Rodchenko and Popova

I always claim that I don't like modern art but actually that statement is far too sweeping. It's also untrue. I've long had a soft spot for Cubism, I adore Franz Marc and I like much of the Kandinsky that I've seen. I think I can now add the Constructivists to the modern art that I like. There's something deeply pleasing about the geometric constructions in the art of Rodchenko and Popova. The slight bleeding of colours in works like the Space-Force Constructions prevents Popova's paintings from feeling too rigid, while Rodchenko's spatial constructions hanging from the ceiling cast ever-changing shadows. What's particularly fascinating about the two artists in this exhibition is the multi-disciplinary nature of their art. Textile designs, theatrical costumes, set designs, book covers, advertising, graphic design, posters, architecture: they applied Constructivist principles to numerous activities, not all of which came to fruition, especially in the field of architecture. Rodchenko's photos also provide a glimpse into the artistic circles of the time, while the Workers' Room allows visitors to step back in time and see just what his practical design must have been like.