An insight into East German graphic design.
Red Flags and Rainbows by Dr Jessica Jenkins, Senior Lecturer in Graphic Design, Falmouth School of Art. At Atelier, Lower Street, Stroud. Saturday 30th November 6pm.
In 1973, the World Festival Games, an international sporting and cultural event with a specifically socialist agenda, was held in East Berlin, just a year on from the Munich Olympics for which Otl Aicher had created a highly effective branding system. The Festival Games gave the GDR its chance to take centre stage in the cultural Cold War.
A committee of leading designers and artists were briefed to visually communicate the Leitmotif, “United with the youth of the world for anti-imperialist solidarity for peace and friendship.” The extensive brief gave a litany of political aims which the designers were charged with visualising.
Their designs were passed, and for the first time traditional Socialist iconography was abandoned in favour of an extensive graphic programme and system of urban decoration, which had more in common with hippy culture, peace and gay rights.
The designs and the event in East Berlin were a huge success, arguably reinforcing the establishment more than they challenged it.
Tickets: £6 from Atelier
Accompanying Exhibition : Posters from the DDR at Studio, a new occasional gallery at Melbourne House, Lower Street, Stroud GL5 2HT : Saturday and Sunday 11 am - 4 pm.
