Suprematistic Cross

llia Grigorievich Chashnik (Ljuzin, Ost Latvia, June 25th, 1902; Leningrad, March 4th, 1929) studied in Iehuda Pen’s studio (1917-1918). He attended the Higher State Art-Technical Studios (VKHUTEMAS) in Moscow (1919). He also attended the School of Fine Arts in Vitebsk under Chagall. He switched his allegiance to Malevich, who took control of the school in the winter of 1919-1920. He participated in the organization of the “Followers of the New Art” (“Posnovis”) group, which was later renamed into “Affirmers of the New Art” (“Unovis”). In November 1920 he wrote the editorial for the group’s edition Unovis, in which his propaganda rostrum Orator’s Platform for Smolensk appeared. Together with Lazar Khidekel, Chashnik he published the journal Aero, under the “Unovis” imprint. He also participated in all the exhibitions of the “Unovis” group in Vitebsk and Moscow (1920-1922). In 1922, when “Unovis” was forced out by the local authorities, he moved to Petrograd. In 1923 he took part in the Exhibition of Paintings of Petrograd Artists of all Trends. He worked as a designer at the State Porcelain Factory (1923-1924) and at the State Institute of Artistic Culture (GINHOUK) as Malevich’s assistant for his work on architectural models (1923-1925). During the years 1927-1928 he worked with the architect Aleksandr Nikolskii.