Kazimir Malevich: the Pioneer of Avant-Garde Work
Kazimir Malevich is one of the most famous figures in avant-garde painting and abstraction. One of the pioneers of geometric abstraction, he was instrumental in the development of suprematism, or the ‘non-objective’ art movement. This approach has since been embraced by generations of artists and creative minds. Considered a visionary in his own right, here we take a look at some of the top artworks by Kazimir Malevich to discover the creative genius of this innovative figure.
The Famous ‘Black Square’
Undoubtedly one of the most famous artworks by Kazimir Malevich is his iconic painting, ‘Black Square’. Still renowned today, this work was completed in 1915 and exhibited a year later at the 0.10 Exhibition in Petrograd. ‘Black Square’ served to introduce the artistic revolution of suprematism as this painting embodied an abstract form. Comprised of a black square on a white background, Malevich argued that he had been painted the ‘zero of form’. This painting marked a new era in art history as Malevich declared to have completely abolished painting as a practice.
His use of colour
For those familiar with Malevich’s work, it is evident that he was notable not only for his non-objective paintings, but also for the muted colours he used for his early works. His paintings were frequently created with shades of grey, ochres and whites as seen in ‘Suprematist Composition with Eight Monads’. By reimagining a colour palette that previously seemed unremarkable, Malevich removed the figurative element from painting as well as personifying a new attitude towards painting and art production in general.
His transition to two-dimensional works
Following on from the success of ‘Black Square’, Malevich continued to develop the abstract aspect of his practice. After transitioning away from oil painting, the artist began to switch his focus to two-dimensional works. This included his paintings ‘Suprematist Painting’, ‘Red Square: Painterly Realism of a Peasant Woman in Two Dimensions’, and ‘Suprematism, White on White’. Here, Malevich showed his commitment to embracing new methods in art practice and experimenting with formats. Additionally, this material shift also served to reduce the amount of time Malevich had to spend in the studio.
The embracing of geometric abstraction
For Malevich, geometric abstraction was more than just the framework of his paintings; it represented a new philosophy for the artist. Malevich more and more adopted this approach, with pieces such as ‘White Square on a White Background’ encapsulating this concept. This painting was produced in oil on canvas and featured some of the hallmarks of suprematism, with the black square on a white background, and a red square to the corner of the painting as a balance.
Notable inspirations
When it comes to the progression of modern art, one of the most fascinating contemporary artists of the early 20th century has to be Kazimir Malevich. His body of work undoubtedly shows the influence of the Expressionist and Cubist art movements, the former producing abstract works, and the latter eliminating the representational elements from painting in order to focus on geometric shapes.
Exploring the spiritual experience
The spiritual aspect of Malevich’s art practice is particularly important, as he explored a desire to escape the modern world and delved deeper into infinity and spiritual enlightenment. Malevich often explored this realm of experience through his artworks, with pieces such as ‘Suprematism 5’ and ‘Suprematism (Red Cross on White)’ only serving to fuel this notion of the spiritual awakening of art practice.
The influence of music
In addition to painting and geometric abstraction, Malevich is well-known for his lifelong love of music. This was particularly evident in his works; by 1909 he was performing piano pieces in Moscow and was an avid follower of composers such as Bach and Beethoven. This adoration continued to be visible in Malevich’s artworks, with pieces such as ‘Suprematism, White Circle on Black’ offering a faint suggestion of improvisational jazz.
Depicting the elements of the cosmos
For Malevich cosmology was an important theme which is visible in his artworks. Throughout his career Malevich expressed his fascination with the vastness of the universe, frequently including elements of planets and stars. This notion is clearly expressed in ‘Suprematism (Astronomy)’ which is arguably one of his most famous works. This painting plays with the idea of the universe and the infinite nature of space, heightening both the security and the unknown in this painting.
Kazimir Malevich is undoubtedly one of the most influential avant-garde figures of the 20th century. His pioneering approach to painting and art production has since gone on to be embraced by many, with his works still celebrated in a variety of mediums. Through this exploration of the top artworks by Malevich, one can clearly observe the influence of the movements which have formed one of the most recognisable artistic periods in history.
