Russia In the 20th century there have been many artistic movements that define the way we view art. In 1961 there was not a defining movement, but a transition to a contemporary style that would set the pace for the rest of the century. Many painters wanted to follow the form of avant-garde that took place nearly thirty years earlier. At this time Khrushchev did not approve of this form. He was a strong believer of socialist realism and actually wanted to discipline artist that betrayed it. In 1961 he replaced B.V. Ioganson with V.A. Serov as the Arts Academy president. Due to these events, the predominant cu