As the new Soviet state emerged in the early 20th century, artists began to develop new approaches to creating socialist art. The language of photography was evolving rapidly, with the foundational principles of reportage photography beginning to take shape. It played a vital role in propaganda and agitation. Leading the way in this experimental field was the photographic group October, which had separated from the broader eponymous collective of avant-garde artists. Its members (including Alexander Rodchenko, Eleazar Langman, Boris Kudoyarov and Boris Ignatovich, and others) sought out new methods and perspectives. They used unusual angles, dynamic compositions, and focused on seeing the whole through its fragments.

Opposing October on ideological grounds was the Russian Association of Proletarian Photo Reporters (ROPF). For this group, the main goal of Soviet photography was to promote reportage. Artistic expression was secondary to the relevance of the subject matter for the Party. Even so, their work still featured expressive techniques and innovation. Members included Max Alpert, Arkady Shaikhet, Semyon Fridlyand, Yakov Khalip, and others.

In 1931, the leading photography journal Soviet Photo was renamed Proletarian Photo, signalling its future role as the voice of Bolshevik reform in photographic art. From its first issue, a “creative debate” began between ROPF and October.

This exhibition is an attempt to capture the final high point of constructivist photography before the official rise of socialist realism in Soviet art, which brought all avant-garde experimentation to an end. The photographs are organised into two sections, ROPF and October. It offers insight into the development of a new photographic language in the 1920s and 1930s and into the individuals who helped create it despite ideological and aesthetic differences. The final section, Finale, features quotes from critics of both groups, leaving visitors to decide for themselves where they stand in this “creative debate.”

Curator: Dmitry Nikishov

The exhibition includes over 110 objects, from iconic images by Rodchenko and Shaikhet to rare magazine spreads by little-known photographers whose work has only survived on paper. In addition to photographs, the exhibition features issues of Proletarian Photo and Soviet Photo, photo albums, and both pre-revolutionary and Soviet photography equipment.

The public programme will include themed events: Photo Weekend, lectures, photo walks and portfolio reviews with photography experts. A special concert created for the exhibition will be performed by soloists from the musicAeterna orchestra.

As part of the exhibition, the Zotov Centre is also launching the flashmob Your Move, inviting photography enthusiasts to explore unusual angles and techniques used by constructivist photographers and create their own homage to one of the images on display.