ART 353

Final Essay
Ryan Benson Smith
12/15/2017

1. In what way does the abstract art and theories of Mondrian and
Malevich demonstrate utopianism? Give titles and dates for the works
you discuss and cite specific texts from your readings, indicating the
authors by name.

Merriam-Webster defines Utopia as a “place of ideal perfection especially in

laws, government, and social conditions.” Utopian societies are created and

designed in order to have no problems. In theory, this would be the perfect place to

live, but in some ways, as with a dystopian society, the perfection can come with a

price. In relationship to art history, two artists’ works, Mondrian and Malevich, are

conducive with utopia.

Malevich work in its most primitive form is the Black Square, which has been

reproduced in many fashions. In his theory of the Black Square, it is an elementary

first step of art and the purest creation. A lot of his work can be classified as anti-

naturalist. His ideal world is one that is not natural but created. His art is also

influenced by the futurists and cubists, although it is not entirely either of the two

styles.

According to Malevich, art plays a part in life. Not only this, but that art will

shape people’s minds. In utopia, although it is the ideal life, this ideal life comes

with persuasion. In order to create a utopia, things must be drastically changed. In

Malevich’s “Composition with ‘Mona Lisa’ (1915),” there is a red “x” through Mona
Lisa’s face. This is symbolic of the rejection of old tradition, and the birth of new

tradition. The caption in the corner reads “changing hands.” This signifies the

changing of society into a “new order.”

His work also plays to the universality of utopia. In utopia, everyone has a

hand in the society with universal tasks. This is apparent in his paintings

“Woodcutter (1912)” and “Woman with Pails: Dynamic Arrangement (1913).” These

paintings show the timelessness of these universal tasks, which are ideal in a utopia.

These paintings also use the simplicity of cubism in order to communicate the new

order of utopia.

In 1915, Malevich installed the 0.10 exhibition in St. Petersburg. It is

interesting to notice that within this work there is the Black Square in the corner of

the wall near the ceiling. This is typically where pictures of religious figures would

be placed in home. This reminiscent of the dystopian style of 1984 by George Orwell

and the concept of “Big Brother.” Although dystopia is the opposite of utopia, they

have the same basic qualities. The Black Square in the corner almost looks like a

loudspeaker or television that would be installed in a dystopian society in order to

keep an eye on the citizens.

Mondrian’s work is similar to Malevich in the way that it creates the sense of

utopia. Stylistically, both artists are similar. Both use clean lines and geometry in

order to achieve simplicity.

 Mondrian stands out because his aspirations were as social as they were

aesthetic. By removing individualism in favor of precision and universal harmonies,

he believed he was laying the groundwork for a future utopia.

“In the future, the realization of pure plastic expression in palpable reality will

replace the work of art. But in order to achieve this, orientation toward a universal

conception and detachment from the oppression of nature is necessary. Then we

will no longer have the need of pictures and sculpture, for we will live in realized

art.” (Kramer, 5) In this right, Mondrian and Malevich have similar perspectives on

utopia.
 Works Cited

Kramer, Hilton. Abstraction and Utopia. Now and Then Reader, 2011.