UNDER CONSTRUCTION (under constructivism…)

 

Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge, the poster above is a 1919 Soviet propaganda poster by artist El Lissitzky which helped build political momentum and unity within a largely illiterate group of Russian people. The red wedge symbolizes the Russian Communists (Bolsheviks), who are penetrating and defeating their opponents, the White movement (the anti-communists, nationalists and monarchy), during the Russian Civil War. It is an example of Constructivism. (Wikipedia).

Notice how efficiently the concept or rebellion is understandable, even without words, in this image.  Images Are powerful. The image became popular in the West when Lissitzky moved to Germany in 1921. It is considered symbolic of the Russian Civil War in Western publications- If you go to university and study Art History you will undoubtedly see it again.  Why am I showing it to you now?  Well, think back to 2020 and all the social and political unrest. Yes, 2020 has been kinda wild for many reasons, politically, socially, environmentally, and oh ya the Pandemic.

• COVID-19: How it progressed
  
• Nova Scotia massacre 
• Black Lives Matter protests 
• Beirut blast 
• Australia wildfires 
• Wet’suwet’en protests
• The U.S. presidential election
• Iran plane crash
• COVID-19: The creation of a vaccine
• New Westminster pier fire        List source www.citynews1130.com (Click here to read the article)

This list is meant to identify a few topics that stood out-but there were certainly more.  If there is something important to you, please feel free to use it as the topic of your project… I really want you to SHOUT ABOUT IT!

 

In this project: I want you to take what you have learnt during our first week working with Photoshop and design a poster that communicates something about 2020 that you feel strongly about.  Yes…Yes, you will have to have an opinion and articulate it through a Poster Design (an articulation of Space, Line, Balance, Shape, Colour, and Text).

Over the last few hundred years, there have been many Art and Design styles found around the world yet due to  I want to play with Russian Constructivism due to its since all the Photoshop techniques we just learnt will really help you to reproduce a RC vibe.

 

What is Russian Constructivism?

While this movement for a time held weight with the Russian people and in part help inspire political action it was ultimately replaced by the government, in part, helped to rise to power in favour of the propaganda of Socialist realism.

 

RC has had a lasting effect of graphic design all over the world due to its bold eye-catching visuals and its direct manner.  Both students and professionals regularly plunder this treasure trove of exciting, potent design – guilty as charged your honour! However, all too often, many designers are happy just to steal the look but ditch the politics, style over substance perhaps? (Lennon Design)

 

Talkin’ Bout A Revolution

The project:

Using your experience of living through 2020 and the interesting events which occurred around you: from the vantage points of both lived experience and seeing them on screen.  I want you to design a poster that uses your new photoshop skills and the design style of RC to produce an artwork that comments on something you think is worthy of talking about from the year 2020.

Process:

1. Find a topic that you find important to YOU!
2. Research, I will book some library time
3. Write about it!  This will help you find the text for your artwork
4. Sketch sketch sketch- Sketch it out! (thumbnail sketches)
5. Good copy .jpg in photoshop! (8×10′ at 150 resolution)
6. Submit to teams

Here is a wonderful example by Tear-knee design about online Privacy lets take a look at the designer’s workflow.

Hit, the image to take a look!

 

To see LOTS of RC images click here

Vocabulary/Concepts