Photo: Stanislav Krasilnikov/TASS
Exhibition of famous Soviet artist, typographer, and designer El Lissitzky opened in Bratislava, TASS reports. This exposition is thought to be the major retrospective of the Central European avant-garde founder and a pioneer of nonrepresentational art in the early 20th century. More than 100 paintings and sculptures are on view in Danubiana museum. The collection is brought by Van Abbe Museum from Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Slovak museum states that this exhibition would not have been possible without Russian diplomats' support. There were 8 exhibitions dedicated to Russia over the 20 years of Danubiana museum's existence. According to the Danubiana director Vincent Polakovič, all these events were organised with the help of Russian ambassadors.
Russian Ambassador in Slovakia Alexey Fedotov maintained that this showcase is another evidence that the art helps to bring people of two countries closer. The exhibition attracted many viewers, he added.
El Lissitzky was an important figure of the Russian avant-garde, helping develop suprematism with his mentor, Kazimir Malevich, and designing numerous exhibition displays and propaganda works for the Soviet Union. He was heading the architectural department at Vkhutemas art and technical school in 1920s. The Vkhutemas school in Moscow has often been termed the "Soviet Bauhaus" due to its temporal and pedagogical proximity to its more famous German counterpoint.
Lissitzky played a major role not only in making sure that Soviet developments in architecture and design were known west of Moscow, but also in influencing art production and theory of the avant-garde.
Russkiy Mir
