Alexandra Exter

Its life and its work

Alexandra Alexandrovana Exter (born Grigorovitch), born in Biélostok, Russia, in 1882 and deceased in Fontenay-Aux-Roses in 1949 was an artist of the Russian Avant-garde. It follows courses to the School of Art of Kiev as a free listener, then until 1906 it holds a literary and artistic living room with her husband a famous lawyer. In 1907 it spends a few months to Paris to the Academy of the Large Thatched cottage. In 1908 it organizes with David Bourliouk the exposure the Link in the Ukrainian capital. From 1906 to 1904 it carries out a cosmopolitan life, travelling much, its compatriot Serge Férat introduces it into the circle of the baroness Helene Oettingen where it becomes acquainted with Guillaume Apollinaire, Braque, Leger, Picasso. Its work is initially dominated by the geometrical cezanism, then by the cubo futurism Russo-Ukrainian. It takes part in all the exposures of the art of the Russian and Ukrainian left of which those of the Knave of diamonds. It takes part in exposures in France and Italy and contributes to the diffusion in Russia of the innovations of the avant-garde mondiale.
In 1915 it creates decorations for the Theater Kamerny d' Alexandre Taïrov in Moscow, covering the walls, the staircases, the hall, the curtain of scene of its paintings. Influenced by the Suprématisme of Malévitch but in conflict with him and by Tatline its rival, it creates from 1916 of the abstract tables but it will show its nonfigurative works only in 1917 when it will expose a ten years retrospective of its works during an exposure of the Knave of diamonds. It resides a time at Kiev then in 1920 returns to Moscow, adopting the ideas of the Russian Constructivisme, where in 1921 it will show its works under the title Constructions of plan, construction of force , being based on its design of the color, in contradiction with the theories constructivists. In 1923-1924 it works out modern clothing, houses for agricultural and industrial exposures Russian, made drafts for a film. In 1924 it takes part in the organization of the Soviet house and presents its works to the International exhibition of Arts to Venise.
At the end of 1924 Alexandra Exter settles in France but will continue a time to present its works under Soviet house. It carries out costumes and decorations, creates luminous sculptures for the Berliner apartment of the Russian dancer Elsa Krüger, manufactures puppets, gives courses of scenography, famous books.

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