Alexander Pankin The Black Square and the Number

DESCRIPTION

One of the best known artists who claim to be the disciples of Malevich, Alexander Pankin will speak about his theory of Suprematism, based on mathematic calculations and geometry.

Alexander Pankin’s work is based on the study of the Russian Avant-Garde and, in particular, its geometrical and proportional analysis. According to Pankin’s theory, Kazimir Malevich’s Black Square (1915) was a formative unit of the Suprematist world: its “atom” or “molecule.” The mathematical and geometrical analysis of this work gives unexpected results. The equality of the surface areas of black and white merits particular attention, because this important aspect derives from the proportional system of the composition. The ratio of the side of the canvas to the side of the black square is equal to the irrational square root of two (√2=1,414…). In other words, the composition is an ideally harmonious system. Pankin concludes that one of the most important essences of Black Square is its binarity: the figure can be described with the help of the binary number system using the double numeric symbol 0-1.

Therefore, the ideal mental model of Malevich’s famous work can be presented as a non-Euclidean plane that is bounded by the square and has two planar sides: the real (visible) black side and the imaginary (invisible) white side.

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Alexander Pankin is an artist and architect and a member of the Union of Moscow Architects. He has participated in approximately 40 solo and 120 group exhibitions. His works are in the State Tretyakov Gallery, the State Russian Museum, the National Centre for Contemporary Arts, and other collections. Pankin’s works have appeared in Russian and foreign publications, including Abstraction in Russia: 20th Century (St. Petersburg: Palace Editions, 2001), Collage in Russia: 20th Century (St. Petersburg: Palace Editions, 2005), and Adventures of the Black Square (St. Petersburg: Palace Editions, 2007).

HOW TO TAKE PART

Free for visitors with an exhibition ticket

Free admission for online broadcasting in Garage Auditorium

Priority booking for GARAGE cardholders. Please send requests to members@garagemca.org