INTRODUCTION

Soviet Nonconformist art refers to works of art made in the former Soviet Union from 1953 to 1986 that did not conform to the state-approved style, Socialist Realism. The Nonconformist movement began after the death of Joseph Stalin and extended to the advent of Gorbachev’s Glasnost, assisting in loosened restrictions on freedom of speech. From the early 1930s, the only style of art accepted under Stalin was Socialist Realism. The Socialist Realism style was a realistic style that idealised life in the Soviet Union, depicting scenes of positivity and prosperity. Artists who did not conform to this style risked persecution. After Stalin’s death in 1953, the Soviet Union experienced a “thaw”, when a more liberal atmosphere emerged and artists were able to experiment with styles beyond Socialist Realism. Soviet Nonconformist artists sought to question the idealistic narrative upheld by Socialist Realism and explore new styles of expression. 

Nonconformist art was stylistically varied but united in that it allowed room for personal interpretation. Artists introduced abstraction into their paintings and sculptures as a way to combat the extreme realism of Socialist Realism. Socialist Realism insisted on a single meaning in its works, and sought to reinforce the morals of the Soviet Union at the time. Nonconformist artists, on the other hand, embraced ambiguity and invited viewers to think for themselves. 

Soviet Nonconformist art can be difficult to identify because of the diversity of styles within the movement. Some artists created works of surrealism while others painted purely abstract compositions. Some were inspired by illustration and graphic design, some by conceptual art, and others by collage. Many depicted dreamlike landscapes and absurd or unsettling subject matter. Most Soviet Nonconformist art utilized abstraction to some extent, and, most importantly, challenged the realistic style and didactic tone of Socialist Realism. 

Nonconformist artists were particularly active in groups across Moscow and St. Petersburg. Oscar Rabin, Ülo Sooster, Boris Sveshnikov, and Ernst Neizvestny were a few artists who were influential to the movement. The movement concluded by 1986 when President Gorbachev introduced the liberalizing policies of glasnost and perestroika, which allowed for greater freedom of speech and artistic freedom.