideology, the difficult recovery in the 90s and the blossoming of advertising in the 21st century. We have selected the most significant artists in the history of Russian collage who have influenced its development.
Aristarkh Lentulov, "moscow", papier collé , 1913
Aristarkh Lentulov (1882-1943)
One of the founders of the Russian avant-garde and a daring experimenter, Aristarkh Lentulov is sometimes considered the first collagist in Russian art. Some of the most expressive works using papier collé are the works of 1914-15 such as the panels “Moscow”, “The Ship”, “St Basil the Blessed”. These are not collages in their pure form, but Lentulov was one of the first in Russia, following the example of the French Cubists, to glue pieces of coloured paper and foil into his canvases.
Poster collage in the USSR
The collage technique became the impetus for the development of a number of new trends. For example, collage quickly moved from painting to art of photography. Photo collage emerged as an independent genre in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century, largely thanks to the Dadaists. The poster takes a special role in Dadaism. There are three main schools of poster art in Europe: Zurich ‘accidental’ collage, Berlin manifestation collage and Cologne-Hannover poetic collage.
When we talk about the art of Russian poster collage and photomontage, it is impossible not to mention the artists of the Oktyabr group. In particular, they are the genius of Soviet propaganda, who was at the origin of the Russian avant-garde. This is the photographer Alexander Rodchenko (1891-1956). One of the founders of Constructivism, Rodchenko was the first in the Soviet Union to cultivate photomontage not only as an auxiliary technique but as an art form in its own right. He understood collage's undeniable advantages over photography and painting: uncluttered, concise and precise.
In the USSR, photo collage developed even more vigorously in the form of political photo posters during the Great Patriotic War. The photomontage technique was used by V. Koretsky and A. Zhitomirsky. Collage was a mass art: it was an expressive language that, unlike painting, could be understood by everyone. For many years, even after the end of the war, photo collage was used for social control and political manipulation.
Alexander Rodchenko, 1924
Sergei Parajanov (1924-1990)
A special chapter in the history of Russian collage are the collages of the screenwriter and film director Sergei Parajanov. His collages are rich in material and texture, full of history, extensive work. During the years when he was not allowed to make films, he created many collages. That’s why he called them ‘compressed’ films. These collages really resemble complete dramatic works. They have both staging and dynamics. The colours are replaced by things. Parajanov was fascinated by the world of objects, he didn’t see anything superfluous, he used anything to create. He could use anything: crockery, yarn, shells, feathers, beads, dried flowers.
This is what Andrei Tarkovsky said about Parajanov’s collages: “There is no difference between conception and execution. He doesn’t have time to lose anything. The emotionality that is at the beginning (...) of the creative process reaches the result without spilling over”.
Sergei paradjanov, Collage ‘I sold my dacha’, 1985
Stas Zhitsky (b. 1967) and Sergei Kuzhavsky (b. 1966)
Zhitsky and Kuzhavsky co-founded Open!design together. As designers, they have participated in the creation of logos and corporate identities for companies such as Juice Rich, Aeroflot, S7 Airlines and many others. In addition to commercial design, the artists pay a lot of attention to their personal creativity. In 2008, the duo published a book of watercolours and collages entitled “Novohokku”. Looking at these collages, it is easy to understand which era they belong to: the slogans that ‘sell’, the seductive models from the covers, they reveal our age of consumerism. The artists, who have been working successfully in the Russian advertising industry for many years, have used their collages to depict the essence of modern society in an ironic and apt manner.
Contemporary Young Collage and the “Cut and Paste” Community (Rezh da Klei)
Today, our society has reached a state of what we might call the ‘collage way of thinking’. The way we see the world around us is influenced by an overabundance of information, an abundance of goods and experiences, and a pace of life that is faster than ever. The fact that collage is the medium of choice for a large number of young artists is not surprising. This technique fits in perfectly with the modern world and its ideals. Artists use both ‘old’ tools (glue and scissors) and ‘new’ ones (Photoshop).
In 2015, Olga Kirsanova (@svinovik) founded a community of Russian collage artists, which aims to popularise collage, unite Russian collage artists, collect thematic information, organise regular meetings, workshops and various collaborations.
Written by: Anya Znaenok
