Formalism and Constructivism: Aspects of the Russian Avant-Garde

An interdisciplinary symposium marking the publication of Formalism and Constructivism: Aspects of the Russian Avant-Garde (Formalism och konstruktivism: Aspekter av det ryska avantgardet, Faethon, 2026), edited by Tora Lane, Stockholm University, and Sven-Olov Wallenstein, Södertörn University

Bringing together perspectives from literature, visual arts, architecture, film, and theatre, the symposium explores the relationship between artistic experimentation and social transformation. It examines how formalism and constructivism challenged traditional understandings of art, sought to reshape everyday life, and how their legacies are interpreted and debated today.

The symposium is supported by the Centre for Baltic and East European Studies (CBEES) at Södertörn University.

Programme

13:00 - 13:15 - Introduction: Tora Lane, Stockholm University, and Sven-Olov Wallenstein, Södertörn University

Session 1: Literature and Visual Arts. Moderator: Mariia Semashyna, Södertörn University

13:15 - 13:45 - The Making of Literature: Formalism between Poetics and Practice. Tora Lane, Stockholm University

13:45 - 14:15 - Materialism in the Visual Arts and the New Object. Sven-Olov Wallenstein, Södertörn University

14:15 - 14:45 - Coffee Break

Session 2: Architecture and Film. Moderator: Ramona Rat, Södertörn University

14:45 - 15:15 - Life-Building: Constructivism and Architecture. Irina Seits, Södertörn University

15:15 - 15:45 - Film Theory and Montage. Trond Lundemo, Stockholm University

15:45 - 16:00 - Coffee Break

Session 3: Theatre & Concluding Discussion. Moderator: Kirill Postoutenko, Södertörn University

16:00 - 16:30 – Meyerhold’s Biomechanics: Theatre as the Art of Movement. Hanna Liebiedieva, Södertörn University

16:30–17:00 - Concluding Open Discussion

From 17:00 - Mingle