Zupagrafika’s latest publication is a selection of masterpieces of Polish poster art. Iconic film and theater posters from the ‘Polish School of Posters’ period were displayed in the streets of the former Polish People’s Republic on one of the most prominent tools of urban architecture: the poster column. Hence the title of this interactive art book. Let’s see!
“The poster carries risks, power, a message,”—this is how the ‘Polish School of Posters’ masters can be summarized, a group of masterful poster artists who worked between the 1950s and the late 1980s, and were known for their high-quality designs. At that time, Polish posters, especially film posters, were recognized as the best in the world. Compared to artists in the former socialist countries, the situation was easier for Polish artists, who were not subject to political and commercial pressure. Moreover, most commissions came from films, theaters, and exhibitions, which gave them the opportunity for creative freedom and the chance to develop a strong, unified, and identifiable style, thus creating the tradition of the Polish poster. The works, which were considered artistic products, not only served as visual promotion but also addressed social and existential issues. In doing so, they went beyond the boundaries of simple advertising, using their own intellectual humor to make viewers even more curious.
The publication SŁUP: The Polish Poster Column pays homage to this unique phenomenon: the Zupagrafika duo David Navarro and Martyna Sobecka have collected iconic film and theater posters. The publication features works by legendary designers such as Jan Lenica, Henryk Tomaszewski, Wojciech Fangor, Wiktor Górka, Jerzy Flisak, Maria ‘Mucha’ Ihnatowicz, Witold Janowski, and Jakub Erol. The SŁUP’s novelty is that you can hang ten works on your wall as detachable posters or even build your own poster column model to which you can stick mini-posters.
You can order the book here.
Photos: ©Zupagrafika