Human Mechanics 1925

Moholy-Nagy’s ‘Human Mechanics’ is a monochrome collage of geometric shapes and human figures. I like to imagine the artist piecing together photographs and shapes. It's like he’s building a stage, setting up a dance of form and figure. What I love about this is the way it flattens and creates space. The eye bounces between planes, trying to assemble a coherent picture. It reminds me of El Lissitzky. These artists looked to constructivism to show the mechanics of modern life. I wonder what Moholy-Nagy wanted to reveal? What kind of future did he imagine? By reducing the colour to a minimum, it allows us to focus on the structure of the image. I enjoy how it makes something new from mundane materials. It gives you permission to be more experimental in your own work!