Conduit of Earth and Sky: Tatlin's Tower
Description/Abstract/Artist Statement
In 1919, the newly formed Soviet Union asked Vladimir Tatlin to design its capital building. The resulting design was literally revolutionary: a revolving building that would serve as governmental headquarters, newsroom, and media center. Tatlin’s Monument to the Third International was deemed impossible to build and continues to elude architects to this day. While it is usually seen as a Constructivist Tower of Babel, this presentation proposes that Tatlin’s Tower could be better understood as a sophisticated machine that constantly condenses, recycles, and distributes the wishes of the people through the government and back out into the populace.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Vittorio Colaizzi
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Disciplines
Modern Art and Architecture
Session Title
Art History 2
Location
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1306
Start Date
2-2-2019 10:15 AM
End Date
2-2-2019 11:15 AM
Conduit of Earth and Sky: Tatlin's Tower
Learning Commons @ Perry Library Conference Room 1306
In 1919, the newly formed Soviet Union asked Vladimir Tatlin to design its capital building. The resulting design was literally revolutionary: a revolving building that would serve as governmental headquarters, newsroom, and media center. Tatlin’s Monument to the Third International was deemed impossible to build and continues to elude architects to this day. While it is usually seen as a Constructivist Tower of Babel, this presentation proposes that Tatlin’s Tower could be better understood as a sophisticated machine that constantly condenses, recycles, and distributes the wishes of the people through the government and back out into the populace.