Yes, there have been some great socialist/communist works, before Stalin cracked down. The Russian Constructivists (Malevich, Tatlin, and others) were doing dynamic abstractions when Lenin was in power. But then Stalin cracked down on works he did not understand. The great composer Shostakovich has a wonderful tension in his work that shows what his living conditions were like, the balance between creativity and the Communist party. Every time he left the house, he took his toothbrush and soap, uncertain if he would be picked up like other friends he had known.
There is also a period of creativity with the Mexican muralists: Rivera, Orozco, Siquieros and Kahlo.
This was all in the 1920’s and 1930’s, when Communist was still new and fairly fresh with ideas. When the rulers cracked down, that was the end of creativity in Russia.
What has been created recently in Venezuela, North Korea or even Russia? Not much....
I’m am SERIOUSLY underqualified to even talk to you about this, you know your stuff and I would like to take the position of student to your lessons. For that, I would love to focus more on what you are saying.
What I can see, and have been seeing, is the terrible - simply TERRIBLE Chinese art forms. They have been devolved into Chinese traditional movements that are designed to inhibit any progressive ideas among the people.
Like the love affair of classical music in the Communist regimes. Kids were required to learn classical compositions and not even allowed to break free into any breaking of new grounds.
I’m also reminded of Banksy, as I have been a lot lately. His art is super depressing. I can’t help but to think if he were an American with a quality American upbringing if his street art would be more cerebral, celebratory and life-affirming.
There is the street art of another German artist, but I can’t remember it. It also went hand-in-hand with online interactive animations that complimented his static street art. Neat stuff that still captured urban blight, but underscored it with a sort of hopefulness that folks like the now very popular Banksy seem to miss.
When you post something I need to take a few hours to look up each reference and understand. I appreciate that, thanks !