What is Supermatism?

Malevich8217;s Victory Over the Sun

It has nothing to do with Superman. This movement was born well before Pop Art made it to the big league. Supermatism made its debut in the early 20th Century and was popularised by a Russian artist, Kazimir Malevich. The artist had 8216;flirted8217; with the idea of Cubist-Futurism after going through the motions with the Impressionists and the Surrealists. However, critics are of the opinion that he arrived at his most powerful expression when he coined Supermatism. The early manifestations of this style were characterised by a total departure from representative forms. Geometric forms propelled themselves into flight and were energised to take on the presence of an almost humanised form. The movement also touched theatre. In 1913, an opera, Victory Over the Sun, for which Malevich designed the sets, hit theatres. The symbolism of these works were highly political and dark, but they also were a celebration of pure form. The square moved to the circle, the triangle, the cross, the symbol of a dejected movement and finally an inscrutable God.