Have You Seen Matthew Collings' Programme on BBC4 - 'The Rules Of Abstraction'...?

There's definitely a resurgence of the British affinity with abstraction at the moment - maybe triggered by the wonderful 'Suprematism' abstracts of Kazimir Malevich's amazing retrospective at Tate Modern.
I'm so very glad I got to see this exhibition.

The first few rooms introduce a young Malevich, who is teaching himself the art of painting - through rich experimentation of the various styles around him at the time. He explored Symbolism, with tiny precious images that are magical as Indian Miniatures, then dabbled in a gorgeous chalky Pointillism. 

In this self-portrait he seems influenced by Gauguin - with a flourish of Fauvism and possibly Matisse in the background.

But it was the next three rooms that slowed me right down - I got my close-up specs out - and looked and looked and looked.

Groundbreaking. breathtaking. Malevich is a consummate master of composition.

Bold and Striking:

Detailed and Playful:

Skillful with Colour:

Serious and Thoughtful:

And - able to combine all the above qualities too:

Next, there was a big room with gazillions of tiny drawings - the walls painted a light-absorbing dull turquoise (my favourite colour), which set off the wooden frames and their deep off-white mounts; allowing the small sheets of often squared, yellowing paper to sing out with his careful deliberate drawings - plans and dreams.

But those plans and dreams for an abstract future we not to be - as the Russia he inhabited was now a Stalinist Russia - where the purpose of art was as propaganda; to educate. 

Art was expected to show one clear and unambiguous meaning...mmm...ruled out abstraction then.

So, Malevich focused on being an educator and a writer. 

With enlightened curating, there was a room of large teaching resources; posters made by Malevich setting out theories of art movements - and clearly advocating Suprematism early on. 

There was some great work by some of his students. 

I think Lyubov Popova was really very talented. She worked as a teacher, as well as being a painter and designer. I didn't know about her before visiting the exhibition - considering she died aged just thirty-five, she was very prolific.

    

   

It seems Malevich was pretty good at teaching. 

If he taught with as much charisma as he painted, I can imagine he was an inspiration.

Shame though - all that power, energy and command of the non-representational surface was lost; abandoned...

Well - not quite - as he couldn't help but bring some of that amazing force into later work: 

In he last room hang a number of portraits with almost Hans Holbein-ian flesh tints and backgrounds, seemingly all the colours darkened with black (unlike his Gauguin/Fauvist self-portrait), but for audacious flat solid abstract rectangles and triangles slapped defiantly on top (Suprematism sneaking in?).

It's on until 26 October - GO - GO - GO ! 

And - be sure to watch iplayer - BBC4's gone all Abstract too...