The legendary Russian filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein was known in particular for his silent films Strike (1925), Battleship Potemkin (1925) and October (1928), as well as the historical epics Alexander Nevsky (1938) and Ivan the Terrible (1944, 1958). In its 2012 decennial poll, the magazine Sight & Sound named his Battleship Potemkin the 11th greatest film of all time.  And  he was universally recognized as one of the greatest filmmakers of the first half of the last century.

Eisenstein was also a visionary artist exploring urgent questions of sexuality and spirituality in Russia, Mexico, and beyond. Whilst he only made seven feature films, Eisenstein produced thousands of sketches, costume and stage designs, caricatures, erotic fantasies, and more.

 

 

In Mexico in 1920 he audaciously, profusely, and freely opens his work to sexuality, introducing an aspect of avant-garde art that had previously been unexplored. (Most people assumed that Eisenstein was gay.)  Just as his films will leave their mark on the enigma that is modernity, his erotic drawings will leave a tremendous imprint on the imagery of contemporary art.

Currently in Kurimanzutto, Mexico City there is a new exhibit  “Erotic drawings. Sergei Eisenstein (Riga, 1898-Moscow, 1948) (circo erótico. serguéi eisenstein: drawings)”.  It’s a stunning retrospective of his work which sadly ends on October 8th.  There are currently no plans to transfer the Exhibit, so we have put together images of just a few pieces of his art.

 

 

Kurimanzutto
Cda. Gobernador Rafael Rebollar 94, San Miguel Chapultepec I Secc, Miguel Hidalgo, 11850 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Closes 8 October 8th