Sculptural rhymes of Art Nouveau: on the visual poetics of symbolism

This article is first within the Russian and Western art history to examine the concept of visual poetics as a separate subject of research. Based on the analysis of iconographic and theoretical searches of the masters of symbolism, which found reflection within the boundaries of expressive means of visual art, the author comes concludes on the poetic principles of symbolist artists as the fundamental sources of the formation of the style of Art Nouveau – a new sculptural language of the XIX – early XX centuries. Detail characteristic of the philosophical-aesthetic content that underlies optical forms of the visual symbolist image, in its scientific origins leans on the capabilities of the art comparative-formal analysis, as well as iconological method adapted to the period under review. The innovative conceptual approach towards studying the art of symbolism lies in the fact that poetry as the concept is depicted beyond the literary sphere, as a specific type of artistic worldview that influenced the development of the visual language of art in the era of Art Nouveau. At the same time, visual poetics is compared to the complex system of internal images, which shape in with the works of the master throughout the entire path of his self-expression, and are directly related to profoundness of the poetic principle of the soul, lyrical and metaphorical intuition of the artist. This approach allows us broadening the representation on the aesthetic benchmarks of the symbolist artists, as well as designating the new methodological coordinates in the field of studying the art of symbolism in both national and international contexts.

Art Nouveau in the context of realism: Ilya Repin at the turn of two centuries

The main subject of this research is the specificity of I. E. Repin's perception of the dynamics of artistic-aesthetic tasks formed under the influence of changing modernity. In view of this, one of the compositional centers of the research is the history of relationship that developed between I. E. Repin and the artists of the “first wave of symbolism” – members of the association “The World of Art” (primarily, the editor-in-chief of the eponymous journal S. P. Diaghilev, A. N. Benois, K. A. Somov, Y. Y. Lanceray). Special attention is given to the question of perception of I. E. Repin by certain representatives of the avant-garde in 1910s. Developing in the range “attraction – negation”, full of dramatic and comic moments, the dialogue between Repin and younger generation indicates the hastiness of univocal view of realism and Art Nouveau as opposing imagery systems. For the first time, on the current level of scientific comprehension of the aesthetics of symbolism and neo-romanticism, the article analyzes the attitude of I. E. Repin towards the innovative imagery pursuits of the Art Nouveau artists. At the same time, the very concept of Art Nouveau is interpreted in two dimensions: as a certain milestone in the context of the development of the history of art of the late XIX – early XX century; and as an inner dynamic potential embedded by I. E. Repin in his works since the beginning of his creative path. Based on systematization of the artistic and documentary sources and  the method of complex reconstruction of the views of Peredvizhniki and symbolist artists upon the objectives and nature of art, the author concludes that the poetics of art of Ilya Repin, synthesizing the ideas of time, tends to reflect a complicated and distinctive artistic image formed by realistic and idealistic principles.

New science of art of Hans Sedlmayr

This article provides a brief systemic analysis of the key concepts of the so-called new science of art developed by the Austrian art historian Hans Sedlmayr. The result of Seldmayr’s pursuits are reflected in creation of his own philosophy of art and culture based on a particular worldview. The cognition of the whole, along with individual and unique, underlies this science. Understanding is the goal of scientific knowledge for Sedlmayr. It suggests not only abstract knowledge, but peculiar existential experience as well. Sedlmayr interprets the understanding of artwork as its contemplation, which in turn, is identical to its actualization or presence. In Seldlmayr’s art of science, epistemologies and ontologies merge into each other. He interprets artworks simultaneously as the event and as the social organism, which overcomes the linearity of time and fragmentation of plurality. This artificial complex system, built on the paradoxical identity of the single and plenty, is both finite and infinite. Sedlmayr’s views encompass classical and nonclassical approach towards cognition of the whole. He relies on the principles of monism, seeking to reduce all concepts to a single basis, single point of singularity that designates the synthesis of all the moments of the whole and can be expressed by a single category. The main category, which resembles the center of the opposites, is the “midpoint” (Mitte). The aforementioned ideas are consistent and logical only in such scientific worldview that identifies ontology and epistemology, which implies the unity of contemplation and phenomenon of the artwork. Therefore, in Sedlmayr's constructions, actualization or revival of the artwork is identical with its comprehension. The systemic approach towards the artwork reflected in the theoretical works of Sedlmayr extends the boundaries of art science and converges with philosophy.

Intermezzo by Johannes Brahms Op. 119 No.3: nonclassical trends in music of late Romanticism

This article analyzes the intermezzo by J. Brahms Op. 119 No.3 for determining the nonclassical trends within the structure of musical fabric and form-making principles in this composition. The research employs the method of holistic analysis, which implies examination of the peculiarities of harmony, texture uniqueness, thematic processes, and formative patterns in the intermezzo by J. Brahms Op. 119 No.3; the elements of comparative analysis (juxtaposition of the form-making principles in this composition and classical works, as well as of interpretation of the reprise of the three-part form in the intermezzo by Brahms Op. 119 No.3 and Nocturne by Chopin Op. 48 №1). The scientific novelty lies in revealing the nonclassical trends in the music of J. Brahms, namely homogeneity of the sound fabric, low degree of differentiation of relief and background in the texture, absence of the common forms of sound and passive fragments in musical form. The author determines the conceptual proximity of Brahms' principles of working with musical material with the method of interfusion of the object and space that gained popularity in painting of the early XX century. The acquired results allow concluding that in the intermezzo Op. 119 No.3, J. Brahms implements a number of nonclassical principles of working with musical material, which anticipate the discoveries of the composers of the Second Viennese School (in particular, Webern). The presented materials can be valuable for further study of the compositions of J. Brahms, various theoretical aspects of music of the turn of the XIX –XX centuries, as well as performance and pedagogical practice.

To the question of corporeal experience in Bernard Tschumi’s theory of architecture

The subject of this research is the theoretical works of Bernard Tschumi. The goal is to determine the place of the problem of corporeal experience in the theory of architecture of developed by the Swiss architect. For achieving the set goal, the author examines the key themes of his works –  the question of boundaries and limits of architecture, architecture as the place of occurrence of the event; as well as a number of concepts – “pleasure”, “limits”, “violence”. The texts created by Bernard Tschumi over the period from 1977 to 1981: “The Pleasure of Architecture” (1977), the article “Violence of Architecture” (1981), and a series of essays “Architecture and Limits” (1980–1981) served as the sources for this analysis. B. Tschumi did not dedicate works to the problem of corporeal experience alone; however, addresses this problem in the context of interaction between the audience and the building. His attention is focused on the viewer’s sensory experiences emerging in direct contact with the architectural object. On the one hand, this apposes B. Tschumi with the representatives of the phenomenology of architecture – S. Hall and J. Pallasmaa; all of them emphasizes the kinesthetic, nonverbal nature of corporeal experience in the perception of structures, their internal space and materials. On the other hand, B. Tschumi describes the relations between the body and the building as violent. Violence in the relations between man and architecture is ubiquitous: it is the interference of of a person into the architectural space, as well as feeling of discomfort provoked by the architectural space.

Symbolism in the Russian visual art in the era of Art Nouveau: analytical overview in the light of latest research

The subject of this article is the works of the Russian artists of the late XIX – early XX centuries in the context of problematic of symbolism and Art Nouveau, as well as the scientific foundation that has developed as yet in studying this topic. Research methodology is based on the conceptual synthesis of classical art history approaches towards the analysis of artistic material with the theoretical interdisciplinary methods of humanities, such as iconology and hermeneutics, as well as the contextual-associative method developed by the author. The goal of this article consists in determination of the peculiarities of symbolism in Russia due to the transformation of the attitude towards the spiritual problematic of art of the turn of the XIX – XX centuries, which is relevant for the modern art history. The author is firs in the Russian art history to conduct a comprehensive analytical overview of the development stages of symbolism in the Russian visual art based on the years-long work with the archival materials, scientific publications (that cover over a century), and works of the Art Nouveau authors stored in the museum funds, many of which after 1917  appeared to be on the periphery of attention of art historians due to ideological reasons. The revealed individual characteristics of symbolism as a holistic artistic phenomenon, created on the level of modern humanistic knowledge, determine the novelty of this work and can valuable in further study of symbolism and Art Nouveau. Broadening of representations on the Russian art of the late XIX – early XX centuries, allow returning the heritage of the symbolist artists into the context of art, which is of undeniable importance from the perspective of restoration of natural logic of the development of the history of art in Russia, making this publication valuable in various fields of study of art and culture.

The World Expo as a means of global cross-cultural communication (on the example of participation of Ural and the Chelyabinsk regions)

This article is a historical foray into participation of the Ural and the Chelyabinsk regions in the World Expos in the context of cross-cultural communication, in which the interaction between the exhibiting countries on the global questions of modernity takes place through the dialogue of cultures. In the broad sense, exhibition first and foremost is a significant attribute of culture and cultural life of a particular environment, and form of distribution of culture. The scientific literature features the following definition: “…exhibitions are the key presentation instrument of cultural policy of the country”. The real scientific achievements are concentrated in a single space. Each exhibition promotes different cultural traditions and contributes to the enrichment of cultures. As pertains to the participation of Ural, it is too early to speak of the full-fledged participation in the dialogue of cultures at World Expos; however, the region has made decent steps towards it. There is no doubt that the World Expo is an remarkable international event. Each host country makes every effort to ensure an immense scale of the event, attract wide audience of visitors and exhibitors. Therefore, the exhibition should be viewed from the global perspective.

The book to come of Jacques Derrida

This article analyzes the theme of book in the philosophy of Jacques Derrida, as well as the inevitability of transformation of its customary forms. The theme of book is central at least in the three texts by Jacques Derrida: “The End of the Book and the Beginning of Writing”, “Outside the Book”, and “The Book to Come”. However, in the process of analysis, the author goes beyond the boundaries of these three works of the philosopher, placing the problem of the “book to come” in a broader context of discursive practices of Jacques Derrida. The book in its common form is on the cusp of dispersion, i.e. decay of its usual structure and integrity. The former totality of linear writing, which is organically interrelated with the book form, yields to the new forms of submission of information and its archiving. This article describes how Jacques Derrida explicitly builds the form of the “book to come” letting it to the horizon of his writing, and thereby changing its very structure and fabric. A number of philosopher’s texts are distinguished by their polyphony, structural complexity, excess of quotations, scatteredness of phrases, words, and even sounds, phonemes, and syllables. All this leads to the disruption of the customary rules of reading, and forces us to form completely new strategies of the perception of writing and books, as well as all other practices that are inextricably entwined.

“Natural” in the philosophical and moralistic literature of the XVII century

In philosophy, “natural” is viewed as an ontological characteristic of the objects of internal and external reality along with the concept of “artificial”. However, in the XVII century, the philosophical and moralistic literature undergoes aestheticization. Numerous appeals of the writers, moralists and philosopher, as well as dialogues and arguments on the topic of “natural” indicate that this was of crucial importance for the aesthetic thought of the XVII century. The answer to the question ‘what natural is’ has become the cornerstone of the new gallant aesthetics, and in behavior was associated with fluency and aristocratic inattention, which are opposed to pomposity and affectation. In art, “natural” was perceived as a desire to purge from the Baroque ostentation. In literature, it is the result of hard work on the language that allows achieving lightness and fluency. Ultimately, in the philosophical thought, “natural” is perceived as the correspondence with truth. Until the present, the question of aestheticization of the “natural” did not draw the attention of Russian researchers. This is partly explained by the historical tradition. Russia enters the European philosophical thought only in the Era of Enlightenment in the XVIII century; thus, the XVII century seems somewhat archaic on the background of the topical issues. However, the XVII century is the advent of the history of modern philosophical and aesthetic thought, and creates the foundation of modern European mentality. This period marks the formation of the new aesthetic ideal, new aesthetic norms, and the system for assessing the work of art, which assign an important role to the “natural”.

Culture as the key factor in the establishment of noospherogenesis

The subject of this article is the substantiation of the fundamental link between culture and modern problem of searching for the vector of positive social development. The object of this research is the concept of noospheric development as one of the productive futurological strategies that gives adequate responses to the challenges of modernity. Leaning on the unified nature of the sphere of noumena, regardless of the methods of cognition of existence (science, religion, art), and integrating the conceptual grounds of the theories of noosphere and pneumatosphere, the author proves that cultural phenomena are capable of fulfilling the functions of the attractor of social development as the bearers of scientific ideas, axiological and aesthetic values, and aspirations for spiritual ideals. The artifacts that are yet to be implemented, but of exists as ideas, do influence the future. The noospheric strategy of social development requires elaboration of new educational approaches. Special attention is given to the substantiation of culture-making educational model as an effective methodology in preparation of “man on the future”. Analysis of the works of the founders of the theory of noosphere and the theory of pneumatosphere, as well as their contemporary adherents allows concluding on the natural integration of the concepts of V. I. Vernadsky and P. A. Florensky in modern concept of noospherogenesis, as scientific, artistic, and social ideas have the single information nature. The acquired conclusions explicate the culturological component of the concept of noospherogenesis and substantiate the effectiveness of culture-making educational model that contributes to the formation of noospheric type of mentality among younger generation. The author’s special contribution consists in presentation of the model of culture-making school, tested on the public schools of Altai Krai, which also has high heuristic potential for humanities and art universities.