© Alexander Rodchenko. Lily Brik. Portrait for the Poster “Knigi”, 1924
Fotomuseum WestLicht Fotomuseum WestLicht Westbahnstr. 40 1070 Vienne Autriche
Alexander Rodchenko was a driving force within the Russian Avantgarde and ranks among the great renovators of photography in the first half of the 20th Century. He was already well-known as a painter, sculptor and graphic designer when he challenged traditional notions of photography in 1924 by proclaiming that "Experimentation is our duty!“. Dynamic compositions, extreme camera angles, stark contrasts and the use of photomontage are the constitutive features of his photographic language.
© Alexander Rodchenko. Pioneer-trumpeter, 1930
Rodchenko’s visual compositions as well as his constructivist manifests have been seminal for the development of modern photography. With over 200 of Rodchenko’s photographs on display, among them renowned icons like Portrait of the Artist’s Mother (1924), Steps (1929) or Girl with a Leica (1934), the exhibition explores a broad range of his dynamic vision. The photographs in the show, lots of them are rare vintage prints, will be complemented by a selection of posters and publications from Rodchenko’s typographic work.
© Alexander Rodchenko. Demonstration. 1928