WITH GOD IN THE HEART AND UKRAINE IN THE SOUL
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2415-8151.2025.38.1.28Keywords:
art, scenography, stage design, avant-garde, Cubo-Futurism, Constructivism, stylization, formalismAbstract
Previous publications on Volodymyr Müller have focused on the early stage of his artistic career. This article examines the mature period of his work as a scenographer, highlighting his major achievements. Müller’s stage design projects for productions of various genres in the theatres of Odesa, Sumy, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, and at the VUFKU film studio vividly demonstrate the influence of Cubo-Futurism, Constructivism, and Expressionism. These stylistic features position him among the leading representatives of the Ukrainian avant-garde, alongside A. Ekster, A. Petrytskyi, V. Meller, and O. Khvostenko-Khvostov. Purpose. To introduce new biographical and creative materials on V. Müller (1887–1979) into scholarly circulation, present previously unpublished stage design projects, and analyze the characteristic features of his artistic style. Methodology. The study draws upon materials from the private archive of collector O. Kruzhálov. The analysis encompasses the artist’s personal notes, sketches, final design drafts, newspaper clippings, posters, and photographs of sets and performances. The scattered materials were systematized, contextualized, and prepared for publication. Results. The article explores Müller’s creative activity from 1925 to 1934, analyzing his scenographic projects and identifying their innovative nature within the broader development of Ukrainian stage design of the 1930s. The study defines the stylistic and conceptual affinities of his work with the avant-garde scenography of his contemporaries and emphasizes his influence on the formation of the Odesa school of stage design. Scientific novelty. For the first time, previously unpublished archival materials from the peak period of Müller’s career (1925–1934) are presented and analyzed. The study reveals the structural, stylistic, and decorative characteristics of his stage designs, introducing new factual and biographical data into academic discourse. Practical relevance. The findings contribute to the study of Ukrainian art and design history and may serve as a valuable reference for theatre historians, scenographers, graphic designers, and costume designers.
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