Vietnam Propaganda Art Posters

16th – 21st February 2010

“The mid 1960s to mid 1990s were the golden age of Vietnamese propaganda posters, although continuing to this day. This period coincides with the American war, unification, and the introduction of doi moi, or economic liberalisation. These were decades of great economic hardship for the Vietnamese, and the rallying patriotism of these posters helped instil pride and achievement in the country’s citizenry. Although one could argue that Vietnam’s tradition of painting on silk were the first true propaganda posters, the onset of hand screen printing on paper brought the medium to a mass audience, both in the countryside and city. Graphically strong imagery are the hallmarks of this style, with influences from Eastern Europe (especially Poland) from the 1950s and 60s, to graphic aspects reminiscent Western Steamline Moderne and Deco. These posters date from the American War days up to the end of the 2oth century, and were sourced from country towns, primarily in Vietnam’s north. They are guaranteed original, and come framed and mounted with hand-made paper from Don Ho village, funded as a Unesco heritage project. The paper is painted white with a time-honored brush of ground oyster shell and sticky rice paste.”