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Why is this black square famous? - Allison Leigh

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TEDEd Animation

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In 1915, an exhibition of radical artworks opened in Russia. Many pieces pushed the boundaries of form and style, but one was particularly controversial: Kazimir Malevich’s “Black Square.” Criticized as simple and uninspired, Malevich’s work is more complicated than it first appears— and may not be a painting of a black square at all. Allison Leigh digs into the art style known as Suprematism.

Several art critics had very strong reactions to Malevich’s Black Square when it was first publicly exhibited in Saint Petersburg. Why do you think some of them thought the painting would “lead us all to our doom”?

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Meet The Creators

  • Educator Allison Leigh
  • Director Alexia Roider, Zedem Media
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Storyboard Artist Jeanne Bornet
  • Animator Maria Savva
  • Art Director Jeanne Bornet
  • Sound Designer Manolis Manoli
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Produced by Abdallah Ewis
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Dan Kwartler
  • Script Editor Molly Bryson
  • Fact-Checker Charles Wallace

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