The discussion in today’s class about Tatlin’s Tower really got me interested in this style of art, architecture, and the artist himself. More specifically, I began to undergo some deep thinking about what the symbolism and paradox of Tatlin’s Tower could potentially have stood for. As we discussed in class, the tower consisted of a double helix that acted as the structure’s primary support system. Within this helix structure, existed four stations: the base for conferences/meetings, above that a pyramid for executive activities, above that a cylinder that was to transmit messages onto clouds/a radio for broadcasting, and finally radio equipment would sit at the top of the structure. Each of these levels would rotate at different speeds: the base would rotate once a year, the pyramid once a month, and the cylinder once a day (Wikipedia.org and class notes/discussion).
After doing some deep thinking, I believe that the structure and function of Tatlin’s Tower was full of symbolism. On a broad scale, I believe that the futuristic design and technological purpose of broadcasting messages onto clouds was a symbol for the Soviet Union’s ambition for the future. This could have been a symbol for the country’s ambitious outlook for the future in terms of art, architecture, and engineering. As we discussed in class, Tatlin’s Tower was planned to be twice the height of the Eiffel Tower. At the time, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world and I believe if Tatlin’s Tower was ever completed that then in would have been a symbol for the Soviet Union having the most modern culture (class notes/discussion).
On a smaller scale, I believe that each level of the tower contained symbolism for government function. For instance, the base was constructed to function as a place for legislative meetings and conferences and rotated only once a year. This could symbolize the function of broad government policy and how it was slow to change (thus only rotating once a year). Above this base rested the pyramid used for executive activities. This level was to rotate once a month. I think this symbolizes how executive decisions can move through processes quicker and thus be implemented faster (thus rotating faster than broad policy and once a month). Above this was to exist the cylinder that housed an information center that issued news and manifestos by radio, telegraph, and projection onto clouds (Wikipedia). This was supposed to rotate once a day and I believe this was a symbol for Soviet Union propaganda. This is because propaganda needed to be presented to the public frequently and in many forms in order to influence the most people possible.
While obviously full of symbolism, Tatlin’s Tower also existed as an interesting paradox. In order to build this massive structure that was to be the tallest in the world, an extreme amount of steel and supplies was needed. This proved to be the stopping point in the construction of Tatlin’s Tower because steel was a very rare commodity in the post-war Soviet Union. While the idea of this futuristic tower was a symbol for Soviet modernity, ambition, and aspiration, the actual construction and completion of the tower was essentially impossible in the current conditions of the war-ravaged country. Thus is the paradox; the young Soviet Union had the ambition to become a world power and leader in multiple aspects, but didn’t have the capability or capacity to achieve these goals.
Below is a video that I watched to get a better overall understanding of Tatlin’s Tower. While the video is short, it provides an adequate over-view of Tatlin, his Tower, and the period of constructivism. The most interesting piece that I took away from the video is that Tatlin’s Tower served as an inspiration for many other artists, architects, and engineers and ultimately forged the way ahead for a new form of artwork and architecture.