This web exhibition accompanies the current exhibition

The Graphic Imperative
International Posters for Peace, Social Justice and the Environment 1965–2005

curated by Elizabeth Resnick, Frank Baseman and Chaz Maviyane-Davies, that will be shown in Boston MA (US) from 2005.09.14 - 2005.11.11, in Philadelphia PA (US) from 2006.04.03 - 2006.05.31, and in New York NY (US) from 2006.06.15 - 2006.08.18 .

Please see the News of August 16, 2005 for the exhibition poster by Chaz Maviyane-Davies, a short introduction, and more details about the exhibition or www.thegraphicimperative.org. Chaz Maviyane-Davies also kindly sent the followings texts and the pictures.

Alain Le Quernec Kindheit ist kein Kinderspiel (Childhood is not child’s play), France, 1998 The Essen Poster Museum in Germany organized an international competition advocating for protection of children in general, and against pedophilia in particular.

Alejandro Magallanes Mexico City Air, Mexico, 2001 This poster was designed to express the interaction between a citizen and his environment drawing attention to the lack of clean air in Mexico City.

Asela Perez Bolado International Week of Solidarity with Latin America, Cuba, 1970 Many OSPAAAL posters address the subject of revolutionary change in this hemisphere, including movements within the United States and Puerto Rico. The broad subject of fundamental Latin American change was exquisitely addressed in this poster.

Grapus Apartheid/Racism, France, 1986 This poster addresses the idea that Apartheid is Racism and not a political philosophy which white South Africa tried to sell to the world.

Istvan Orosz Tovarishchi Adieu! (Comrades Bye-Bye!), Hungary, 1989 The image on this poster graphically articulates the designer’s joy when the Soviet Union withdrew its army from Soviet-occupied Hungary.

Paul Peter Piech Abolish Torture, United Kingdom, 1988 Copy on this lino-cut poster reads:“Open your newspaper any day of the week and you will find a report from somewhere in the world of someone being tortured or executed because his opinions or religion are unacceptable to his government.”—Peter Benenson. Copy on the sardine can reads: “Product of Latin—South and Central America.”

Seymour Chwast War is Madness, USA, 1986 This poster is one of a series created for the Shoshin Society, an organization in Washington, DC. Its mission was to promote design between Japan and the U.S.

Shigeo Fukuda Victory 1945, Japan, 1975 Poster commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Victory in 1945. The act of turning the shell back toward the gun barrel graphically implies the folly of war.

Tomi Ungerer Black Power, White Power, USA, 1967 This poster graphically humorously depicts the social tensions that existed in U.S. race relations during the late 1960s.

Vladimir Chaika Radioactive Mother of God, Russia, 1996 On April 26, 1986, a testing error caused an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station in northern Ukraine and 31 people died. A radioactive fire burned for 10 days expelling 190 tons of toxic materials into the atmosphere. The wind blew 70% of the radioactive material into the neighboring country of Belarus. Almost 20 years later, the people of Belarus continue to suffer medically, economically, environmentally and socially from the effects of the disaster. This poster was created to mark the 10th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster.

Yossi Lemel Israel Palestine 2002 Bloodbath, Israel, 2002 This poster was created out of a deep anger and frustration over the endless bloodshed between Israelis and Palestinians. In its symbolic context the image conveys the message that the blood is spilled into one bathtub, that in death there is no difference between Israelis and Palestinians, the suffering is equal on both sides.

Yusaku Kamekura Hiroshima Appeals, 1983 Japan This poster, the first in a series of annual Hiroshima Appeals posters (1983–1990), was created on behalf of the people of Hiroshima, Japan, to speak out against the threat of nuclear war and to promote global peace. Burning butterflies are a poignant metaphor for the horrors suffered in Hiroshima from the atomic blast on August 6, 1945.

A catalogue is available for purchase:
In the U.S. the catalogue is $27.00 plus $6.00 postage and handling.
Outside the U.S. the catalogue is $27.00 plus $10.00 postage and handling.
Money orders, bank cheques or cash in US dollars only.
Interested parties can contact Elizabeth Resnick at ElizRes@aol.com to order their copy.