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Grigory Gidoni and His New Art of Light and Color
Avant-garde Center on Shabolovka
2022
2022
On the 85th Anniversary of the Artist’s Death
(Executed on November 10, 1937)
This research exhibition continues the cycle of projects by the Gallery on Shabolovka, which introduce lesser-known and semi-forgotten pages of avant-garde history into academic discourse. Following monographic exhibitions dedicated to Nikolai Ladovsky (2017), Meer Eisenstadt (2018), and Alexei Gastev (2019)—which explored key narratives of early 20th-century art and culture—curator Olga Kolganova presents the work of the remarkable artist and inventor Grigory Gidoni (1895−1937). Gidoni developed the new concept of "The Art of Light and Color" in Leningrad during the 1920s-1930s.
The search for a synthetic art form—rooted in synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sense affects a secondary sense, for example hearing a sound and seeing a particular color, as well as scientific and technological research in optics, photometry, lighting engineering, psychology, and physiology—was a subject of great interest for Wassily Kandinsky, Alexander Scriabin, Mikhail Matyushin, Vladimir Baranov-Rossiné, and Lev Theremin. However, it was Gidoni who managed to translate these theoretical experiments into tangible artistic achievements. His arrest and execution prevented him from completing his grand vision.
The exhibition presented Gidoni’s Art of Light and Color in dialogue with the works of A. Scriabin, V. Baranov-Rossiné, L. Theremin, and later experimental artists of the 1960s-1980s, such as S. Zorin. The display included archival documents, drawings, blueprints of optical instruments and light theaters, light scores, as well as models and 3D visualizations of Gidoni’s inventions.
The Synthesis of Sound, Light, and Motion in Early 20th-Century Art
During the first third of the 20th century, the interaction of sound, light/color, and movement fascinated many artists, musicians, and inventors—among them A. Scriabin, A. László, J. Hauer, T. Wilfred, A. Schoenberg, W. Kandinsky, V. Baranov-Rossiné, M. Matyushin, L. Theremin, and others. Each had their own vision of the light/color-sound connection, leading to distinct artistic interpretations.
For Gidoni, the foundation of his concept was the elevation of light and color as independent forms of artistic expression. He closely linked his "New Art of Light and Color" with both exact sciences—such as physics (optics, photometry, electricity, lighting engineering) and natural sciences (physiology, psychophysics, biology, medicine)—as well as with all existing art forms: painting, music, poetry, theater, and more.
Ultimately, Gidoni envisioned the creation of light theaters, where performances under a domed structure would integrate light and color with sound, movement, declamation, cinema, and architecture.
Gidoni’s artistic and scientific journey evolved gradually. His path led from early experiments with light scenography (1920), through the invention of a light orchestra (1925) and exploration of "color-light as an independent art form," to the theoretical foundation of his "Art of Light and Color" (1928−1930). The core disciplines of his new art included light theater, light architecture, light music, light declamation, and light choreography.
(Executed on November 10, 1937)
This research exhibition continues the cycle of projects by the Gallery on Shabolovka, which introduce lesser-known and semi-forgotten pages of avant-garde history into academic discourse. Following monographic exhibitions dedicated to Nikolai Ladovsky (2017), Meer Eisenstadt (2018), and Alexei Gastev (2019)—which explored key narratives of early 20th-century art and culture—curator Olga Kolganova presents the work of the remarkable artist and inventor Grigory Gidoni (1895−1937). Gidoni developed the new concept of "The Art of Light and Color" in Leningrad during the 1920s-1930s.
The search for a synthetic art form—rooted in synesthesia, a perceptual phenomenon in which stimulation of one sense affects a secondary sense, for example hearing a sound and seeing a particular color, as well as scientific and technological research in optics, photometry, lighting engineering, psychology, and physiology—was a subject of great interest for Wassily Kandinsky, Alexander Scriabin, Mikhail Matyushin, Vladimir Baranov-Rossiné, and Lev Theremin. However, it was Gidoni who managed to translate these theoretical experiments into tangible artistic achievements. His arrest and execution prevented him from completing his grand vision.
The exhibition presented Gidoni’s Art of Light and Color in dialogue with the works of A. Scriabin, V. Baranov-Rossiné, L. Theremin, and later experimental artists of the 1960s-1980s, such as S. Zorin. The display included archival documents, drawings, blueprints of optical instruments and light theaters, light scores, as well as models and 3D visualizations of Gidoni’s inventions.
The Synthesis of Sound, Light, and Motion in Early 20th-Century Art
During the first third of the 20th century, the interaction of sound, light/color, and movement fascinated many artists, musicians, and inventors—among them A. Scriabin, A. László, J. Hauer, T. Wilfred, A. Schoenberg, W. Kandinsky, V. Baranov-Rossiné, M. Matyushin, L. Theremin, and others. Each had their own vision of the light/color-sound connection, leading to distinct artistic interpretations.
For Gidoni, the foundation of his concept was the elevation of light and color as independent forms of artistic expression. He closely linked his "New Art of Light and Color" with both exact sciences—such as physics (optics, photometry, electricity, lighting engineering) and natural sciences (physiology, psychophysics, biology, medicine)—as well as with all existing art forms: painting, music, poetry, theater, and more.
Ultimately, Gidoni envisioned the creation of light theaters, where performances under a domed structure would integrate light and color with sound, movement, declamation, cinema, and architecture.
Gidoni’s artistic and scientific journey evolved gradually. His path led from early experiments with light scenography (1920), through the invention of a light orchestra (1925) and exploration of "color-light as an independent art form," to the theoretical foundation of his "Art of Light and Color" (1928−1930). The core disciplines of his new art included light theater, light architecture, light music, light declamation, and light choreography.
Curator
Olga Kolganova
Exhibition Design
Aleksandra Selivanova
Olga Kolganova
Exhibition Design
Aleksandra Selivanova
