The Sensory Legacy of the Russian Avant-Garde: Haptics, Scent, Movement, Immersion

Abstract Aside from its obvious influence on 20th century art in general, the Russian Avant-Garde was a precursor to many conceptual trends, not always directly related to our general notion of “Avant-garde”, but more as the fulfilment of its prophecies. This paper explores the legacy of the Russian Avant-garde through the prism of a multisensory study, involving haptics, optics, immersion and participation. Revisiting manifestos of the early 20th century in the context of contemporary theories of art and perception, the paper traces intersections and “dreams come true”. Inter alia, the paper also considers the problem of how to collect non-visual components of art from the viewpoint of contemporary museum practice.