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October 14, 2005
Constructivism in Venezuela
The reading about Alexander Rodchenko made me think about the influence of constructivism in my country. The figurative art tradition in Venezuela is well known but in the beginning of 1940s and 1950s many Latin-American artists responded to the early developments of abstract art. Constructivist artists in Caracas explored forms of kinetic art, adding moveable objects to the paintings and sculptures. The oil revenues made possible ambitious architecture and urban projects based on constructivism principles.
After 1950, geometric and constructive art – particularly optical and kinetic art – found a niche in Venezuela. Artists like Jesus Soto and Alejandro Otero joined the movement. European artists like Victor Vasarely visited the country. Other European artists settled in Venezuela, like Gego (Gertrud Goldschmith) who came to the country in 1939 as a Jewish refuge. Gego’s wire sculptures suggest “continuum” by the use of repetitive geometric elements. Her work is maybe the antithesis of constructivism but at the same time made according to constructivist concepts. She met the constructivist sculptor Naum Gabo during a brief residence in New York. I wanted to share Gego’s work because I always admired her work. Also she was one of the artists who helped to found the design school where I received instruction (Instituto de Diseno Neumann) Her work influenced the graphic design in Venezuela.
Posted by Villarreal, Sandra at October 14, 2005 03:46 AM