Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Museum

October 12, 2012

Two days ago I visited the Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Center, a government sanctioned museum that displays a private collection of 5000 pieces of propaganda art.  In 1979 propaganda art was officially banned and many originals were destroyed/sent to paper recycling.  These pieces, created between 1949-1979, survived and are now displayed in an unmarked, three-room gallery located in the basement of an apartment building.  I enjoyed viewing the posters, some are quite beautiful. And I couldn't help but reflect on how each poster is both a work of art and an interesting insight into the events of this controversial time period.

"We must liberate Taiwan."

Images of Marx, Lenin and Mao.

Lots and lots of anti-US/ British propaganda

Crushing a ghoul-like US G.I.

I couldn't take many pictures, they were technically forbidden.  (My blog is turning me into a deviant!) But there was another room that included original Shanghai Lady posters, created during the 1930s which were lovely.  There was also a gift shop where they sold both copies and original posters for shockingly low prices.  They must be cheap because there is little market for such posters.  Forward thinking China would rather not dwell on the events that these posters represent and foreigners, the major clientele of the museum, are unlikely to purchase these items.