Week
7 Presentation, this week we are set to explore and investigate the works of three photographers, Alexander Rodchenko , Peter Kennard and John
Heartfield. We are set out to compare the work of these artists, as well as
explore the similarities and difference of each individual. Finally,
answer two important questions,
- Did they have an impact on the society and created changes?
- Can photography and photographers achieve something like that?
This presentation is presented and researched by: Wilson Ho; Somar Al
Darraji
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Alexander Mikhailovich
Rodchenko (1891-1956)
A
Russian abstract painter; sculptor, photographer, and industrial designer who,
as an early pioneer in Russian Constructivism, believed that art must serve as
an agent for social change.
The
great and mighty Alexander Rodchenko was widely recognized for his work in photo-montages, which is simply the method and product of creating a composite
photograph. The process involves cutting and merging numerous photographs to
create one seamless reproduction. With this in mind, his work portrayed a
significant role in the “political propaganda glorifying the achievements of
the Soviet system”. [1] “His work is best noted in a magazine called” USSR in
Construction”, which widely displays Rodchenko’s mastery of photo-montages.” [1]
Alexander Rodchenko believed using photo-montages added more depth and meaning than just the raw photo taken.
"Rodchenko's photo-montages treated photographs as raw footage,
suppressing their individuality, collectivising their energies, cutting,
pasting, re-touching and re-photographing them to conjure up dizzying
visions of the future."[1] As you can see below are some of Alexander
Rodchenko notable works of “Photomontages”.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Peter Kennard (1949 -
Present)
A London born
and based photo-montage artist and senior tutor in photography at
the Royal College of Art
Ever
since Peter Kennard was a kid, he became very interested in art, at the age of
13, he began to draw and paint out the days of his life. Things he ate and did,
places he travelled to. This soon became his life routine. As
years progressed, Kennard became increasingly disappointed with the absence of
candour in his artwork which failed to develop the depth and meaning Kennard wanted
to achieve. Kennard was determine to find a way that can put forward more
perseverance, something that would bring
out the legitimacy in the society. Having said that, his persistence eventually
led to the method of photo-montage. Kennard’s inspirations came from both
Alexander Rodchenko and John Heartfield. This took him to a level where he
created photo-montages directed at political parties to expose the truth to the
public. Below are the various photographs that support my point of view.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
John Heartfield (1891 – 1968)
Born
in Berlin-Schmargendorf, he studied art in Munich at the Royal Bavarian
Arts and Crafts School.
Notable
for using art as a political weapon.
John
Heartfield explored and used photo-montages to depict the violent and greedy
governmental control, the Nazi party and Hitler’s Third Reich had. He took a
satirical approach, condemning the anti-semite and the wealthy industrialist
who supported the German army."[3] Heartfield used his art to protest the
suffering of a country full of starving and forbidding individuals in chaos
during the time of World War 2. John Heartfield was later, politically charged
and his works of art directed at the Nazi party and Hitler banned, he moved
to Praha in Czechoslovakia where he continued his photo-montage work for the
AIZ. Below are some of Heartfield notable artwork direct at the Nazi party and Hitler.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
The Similarities &
Differences
Similarities
between Alexander Rodchenko, Peter Kennard and John Heartfield are quite
apparent and begin with the fact that all of these individuals had an immense
range of talent and desire for the visual arts particularly in photography.
With all this talent under the hood of these individual photographers, it
sparked a whole new genre of photography, called photo-montage. Photo-montage is
“the process and result of making a composite photograph by cutting and joining
a number of other photographs.”[1] This whole process might be a little too
simple, but when used with the proper technique and delivered with an set emotion, photo-montages can be a power tool for an individual to express feelings and
concerns. Another trait that brings a lot of similarities between these three was
the aptitude of not being afraid to speak their mind through their artwork. “Peter
Kennard and Alexandr Rodchenko have both manipulated images to undermine those
in power”.[2] Altogether, these three individuals used the same method of art
“Photomontage” to dispute issues or concerns they did not believe in. Last of
all, their art was an inspiration for one another and help the many art piece
they did.
Even
though these three artists have a similarities in their use of the photo-montages method, Kennard, Heartfield and Rodchenko all had different
styles, different technique, and different methods of approach. Alexander used
lots of different angles when taking photographs while Peter Kennard preferred
to use lots of different mediums.Each of them uses photo-montages to undermine
those in power, but all three of them directed at different parties. Alexander
used his photo-montages as “a visual language for the Russian revolution”, while
Peter Kennard focused on going after the government and political parties likewise
John Heartfield protested about Hitler and the Nazi regime.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
- Did they have an impact on
the society and created changes?
- Can photography and photographers achieve something like that?
These
three artists definitely had a significant impact on society, enough to create
changes. By using the method of photo-montages, they able to instigate people to
think about messages they were trying to portray with their art. Therefore
causing people to think, realizing what is going on in their society and
therefore having an impact. We have always wanted to reproduce the world around
us, events that have past, people that have passed away, and mostly the moment
that made us laugh, cry, and fill with joy. It began with cave drawings and led
up to the creation of photography allowing us to capture these priceless
moments we aim to remember forever. Photographs might not have words, but it
can definitely create an impact on society causing people to think about what
they are seeing and from there individual can realize and construct the message
that particular art piece is convening.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Sources:
.JPG)
