An Insight into El Lissitzky
Russian Painter, Typographer, Photographer, Architect and Designer
Lazar (El) Lissitzky was an important figure within the Russian avant garde helping develop Suprematism, an art movement focused on basic geometric forms. The avant garde was a large wave of modern art in the Russian Empire and Soviet Union which pushed the boundaries of what is accepted within definitions of art, culture and reality (History of Visual Communication. 2005).
El Lissitzky was also involved in Constructivism, a new art movement that was said to be the ‘future of art’. His constructivist works all have a revolutionary meaning, it was more than just a feeling, it was a movement towards the future (Read, P.7 1992). "He designed the first flag for the central committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union which was ceremonially carried across Red Square by members of the government on 1st May 1918" - (Lissitzky-Kuppers, P.20 1992).
In 1919 Lissitzky’s designed this geometrical master piece called ‘Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge’.
'Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge’ was one of his first political designs, this image represents the red and white Russians who fought in the war. The red wedge symbolised the revolutionaries, sitting on a white background which depicts a bright future, and the white anti-communist army circle sits on a black background representing the dark past and present (The Art Story. 2009). I believe the background is split and slanted to look as if the bright future is overpowering the dark. Lissitzky using his knowledge of architecture used a triangle, the sharpest, strongest shape in structure, to represent the red armies strength and togetherness piercing through the defence to the centre of the weaker circle shape (The Art Story. 2009).
One of El lissitzky's most famous architectural designs. A "visionary project" called Cloud Iron accenting the skyline with vast geometric forms to "revolutionise the workers state of mind" (Johnathon Keats. 2017).
John Ingham, the co-manager for Generation X in search for a sleeve design spoke to art historian, exhibition curator and author Michael Collins “He talked about Rodchenko, Malevich and, of course, El Lissitzky, who really nailed us because his work is so geometric. We were particularly struck by Beat The Whites With The Red Wedge.” - (John Ingham. 1977). He then went on to approach Barney Bubbles who was influenced and inspired by constructivism, portraying a range of geometrical shapes in his designs (Idol P.98). Moving forward to creating this design “Your Generation - Day by Day”, giving it an El Lissitzky feel to promote an avant garde type music band by the name of Generation X who introduced “new wave” punk (John. L. Walters. 2008).
Enter Billy Bragg, Paul Weller and a brigade of pop stars in the 1980's and ‘Red Wedge’ was formed, a cultural force for the Labour Party, to help tackle racism with socialist ideology through music and art form (Labourlist. 2016). Red Wedge attempted to engage young people in politics and soon became a significant factor in the re-branding of the Labour Party. (Johnny Black. 2015.)
80s Red Wedge Tour- ft.The Specials,Madness,Rhoda Dakar,Billy Bragg,Weller etc...
El Lissitzky will continue to influence modern and constructivist design today.
References:
Bubbles. B. 1977. Your Generation/Day By Day. 7" Sleeve http://lennon.design/thoughts/2016/march/talkin%E2%80%99-bout-revolution
El Lissitzky. Cloud Iron, Ground Plan, View from Strastnoy Boulevard (1925). [Poster] Courtesy of Van Abbemuseum. https://vanabbemuseum.nl/en/collection/details/collection/?lookup%5B1673%5D%5Bfilter%5D%5B0%5D=id%3AC1797
El Lissitzky. 1919. Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge [POSTER] https://vanabbemuseum.nl/en/collection/details/collection/?lookup%5B1673%5D%5Bfilter%5D%5B0%5D=id%3AC617
History of Visual Communication. 2005. the avant garde. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.historyofvisualcommunication.com/08-the-avantgarde. [Accessed 1 October 2018].
Idol, B., 2015. Dancing with myself. United Kingdom: Simon and Schuster UK Ltd.
Johnny Black. 2015. Red Wedge: bringing Labour party politics to young music fans. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/22/red-wedge-bringing-labour-party-politics-to-young-music-fans. [Accessed 3 October 2018].
John Ingham. 1977. When El Lissitzky met the punk rockers downtown. [ONLINE] Available at: www.barneybubbles.com. [Accessed 4 October 2018]
Jonathon Keats. 2017. Can Visionary Soviet Architecture Give Shape To Trump's Designs On American Infrastructure?. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathonkeats/2017/04/21/soviet-visionary-architecture/#39f63d716e64 [Accessed 5 October 2018]
John L. Walters. 2008. What a genius. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.eyemagazine.com/review/article/what-a-genius. [Accessed 5 October 2018].
Labourlist. 2016. Red Wedge, music and tackling racism. [ONLINE] Available at: https://labourlist.org/2016/09/red-wedge-music-and-tackling-racism-30-years-on-labour-must-help-heal-a-divided-society-once-again/. [Accessed 3 October 2018].
Read. H, Introduction, Lissitzky-Kuppers, S., 1992. El Lissitsky: Life, Letters, Text. New York: Thames and Hudson.
Lissitzky-Kuppers, S., 1992. El Lissitsky: Life, Letters, Text. New York: Thames and Hudson.
Neville Brody's Red Wedge logo, 1985. [LOGO] http://lennon.design/thoughts/2016/march/talkin%E2%80%99-bout-revolution
The Art Story. 2009. Important Art by El Lissitzky. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.theartstory.org/artist-lissitzky-el-artworks.htm. [Accessed 3 October 2018].
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