Propaganda posters collected by WB Sutch

MEDIA RELEASE
13 March 2007

Images that lead countries to the precipice of war

AUCKLAND MUSUEM presents
Towards the Precipice: Propaganda posters collected by WB Sutch

Opening at Auckland Museum on the 20 April 2007 Towards the Precipice shows a selection of Spanish, German, British and Soviet posters from 1935 to 1942. These images capture the tumultuous energy of countries that are on the precipice of war. The exhibition includes the personal papers of WB Sutch, along with books, pamphlets and photographs from the Turnbull Library collections.

William Ball Sutch grew up in New Zealand during the First World War and experienced the effect of privatisation on the country in the 1920’s. Sutton had an insatiable intellect which he used to closely study New Zealand’s history, social security and economic development. He expanded his outlook and scholarly achievements in 1932 when he travelled to New York while it was in the grips of the Great Depression. He continued his travels to Western and Central Europe and saw the poverty, growing tensions and the increasing rise of fascism. These experiences shaped Sutch’s psyche, his collection of the propaganda posters show the politics, conflicts and struggle of these countries.

The posters showcase the giddying manipulative voice of the government in a stunningly direct and simple way. Posters were used as propaganda tools as they were cheap and easy to produce and reached a wide spectrum of society in an immediate medium. The catchy slogans were created by committees and were normally created anonymously.

The posters worked as public artworks rather than fine art pieces with the sole purpose of driving the working masses into action. The stark and simple design is shown in the series of posters that proclaim “Keep it under your hat!” – “Careless talk costs lives”.

The extensive selection of posters on display in the Pictorial gallery at Auckland Museum is largely due to WB Sutch’s magpie collecting instincts. The posters carry powerful messages that act as a stark reminder of how propaganda can infiltrate the consciousness of a nation.
Towards the Precipice opens to the public from 20 April – 20 May 2007
Pictorial Gallery

Free Event

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www.aucklandmuseum.com

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