Two countries-two schools representing the avant-garde with their political background and legacy: Soviet Russia/ Germany – Vkhutemas/ bauhaus

The change and transformation of the world, which started with the Age of Enlightenment and followed by the Industrial Revolution brought many artistic differences. The socialist movements that rose with the revolutions that took place after the First World War also influenced the artists. Artists started to think about art and searched for the construction of a new world. In this sense, art has assumed a revolutionary identity. One of the most important keystones of the development process of 20th century modern art is the socialist movements that came with the revolutions. These movements affected the art and architecture environment; therefore, it also shaped architecture and art education. The two countries that experienced this situation most severely are Soviet Russia and Germany. VKhUTEMAS was established immediately after the 1917 October Revolution in Russia, with the effects of World War I; Simultaneously with the developments that Russia experienced in the 20th century, Germany also experienced a similar transformation and the Bauhaus school was opened in the period called the Golden Twenties after the November Revolution. VKhUTEMAS, which was founded by Constructivist artists in Russia, and Bauhaus, a synthesis of Expressionism and New Objectivity, had parallel features as well as different aspects. The goal of the two institutions was to bring the concepts of artist and craftsman together again. The utopia of both schools was the belief that forms could create a new world and a classless society. They were extremely involved in each other's activities throughout their existence. Just as VKhUTEMAS and Bauhaus were born as a result of similar political influences and continued their existence in the tides with changing political situations, their closures were similarly due to the pressures of totalitarian regimes. This thesis study has been prepared to examine the VKhUTEMAS and Bauhaus schools, which were established in Russia and Germany with similar desires, in line with the revolutionary identity of art, the responsibilities of artists in the construction of a new society, and the effect of political ruptures on these schools. After the purpose, scope and method in the conceptual part of the study, the political developments of Russia and Germany, where VKhUTEMAS and Bauhaus were shaped, were first examined in the process leading to the revolutions. In relation to this, studies have been made on the art and architecture environment of the two countries. In the sections where VKhUTEMAS and Bauhaus are handled separately, the first known founding stories and the political dynamics behind these stories are included. In the next section, schools are considered as a culture to be scrutinized and the main trends, educational approaches, master teachers and their political stances are examined. After these sections were completed with the closing stories of the schools, the relations between the two institutions analyzed. Their similarities, differences and relationships are discussed. In the conclusion part, it is aimed to conclude the study with a general evaluation. Keywords: Avant-garde, Bauhaus, October Revolution, November Revolution, Constructivism, Modernism, Politics-Architecture Relationship, Totalitarian Regime, Vkhutemas.