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Constructivism for Children.
Children’s Book of Avant-garde Period
Avant-garde Center on Shabolovka
2016
2016
The exhibition Constructivism for Children showcased children’s books from the 1920s to the early 1930s that explained the structure of the world, scientific inventions, and everyday objects surrounding children in that historical period. These publications represent a unique cross-section of Soviet culture, situated at the intersection of graphic design, pedagogy, literature, and socio-political history. For the exhibition’s creators, the key focus was the synthesis of text, design, and illustration in a book format.
In the 1920s, Soviet children’s literature and book design reached an extraordinary level, comparable in scale and cultural significance to the architecture of the avant-garde. A new visual and poetic language shaped an entire generation of young Soviet citizens. The discoveries of Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism, the concepts of LEF and VHUTEMAS, the new poetry of Vladimir Mayakovsky and the OBERIU poets, the aesthetics of the modern city, and scientific innovation became widely accessible—found in every bookstall, every home library, and every school collection.
It was a quiet revolution, led by Yakov Mexin, Boris Zhitkov, Mikhail Ilyin, the Chichagov sisters, Vladimir Tambi, Vladimir Lebedev, Mikhail Tsekhanovsky, Dmitry Bulanov, Alexander Deineka, Vera Ermolaeva, Lev Zilov, and many other artists and authors—some well known, others almost forgotten.
Most of these books focused on explaining the material world, scientific principles, and the ordinary things that filled children’s lives. The exhibition was structured around four thematic sections:
In addition to original children’s books from the collections of the Russian State Children’s Library, Galeev Gallery, and private collectors, the exhibition featured educational games, construction sets, toys, and animated films from that period. In the "Detizdat Workshop" space, the program included hands-on workshops, lectures, and film screenings dedicated to book design and illustration of the 1920s–1930s, as well as the legacy and relevance of children’s books today.
In the 1920s, Soviet children’s literature and book design reached an extraordinary level, comparable in scale and cultural significance to the architecture of the avant-garde. A new visual and poetic language shaped an entire generation of young Soviet citizens. The discoveries of Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism, the concepts of LEF and VHUTEMAS, the new poetry of Vladimir Mayakovsky and the OBERIU poets, the aesthetics of the modern city, and scientific innovation became widely accessible—found in every bookstall, every home library, and every school collection.
It was a quiet revolution, led by Yakov Mexin, Boris Zhitkov, Mikhail Ilyin, the Chichagov sisters, Vladimir Tambi, Vladimir Lebedev, Mikhail Tsekhanovsky, Dmitry Bulanov, Alexander Deineka, Vera Ermolaeva, Lev Zilov, and many other artists and authors—some well known, others almost forgotten.
Most of these books focused on explaining the material world, scientific principles, and the ordinary things that filled children’s lives. The exhibition was structured around four thematic sections:
- What Things Are Made Of
- How It Works
- The City
- Children’s Machinery and Construction (Detmashstroy)
In addition to original children’s books from the collections of the Russian State Children’s Library, Galeev Gallery, and private collectors, the exhibition featured educational games, construction sets, toys, and animated films from that period. In the "Detizdat Workshop" space, the program included hands-on workshops, lectures, and film screenings dedicated to book design and illustration of the 1920s–1930s, as well as the legacy and relevance of children’s books today.
Curator
Aleksandra Selivanova
Curatorial Assistant
Anna Borunova
Designer
Ilya Starkov
Aleksandra Selivanova
Curatorial Assistant
Anna Borunova
Designer
Ilya Starkov
