Module 7: Photography and society
Alexander Rodchenko (1891-1956) was a Russian artist who helped found constructivism. This is a movement that started in Russia in 1919 and was based on the idea of art having a social agenda. Rodchenko worked in many mediums, including painting, graphic design, and photography. "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. He is success in close-up photography.
John Heartfeild (1891-1968) will be best remembered as one of the first artists who used their work to state a political opinion and viewpoint. He was a pioneer in the use of art as a political weapon. His photomontages were anti-Nazi anti-Fascist statements. His work done during the events leading up to and the Second World War all show his anti Nazi and anti Fascism viewpoint.
Peter Kennard (1949-present) Born in London, England Kennard's first artistic medium was paint; he became dissatisfied with painting's lack of immediacy, and then took up photomontage for its ability to show the "unrevealed truth" behind the image. He is an artist who is talented in working with photomontage, creating politically charged and visually arresting images. His two major subjects emerged; armaments and poverty, and has always related his work with social reality
What are the differences and similarities?
Similarities
There were many similarities between Alexander Rodchenko, Peter Kennard, and John Heartfield’s work. The most important similarity that stands out to be an important meaning in all three of their photographs is that it is all related to society and all three of these men used photomontages in such a way as to go up against things they did not believe in. They are all using montages to make pictures. Lastly, “John Heartfield's anti-Nazi montages, but also the work of the Soviet photo-artist Alexander Rodchenko” both had a great impact on the work of Peter Kennard as they served as great inspirations for him.
Differences
Alexander Rodchenko used angles when he shot his images and focused more on the abstract and symmetric, he likes taking picture from special angle, such as from top to bottom or bottom to top it advocated the use of machine-made materials such as wire, glass, and sheet metal in the creation of socially useful art for a society in the midst of revolution, while Peter Kennard aimed for the dramatic effect, using iconic images. John Heartfield focused more on images of Hitler, and the Nazi regime, utilizing iconic images or religious symbols.
Do you think they had impact on the society and created changes?
Definitely, all three photographers had an impact on society and created change. They used photomontages to because viewer's to think about the message they were trying to portray. Their photography has huge impact on society by creating public notice, they telling people truth in silent. All three photographers advanced a whole new way of taking pictures - that of "modern visual activism".
Can photography and photographers achieve something like that?
In our group opinion, it depends. We think in the old days, such as 19th century politics have no power than now, in those days, photography and photographers can achieve like that. But, now politics become so powerful, for example: Ai wee-wee is a Chinese contemporary artist, active in sculpture, installation, architecture, photography, film, and social, political and cultural criticism. He was looking into politics problems, but he was been arrest and violence by governments. So, photography and photographers cannot impact whole society, due to politics or government, their projects may be hided.
