Tate Modern Review

'Poetry and Dream': Russian Revolutionary Posters



Figure 1.

The name of the exhibition that I visited was ‘Poetry and Dream’: Russian Revolutionary Posters found on level 2 in room 5 at the Tate Modern. The exhibition shows a range of different posters taken from the David King collection; the author of The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs and Art in Stalin's Russia (1997) and Ordinary Citizens: The Victims of Stalin (2003) and numerous other books on Soviet subjects. Within this exhibition there is a variety of posters with very different styles, they show the response of the Bolshevik leaders on the topic of the revolution. The theme throughout this exhibition is ultimately the Russian Revolution, however the posters also suggest themes of heroism, chaos and terror as can be seen in figure 1, which shows a small selection of the posters portraying these different themes.


Matthew Gale curated this exhibition that allows you to reflect on the ideals and illusions of the Russian Revolution and Soviet Union, it also shows the history of Russia as was experienced by the citizens. The posters show similar styles, for example the colours used such as the colour red which can be seen very prominently in figure 2; I find that these posters portray quite violent images and the use of the colour red enhances this as it is often a colour associated with danger and fear which I think is very clear in some of the posters in this exhibition. Although this exhibition is displaying posters for the same era/event it is not laid out in a very chronological order as there are quite big gaps between many, for example, 1915-2002 which shows they are also from different artists.


Figure 2.

My immediate impression of this exhibition was that it was striking and bold and also very cultural/historic, there was also lots of the colour red and black which added to the boldness of the posters creating a contrast. I understood that the work was representative to the Russian Revolution and how it would impact on the citizens which made me psychologically empathetic towards the them and the struggles and problems they faced. Physically, I felt aware as the posters imitated warning signs which suggest a dangerous nature and lead on to the types of messages that I received from the work. For example, danger and sorrow as well as questioning what it is they stand for, who is good/who is bad and how this has impacted Russia today. I think it is important to have an open mind with this exhibition because it allows you to explore the different aspects of the art and the various meanings it portrays.

This relates to me as a practitioner because it shows the use of multi-media by using print and photography, I am also interested in the history and culture behind this art, however not directly to the work itself, although I would be interested in using the various styles within my own work. These posters would also help me graphically and inspire me to use similar ways of presenting my work e.g. posters and adding text.




 

Exhibition Visits

The Design Museum

'The Future Is Here'

'The Future is Here' exhibiton at The Design Museum explains how modern technology is altering the world. This exhibition shows the modernisation of objects and futuristic ideas that may change the way we see the designed world.

Whilst I was at the exhibiton I took a range of photographs to show the various types of objects and inventions that had been designed, I found these very unusual but also very futuristic and modern. The next three photographs show some of the designs that caught my eye because I found them quite striking.

'Unto This Last'

Is the name of this selection of objects, this photo shows Bespoke furniture made using digital technology. I think this shows how technology has progressed by allowing you to see how actual objects such as chairs and childrens toys can be made by digital technology.

'Project DNA'

This picture shows a corset designed by Catherine Wales and is produced using white nylon and a 3D printer. I feel that this design has a very futuristic impression due to its complexity and the use of the nylon that creates a rather wired type look. I think that this modern look can be compared to some of the outfits featured in Harrison Ford's 'Blade Runner' as they are also very flamboyant and bold.

 
'Endless Flow Rocking Chair'

Designed by Dirk Vander Kooij is another unusual object that caught my eye in the exhibition. The brightness of the colours and the different design attracts you to it because it is not what you would think a rocking chair would normally look like, as I find they look old fashioned whereas here the design is very modern.

I found the exhibition of 'The Future Is Here' unusual because of the extravagant designs of some of the objects and the thought process behind them. I also found it very iteresting to look at these objects and how in the future these mass produced rather than just the one off creations found within this exhibition. I found it difficult to understand some of the concepts of the ideas because they did not seem very realistic, for example, 'The Optimist Toaster' that changes into something new when it can no longer be used as a toaster.

The Serpentine Gallery Pavilion

Designed by Sou Fujimoto, is a temporary structure for the Serpentine Gallery. It is a classic and innovative installation of art consisting of white metal and glass which creates a fresh look that is surrounded by the greeness of Hyde Park. It shows the modernistic styles of present architecture and I found it was very different and unsual with a futristic feel. Although it looks to be quite simplistic, the geometric shapes and framework create a complex structure along with the reflective glass circles found at a height. The next photographs show two different perspectives of the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion.

 

The V&A

'Making It Up: Photographic Fictions'

This display shows work by some of the earliest and most recent photographers who use photography to tell a story or depict a memory. It shows how some have used staged settings to portray a story and how others have left space for the viewers imagination/how they swee the photograph. I found this display of photographs very interesting to look at because there was such a variety of images.

 
'Action Photo I (After Hans Namuth); Pictures Of Chocolate'This photograph was taken by Vik Muniz in 1997. He recreates images from his memory by using various items, for example, this photo has been recreated using chocolate sauce and syrup and is of the painter, Jackson Pollock, at work. Muniz then uses a method called dye destruction for printing his photographs. This was my favourite photo in this exhibiton because it was such an unconventional way to present an image, using material that you would not think to use or would work.

'Urban Fiction, No. 23'

Taken by Xing Danwen in 2005; it is a colour photograph showing a model building. This image is one of a series and in this photograph the photographer (Danwen) has digitally inserted herself into the scene. I like this image because of the clarity and use of a shallow depth of field and also the way she has portrayed a feeling/sense of loneliness due to the lack of people in the shot. I also think there is a quite spooky mood to the image because of the darkness that surrounds the buildings. 

'No. 2: Childhood, No. 4: As An Eligible Bachelor, No. 5: Meets His Match, No. 6: The Marriage, No. 8: Breakfast scene, No. 9: Sometime After the Marriage'From the series 'A Rake's Progress' (1986) by Andy Wiener. These photographs refer to William Hogarth's series of paintings about the downfall of a rich merchant's son who wastes his money and finsihes his life in Bedlam. I find these pictures to be quite strking because they tell a story and follow a sequel, I like how although the pictures in each of the frames changes, the face in each stays the same but with different expressions.

'Illustration Awards'

Pietari Posti (represented by Debut Art)
Cover for 'Swallows and Amazons' by Arthur Ransome

This picture shows the images of the book cover for 'Swallows and Amazons', I decided to include this photo of the covers because the images that you can see in my picture really stand out, I find them bold and striking and particularly like the simplisticity of the images and how the use of four central colours (blue, black, orange and white) contrast withone another.

'The Art of Remembering: Memory Palace'

'Memory Palace' is a work of fiction by Hari Kunzru, it is set in future London years after the World's information infrastructure was wiped out by an immense storm. The narrator of the story is in prison which is referred to as his 'memory palace'. I found this exhbition very clever and interesting as the narrator explains a way of how to remember things, furthermore I didn't expect to like this exhibiton but once I had followed the story I began to understand more clearly what it was all about. Additionally, because of the strangeness and the complex ideas of this exhibition I found it quite memorable as I can picture the visuals used to assist the writing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time Capsule Burial

Burying my time capsule:

To document the burial of my time capsule I decided to take photographs of each of the stages including images of the equipment I used and the spot in which I buried it.


One...

This first picture shows the equipment I used in order to dig the hole for my capsule, I used a large shovel and also a garden spade in order for the hole to be deep enough so the capsule would fit.

Two...

I then decided on a location within my garden as can be seen in this image. I chose this area because it is quite protected which may help to shelter my capsule more, it also was easier to dig here as the soil was softer than other areas of the garden which allowed me to bury my capsule deeper.

 

Three...The third stage of the burial was when I began to dig the hole, at this stage I also thought back to my plan and the type of thoughts, words and senses that would represent this experience. I thought it was quite a strange feeling burying some of my possessions because you get used to seeing them and associating them with the memories they are from. I found this stage one of the most difficult because the soil was so dry and crumbly it kept falling back into the hole that I had created.

 Four...To overcome the problem of the soil falling back into the hole I put it into a bucket, this meant I was able to dig the hole deep enough and wide enough to fit my time capsule in it, as can bee seen in this image.

 

Five...

 

The two images above show that I put the time capsule in and began covering it back up with the soil, I feel that the burial of my time capsule went well because I was able to think back to the objects I was burying and the memories and places or people that I associate them with.

  Six...

This is the final picture of the stages I went through to bury my time capsule. Once I had completely covered my capsule with the soil I then marked the space with a stick so it would be easy to identify it.

 

 

    

 

 

                                                               

Time capsule objects

My time capsule objects:

PAST




 

 A picture of Disneyland Paris...

The first time I went abroad, when I was six. It was a surprise for me as I didn't know I was going, I remember waking up and thinking 'I'm meant to be going to school'. I particularly enjoyed going because it was near Christmas so everything was very festive, one of my favourite experiences was watching the parade on our final night and the firework display above Cinderella's castle.

A picture of S Club 7...

I have included this because it was the first concert I went to see. I remember getting tickets for a birthday of mine and going with my mum, one of my friends and her elder sister. I also remember that when we got there people were in our seats because they had somehow got the wrong day and so they ended up sitting on the stairs, I also saw S Club Juniors as they were one of the supporting acts.

Teddy bear...

This bear was a present from my Nan when I was young, it was one of my first bears and is very special to me as it reminds me of her and the days she used to come round to visit.

(And present) A photo of my dog Tia...

I remember getting her on the 15th February, 4 years ago and I was so happy and excited as I had wanted a dog for so long and was finally getting one. I remember how small she was and the journey home with her in the car on the day we got her becasue she kept making weird noises (which she still does sometimes) and kept climbing all over the seat trying to look out the windows.

Travel guide to New York...

As part of my 18th birthday I went to New York, just before Christmas, something I really wanted to do. I went with my mum, dad and sister and it was the first time any of us had been to America.

Programme for Creamfields festival 2013...

This picture represents one of my most recent memories which is going to Creamfields festival on the August bank holiday weekend. It was the first festival I had been to and I really enjoyed it.

PRESENT

My camera...

I have included this because it represents photography which is something I am very interested in and enjoy and the reason I came to Ravensbourne. I remember getting this camera about five years ago before I studied photography at a GCSE level as it was my own camera.

My car key...

When I passed my test I was relieved and really happy because I was so nervous about it. I now feel that I have more independence as I have the freedom to go to various places when I want.

18th birthday badge...

Also allows me to be independent and to have ID which is exciting as I can go out to places I usually wouldn't have been able to go to (e.g. Creamfields). This badge is also representative of the past as it reminds me of my birthday and what I did for it and the people I celebrated it with.

Pass...

Shows where I am now and also the start of the future I hope to go in to.

Sketches...

This image shows a page of sketches that I have drawn based on some of my objects that I did not want to/couldn't bury. The sketches are based on objects and photographs such a photos of my family and dog, my car keys and my pass.

Final time capsule...

 

 

 



These last two photos show my final time capsule containing the objects that are going to be buried. Amongst the items are those from the individual images above and sketches of other objects also shown. The objects in my time capsule are widespread and different which I think shows a variety of different memories from both past and present. I found this experience enjoyable because it is interesting to look back at the past and how things may have changed or be different now and also how much you can remember from one object/picture. However, I also found this task/experience quite difficult because I was unsure what type of objects to include and how to present them in the time capsule.

Planning the burial of my time capsule:

Where?

I am going to bury my time capsule in my garden because it is close to home, family and memories which are all aspects that I have included in my capsule.

When?

Early evening, about 7pm. This timing will effect/represent my memories because it will be as the sun sets which is one of the most peaceful times of day, this allows you to really think about what your doing and the memories that are stored in the time capsule.

I am going to document my burial by taking photographs of each step, including before and after shots. I am also going to take into consideration my thoughts and feelings at the time as well as some of the different senses e.g. smell and touch, which I will then use as wording to represent my thoughts and emotions when presenting the burial of my capsule.