Images: 1968 – Day of Solidarity with the
Afro-American People – Daysi Garcia; 1968 – Day of solidarity with the people
of Palestine – Faustino Perez; 1968 – day of the Heroic Guerilla – Helena Serrano; 1969 – Day of Solidarity
with the people of Laos – Rafael Zarsa
Afro-American People – Daysi Garcia; 1968 – Day of solidarity with the people
of Palestine – Faustino Perez; 1968 – day of the Heroic Guerilla – Helena Serrano; 1969 – Day of Solidarity
with the people of Laos – Rafael Zarsa
“The art of the Revolution
will be internationalist, at the same time as it will be tightly bound to the
national roots. We shall encourage the legitimate and combative cultural
expressions of Latin America, Asia, and Africa, which imperialism tries to
destroy. “
will be internationalist, at the same time as it will be tightly bound to the
national roots. We shall encourage the legitimate and combative cultural
expressions of Latin America, Asia, and Africa, which imperialism tries to
destroy. “
From the mission statement of the Congress on Education and Culture
in Cuba
in Cuba
To most
people, Cuba is famous for cigars, rum, salsa and baseball; however, perhaps
lesser known is the unique propaganda art that flourished there thanks to the
Cuban revolution and Fidel Castro. Now The Glasgow School of Art is to show
around 70 posters created by the Organisation
in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL)
in Posters
of the Cuban Revolution. The exhibition opens to the public in the Reid
Building on Saturday 20 September and runs until 31 October. An associated talk
will be given by Catherine Flood, Curator of Prints and Posters at the V&A
on Friday 31 October at 11am.
people, Cuba is famous for cigars, rum, salsa and baseball; however, perhaps
lesser known is the unique propaganda art that flourished there thanks to the
Cuban revolution and Fidel Castro. Now The Glasgow School of Art is to show
around 70 posters created by the Organisation
in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL)
in Posters
of the Cuban Revolution. The exhibition opens to the public in the Reid
Building on Saturday 20 September and runs until 31 October. An associated talk
will be given by Catherine Flood, Curator of Prints and Posters at the V&A
on Friday 31 October at 11am.
The
posters are taken from an extensive collection built up by Michael Tyler over
the last few years. During this time he has become increasingly interested in
the people and conflicts that they depict.
posters are taken from an extensive collection built up by Michael Tyler over
the last few years. During this time he has become increasingly interested in
the people and conflicts that they depict.
“ Having grown up in the peaceful seclusion of suburban Sydney, I was
(and remain) blissfully ambivalent about politics, and, other than reading The Motorcycle Diaries, knew
practically nothing about Cuba.
(and remain) blissfully ambivalent about politics, and, other than reading The Motorcycle Diaries, knew
practically nothing about Cuba.
“I began my adventure into largely unknown territory, journeying into
the dark heart of the Cold War era, with its revolutions, coups, dictators,
proxy wars, paranoia and the struggles for independence from imperialism and
colonial rule; dirty, nasty business that, were it not for these posters, I
would most likely never have known about – and yet they have given me an
insight into many of the conflicts that continue to plague regions of the world
today.”
the dark heart of the Cold War era, with its revolutions, coups, dictators,
proxy wars, paranoia and the struggles for independence from imperialism and
colonial rule; dirty, nasty business that, were it not for these posters, I
would most likely never have known about – and yet they have given me an
insight into many of the conflicts that continue to plague regions of the world
today.”
Bold,
colourful and eclectic, OSPAAAL posters are widely considered the front‐runners in propaganda art. They reveal the idealistic spirit at the
core of the Cuban revolution, intent on fighting globalisation, imperialism and
defending human rights.
colourful and eclectic, OSPAAAL posters are widely considered the front‐runners in propaganda art. They reveal the idealistic spirit at the
core of the Cuban revolution, intent on fighting globalisation, imperialism and
defending human rights.
Politics
aside, they are a testament to the creativity of the Cuban people, an important
legacy that has put Cuba at the centre of cultural activity in the Hispanic
world for a generation.
aside, they are a testament to the creativity of the Cuban people, an important
legacy that has put Cuba at the centre of cultural activity in the Hispanic
world for a generation.
CUBA – OSPAAAL
In
January 1959, at the height of the Cold War, the US-backed dictatorship of
Fulgencio Batista was overthrown by a guerrilla army led by 32 year-old law
graduate, Fidel Castro. It would prove to be a watershed event that brought
unprecedented attention to the Caribbean, the US and Soviet Union to the brink
of nuclear war, and provide inspiration for generations of revolutionaries
throughout the developing world.
January 1959, at the height of the Cold War, the US-backed dictatorship of
Fulgencio Batista was overthrown by a guerrilla army led by 32 year-old law
graduate, Fidel Castro. It would prove to be a watershed event that brought
unprecedented attention to the Caribbean, the US and Soviet Union to the brink
of nuclear war, and provide inspiration for generations of revolutionaries
throughout the developing world.
As a
lone communist outpost, only 200 miles from the US mainland, Cuba became a key
source of Cold War propaganda – most notably the state sponsored poster art
that flourished as some of the country’s most talented artists and graphic
designers embraced Castro’s enlightened declaration: “Our enemies are capitalists and imperialists, not abstract art.”
lone communist outpost, only 200 miles from the US mainland, Cuba became a key
source of Cold War propaganda – most notably the state sponsored poster art
that flourished as some of the country’s most talented artists and graphic
designers embraced Castro’s enlightened declaration: “Our enemies are capitalists and imperialists, not abstract art.”
In
contrast to the Socialist realism of Soviet and Chinese propaganda, Castro
determined the style of the revolution would be internationalist, yet steeped
in Cuba’s diverse cultural, ethnic and artistic heritage. This melting pot of
influences, combined with a characteristic wit and exuberance, resulted in a
vibrant and highly original Cuban aesthetic.
contrast to the Socialist realism of Soviet and Chinese propaganda, Castro
determined the style of the revolution would be internationalist, yet steeped
in Cuba’s diverse cultural, ethnic and artistic heritage. This melting pot of
influences, combined with a characteristic wit and exuberance, resulted in a
vibrant and highly original Cuban aesthetic.
Amongst
several agencies established to promote education, industry, sport and the
arts, the Organisation in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin
America (OSPAAAL) reflected the moral, material and military assistance Cuba
provided throughout the developing world. The organisation’s quarterly
publication Tricontinental, which at its peak was distributed in four languages
to 87 countries, served as a noticeboard, guide book and lifestyle magazine for
various liberation movements seeking to emulate Castro’s popular revolution.
several agencies established to promote education, industry, sport and the
arts, the Organisation in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin
America (OSPAAAL) reflected the moral, material and military assistance Cuba
provided throughout the developing world. The organisation’s quarterly
publication Tricontinental, which at its peak was distributed in four languages
to 87 countries, served as a noticeboard, guide book and lifestyle magazine for
various liberation movements seeking to emulate Castro’s popular revolution.
Our cultural institutions shall be vehicles of the true artists of
these continents, of the neglected, of the persecuted, of those who do not
allow themselves to be domesticated by cultural colonialism and who fight
together with their people in the struggle against imperialism.”
these continents, of the neglected, of the persecuted, of those who do not
allow themselves to be domesticated by cultural colonialism and who fight
together with their people in the struggle against imperialism.”
From the mission statement of the Congress on Education and Culture
in Cuba
in Cuba
Many
issues included a folded poster pledging solidarity for what would become the
most significant events and conflicts of the Cold War era. OSPAAAL posters in
particular reveal the idealistic spirit at the core of the Cuban revolution,
which was intent on fighting globalisation, imperialism and defending human
rights.
issues included a folded poster pledging solidarity for what would become the
most significant events and conflicts of the Cold War era. OSPAAAL posters in
particular reveal the idealistic spirit at the core of the Cuban revolution,
which was intent on fighting globalisation, imperialism and defending human
rights.
Further information
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474
Listings
20
September – 31 October 2014
September – 31 October 2014
Reid Building, The Glasgow School of Art, 164
Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6RF
Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6RF
Open
Daily 11am – 5pm
Daily 11am – 5pm
Posters of the Cuban Revolution
An
exhibition brings together examples of Cuba state-sponsored propaganda poster
art which flourished during the Cold War era, following the Cuban Revolution.
The posters, commissioned by the Organisation in Solidarity with the People of
Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAL) illustrate the aesthetic that the
country’s artists and graphic designers developed, revealing the idealistic
spirit at the core of the Cuban revolution, which was intent on fighting globalization,
imperialism and defending human rights.
exhibition brings together examples of Cuba state-sponsored propaganda poster
art which flourished during the Cold War era, following the Cuban Revolution.
The posters, commissioned by the Organisation in Solidarity with the People of
Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAL) illustrate the aesthetic that the
country’s artists and graphic designers developed, revealing the idealistic
spirit at the core of the Cuban revolution, which was intent on fighting globalization,
imperialism and defending human rights.
Events
Thurs 30 October 1pm, Reid Building Ground Floor
Corridor
Corridor
Michael Tyler will provide insight into the method of
building up his private collection of the posters created by the
Organisation in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin America
(OSPAAAL) of which 70 are being shown in Posters of the Cuban Revolution. http://www.gsa.ac.uk/life/gsa-events/events/p/posters-of-the-cuban-revolution
building up his private collection of the posters created by the
Organisation in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin America
(OSPAAAL) of which 70 are being shown in Posters of the Cuban Revolution. http://www.gsa.ac.uk/life/gsa-events/events/p/posters-of-the-cuban-revolution
Fri 31 October 11am Friday event, Reid Auditorium, The
Glasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art
Catherine Flood, curator at V&A, London (prints, posters and
graphics) will discuss art, design and activism, through a focus
on ‘Posters of the Cuban Revolution’ at GSA and the current V&A
exhibition that she co-curated, ‘Disobedient Objects’. http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/disobedient-objects/disobedient-objects-about-the-exhibition
graphics) will discuss art, design and activism, through a focus
on ‘Posters of the Cuban Revolution’ at GSA and the current V&A
exhibition that she co-curated, ‘Disobedient Objects’. http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/exhibitions/disobedient-objects/disobedient-objects-about-the-exhibition