Viva Cuban posters
For the first time, 100 original silk-screened Cuban
political and film posters from the last 40 years are on
display from now until June 29 at the American Institute of
Graphic Arts Gallery, 164 Fifth Avenue (between 21st and 22nd
Streets) in New York.
This groundbreaking exhibition is entitled
"¡Propaganda! Cuban Political and Film Posters." It
shows the importance of the Cuban poster as a dynamic
revolutionary and cultural art form that has inspired people
around the globe.
The show includes some of the most memorable images of
Cuban solidarity with peoples' struggles in Korea,
Mozambique, South Africa, Guatemala and Puerto Rico. Several
posters celebrate the inspirational role of Che Guevara. Many
expose the role of U.S. imperialism.
For instance, the one in support of Vietnam, Cambodia and
Laos shows a demonic U.S. President Richard Nixon with blue
skin, red eyes and the top of his skull filled with a photo
of a massacre.
The 1967 poster dedicated to the protest song shows a
single pink rose with thorns dripping blood.
While it's exciting to see familiar revolutionary posters
on display as art for the first time in this country, it's
equally exciting to see film posters never before seen in the
United States. According to the program notes, these posters
combine elements from U.S. pop art with influences from
Czech, Polish and Japanese posters. "Cuban film posters,"
reads the program notes, "soon became recognized for their
vibrant and unique synthesis of international visual
trends."
There is no doubt that all these posters revolutionized
the visual arts in Cuba. But their influence has been
felt--both politically and aesthetically--far beyond Cuba's
borders. -- Sue Davis
This article is copyright under a Creative
Commons License.
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