Alexandra Exter Biography
Aleksandra Aleksandrovna Ėkster, also known as Aleksandra Exter (Russian: Александра Александровна Экстер?; Białystok, 6 January 1882 – Fontenay-aux-Roses, 17 March 1949), was a Russian painter, set designer and costume designer, belonging to the movement of Russian avant-garde. His works were initially influenced by Cézanne's geometrism, then by Russian-Ukrainian cubism-futurism. He participated in all the art exhibitions of the Russian left, including that of Valet de Carreau and exhibited equally in France and Italy, thus contributing to the diffusion of the innovations of the world avant-garde in Russia. In 1915 he decorated Alexander Tairov's Kamerny Theater in Moscow, covering the walls, stairs, vestibule and curtain with his paintings. Influenced by the suprematism of Kazimir Malevič, but in conflict with him and his rival Vladimir Tatlin, starting from 1916 Aleksandra painted abstract paintings. However, he did not show these works until the following year, 1917, when he staged a retrospective of his works from the last ten years at the Valet de Carreau. He then stayed for a certain time in Kiev, until 1920, the year in which he returned to Moscow having assimilated the ideas of Russian constructivism. In 1921 he exhibited his works under the title "Constructions of plans, constructions of forces", based on his personal conception of color which was in open contradiction with the theories of constructivism itself. In the same year he participated in the exhibition "5x5=25", in the company of Alexander Rodchenko. In 1922 he invented the stage costumes for Oscar Wilde's Salome. In the two-year period 1923-1924 he developed modern clothing and designed pavilions for Russian agricultural and industrial exhibitions. He also made costume sketches for Aelita, a science fiction film by Jakov Protazanov. In 1924 he collaborated in the organization of the Soviet pavilion for the International Exhibition of Arts in Venice, also exhibiting some of his works there.
