Natalia Sidlina – författare

Principally known as the main protagonist of the Constructivist movement in the 1920s, Russian artist Naum Gabo (1890 - 1977) created some of the most inspirational sculptures of the twentieth-century. His constructions, ranging from the early figurative Head No.2, to his large public kinetic sculpture commissions, embodied the modernist preoccupations of art in relation to science, architecture and philosophy, and made him one of the leading figures of the Russian avant-garde. After studying engineering in Munich, Gabo moved back to Russia in 1917, and there developed the theories and practice of Constructivism, a term he coined with his brother in their 'Realistic Manifesto' of 1920 which promoted art as a part of man's everyday existence without the confinement of artistic terms and convention. Gabo traveled extensively to the hubs of modernism in Europe, spending time with the de Stijl and teaching at the Bauhaus, and in Paris in the wake of Nazi occupation to join Mondrian's Abstraction-Creation group. Upon the outbreak of World War II, he moved to Cornwall, where his influence on the St Ives group can be seen in the work of BarbaraHepworth and Peter Lanyon, amongst others. He later emigrated to the United States. Gabo's work is most admired for its rigorous enquiries into ways of representing mass, volume and space. His sensitive and imaginative use of materials, ranging from fishing line, to Perspex, to wood, created a rhythm and balance within his sculptures evoking intense emotional responses. A new dedicated monograph on this truly original artist is long overdue, and this accessible and comprehensive book is the ideal guide to Gabo's life and work. Containing over 140 colour illustrations, including photographs from private archives and the artist's family collections, "Naum Gabo" will introduce a new audience to the achievements of one of the twentieth-century's most unsung artistic masters.

The story of the friendships that made modern art. Brought together in the UK for the first time in 80 years, this exhibition book offers unprecedented access to the landmark exhibition's collection of masterpieces.Expressionists is a story of friendships told through art – the groundbreaking work of a circle of friends and close collaborators known as The Blue Rider. In the early twentieth century they came together to form, in their own words, ‘a union of various countries to serve one purpose’ – to transform modern art.Rallying around Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter these highly individual artists experimented with colour, sound and light, creating astonishingly bold and vibrant art – from Alexander Sacharoff’s freestyle performance to Gabriele Münter’s experimental photography, from Franz Marc’s innovative use of colour to the dramatic paintings of Marianne Werefkin.In-depth investigations of major themes and a wide variety of spotlight essays provide an intimate and illuminating window into a remarkable artistic group: their travels and techniques, their interests and sources of inspiration, and the relationships that bound them together.

The story of the friendships that made modern art. Brought together in the UK for the first time in 80 years, this exhibition book offers unprecedented access to the landmark exhibition's collection of masterpieces.Expressionists is a story of friendships told through art – the groundbreaking work of a circle of friends and close collaborators known as The Blue Rider. In the early twentieth century they came together to form, in their own words, ‘a union of various countries to serve one purpose’ – to transform modern art.Rallying around Wassily Kandinsky and Gabriele Münter these highly individual artists experimented with colour, sound and light, creating astonishingly bold and vibrant art – from Alexander Sacharoff’s freestyle performance to Gabriele Münter’s experimental photography, from Franz Marc’s innovative use of colour to the dramatic paintings of Marianne Werefkin.In-depth investigations of major themes and a wide variety of spotlight essays provide an intimate and illuminating window into a remarkable artistic group: their travels and techniques, their interests and sources of inspiration, and the relationships that bound them together.

The inaugural instalment in Tate's new Dialogues series, Expressionists is an accessible companion book on the groundbreaking work of The Blue Rider.Through a series of artist biographies by Genevieve Barton, Expressionists introduces the figures who were part of this extraordinary group, highlighting the women artists who defied social conventions, engaged in environmental issues and searched for new forms of spirituality.An illustrated map by Alessia Arcuri outlines the geographical links between the artists, and art historian Nadine Nour el Din’s powerful essay articulates the cross-cultural connections forged through photography. The publication also features a series of artistic responses to the exhibition, thanks to a partnership with Project Art Works. Created as part of a ‘Blue Rider’ artist residency, these commissions from artists including Amy Fenton and George Smith offer new ways of thinking about the Blue Rider collective, and its enduring influence today.