Towards the Precipice

14 October 2014

Towards the Precipice
Propaganda posters collected by W B Sutch
Taupo Museum - Main Gallery
18 October - 1 December 2014

Explore the world of propaganda through a collection of posters produced around World War II. The exhibition, Towards the Precipice, features Spanish, German, British and Soviet posters dating from 1935 to 1942.

The posters were collected by the late Dr William Ball Sutch, who held a variety of New Zealand government and diplomatic positions and travelled to Europe as the events depicted in the posters were unfolding.

Taupo Museum exhibitions officer Kerence Stephen said the posters presented views in a simple yet manipulative way. It's fascinating to view these posters and compare them to the way media influences public opinion in the current day and age, she said.

Taupo Museum was keen to have the exhibition in the lead up to the commemoration of World War I. It will run alongside a local World War I exhibition, The Homefront. The exhibition was developed by the National Library Gallery in Wellington and was toured around New Zealand galleries from 2004-2007.

The use of posters as propaganda tools came of age during World War I. Their aim was two-fold: in Britain, to encourage male recruitment, and in all major participating countries, to inspire home front support for the war. Posters were cheap to produce, easy to distribute, and could immediately respond to wartime events. They were used by governments of the 1930s and 1940s.

The exhibition runs from October 18 to December 1 at Taupo Museum. The museum is open seven days from 10am to 4.30pm. Entry is free to children and Taupo District residents with proof of address.

For further information contact:

Kerence Stephen

Exhibitions Officer Taupo Museum

Ph 376 1583

kstephen@taupo.govt.nz

www.taupo.govt.nz