Sects and ‘new left’ disillusionment. Mike Macnair reviews P Blackledge, N Davidson (eds) Alasdair MacIntyre’s engagement with Marxism: selected writings 1953-1974, Brill (Historical materialism series),... »
Art
Back to the futurists
Dani Thomas reviews Futurism at Tate Modern To mark the centenary of the futurist movement, the Tate Modern is now displaying what it describes as a “ground-breaking exhibition”. Despite this bold claim, the experience is actually rather low-key and captures little of the feverish drama of early 20th century Italian modernity. In 1909, FT Marinetti... »
Red star over Russia – David King
A revolution portrayed Sarah McDonald reviews David King’s Red star over Russia Tate Publishing, 2009, pp352, £25 David King’s book is subtitled A visual history of the Soviet Union from 1917 to the death of Stalin, and it is exactly that – a truly impressive visual account of the period. This book was published to coincide with... »
Rodchenko and Popova: defining constructivism
Dani Thomas reviews Rodchenko and Popova: defining constructivism, at Tate Modern until May 17 Standing in front of one of Liubov Popova’s astonishing works in her 1918 ‘Painterly architectonics’ series, you get the impression that you are witnessing before your eyes the formation of a brand new aesthetic. The smashed shards of the old order... »
The revolution continues: New art from China
Never mind the Saatchis Mike Belbin reviews The revolution continues: New art from China Saatchi Gallery, 10am-6pm, until January 18, free (guide book £1.50) It’s only modern art – just more of the same. That has been one response to the contents of the recently opened Saatchi Gallery. Since the advertising executive and art collector, Charles Saatchi,... »