The traditional yearly swiss poster exhibition in Willisau - this year on political posters - was
a big surprise. Niklaus Troxler, better know as graphic designer
or organizer of the Willisau Jazz
Festival than as exhibition curator, somehow managed to find so many graphically interesting political posters
from the time between the 1960's until today, that we may have to reconsider the bad esthetic reputation
that political posters usually have.
Below is a selection from the 50 posters in the exhibition. Keep in mind that the swiss political
system is characterized not only by elections from the local to the national level, but also
by frequent votes on all kinds of subjects, from an increase in taxes to the introduction of
daylight saving time.
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posters from the 1960's
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1983, Carla Agustoni, U. Snozzi
It's time for a change,
vote for PSA
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1983, Bettina Truninger
Even more roads? Vote NO to an increase in gasoline import duties
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198?, Polly Bertram, Daniel Volkart
PdA, party of workers and employees
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posters from the 1990's
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1998, Frederik Peeters
Vote YES to keep the Place neuve for the pedestrians
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Two posters from the 1990's by Roger Pfund
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1991, Pierre Neumann
700th anniversary of Switzerland, don't forget the refugees
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1993, Pierre Neumann
And if it would happen to you? Swiss charity for the refugees (OSAR)
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In 1996, Troxler made a personal political statement by publishing an unpayed,
uncomissioned poster on the heatedly debated question whether Switzerland should
join the European Union. Does he have second thoughts now ? His newest poster
shows powerful right-wing politician Christoph Blocher, an outspoken opponent
of a union, but the poster is sprayed over to make him look like a european saint.
Many political posters are defaced as soon as they are put up, or beautified,
Troxler comments, with a malicious smile.
1996, Niklaus Troxler
A visual call for Switzerland to join the European Union
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Niklaus Troxler
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2000, Niklaus Troxler
poster for this exhibition
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The exhibition in the Rathaus Willisau lasts from July 7 to July 16, 2000, and is open on Thursdays and Fridays
from 1800 to 2100, and on Saturday and Sundays from 1000 to 1200 and 1400 to 1700, or by appointement
through tel +41 - 970 2731.
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page last revised on July 10, 2000 / this section is part of Rene Wanner's Poster Page
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