In the early twentieth century artists of all origins ex plored new forms of expression. Inspired by Western European currents in art, the Russian avant-garde de veloped a genuinely distinct and revolutionary non-representational visual language. This catalogue demonstrates how influences from the visual arts permeated the medium of photography. Originally a painter, Alexander Rodchenko was one of the most notable artists who devoted himself to the photo montage at an early phase in his practice. He used his Leica to explore urban life, but not just to capture re ality. Taken from unusual perspectives, his photographs of striking motifs are characterized by dynamic, ab stract compositions. El Lissitzky and Georgi Selma also applied artistic strategies to photography. The extension of Suprematism and Constructivism by photographic means becomes evident in this com parison of avant-garde photographs with works on paper by artists such as Kazimir Malevich. Exhibitions: Opelvillen Russelsheim 17.12.2014-8.3.2015 | Kunstmuseum Bochum 22.3.-31.5.2015 | dkw. Kunstmuseum Dieselkraftwerk Cottbus 21.6.-20.9.2015

Text by: Alexander Lawrentjew