UN Posters Send a Message for a Better World

‘JJ’ Jeremy Johanson

United Nations for a Better World, 1986, by Ricardo Ernesto Jaime De Freitas (Panama), art direction by United Nations Department of Public Information. The poster, which represents the planet protected from an onslaught of war bombs by the Dove of Peace, won first prize in a competition held in preparation for the 40th Anniversary of the United Nations.

The voice of the United Nations is becoming louder in a world that, more than ever, needs to stand up and listen to its message. What better way than through an international exhibition of ‘collectors’ item’ posters that are making their way around the world. Approximately 100 posters, by some of the world’s most renowned artists, give an artistic overview of the most important undertakings of the United Nations, in areas like peacekeeping, development, the environment, human rights, disarmament and the fight against hunger, poverty & illiteracy.

Posters are a powerful art form that, even in our computerised days shaped by the internet, continue to remain an important communication tool in the battle against ignorance.

All the posters were produced at United Nations Headquarters in New York and at more than 15 agencies of the United Nations System. They were created by artists and graphic designers in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia, and include each of the United Nations’ six official languages. The earliest posters are black and white photographs of the winners of international poster competitions held in 1947 and 1948.

The exhibition is not only of historical interest. It documents visually the concerns and priorities of the international community during the last century, but also has intrinsic artistic value. Many famous names are associated with the United Nations family’s poster campaign, which has proved to be one of its most effective tools in publicising universal aims and ideals.

A Picasso dove, for example, graces the very first United Nations poster of 1946. In 1978, Joan Miró applied his talents to the commemoration by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Several of Robert Rauschenberg’s works are displayed, as are the distinctive expressions of New York graffiti artist Keith Haring. Other names include Jean Michel Folon and photographer Sebastiao Salgado.

The United Nations has more than 15 agencies working towards the development of a better world, in many different fields. Posters like these help us to be aware of the world around us, and the work that many unsung heroes are doing daily. Either familiar names like UNICEF, in helping children and their rights, or the International Court of Justice, the World Bank, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, The International Labour Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the Food and Agriculture Organisation. Not to mention the many offices undertaking noble efforts in the fields of civil aviation, drug control and meteorology. There is even a United Nations University!

The poster exhibition made its debut at United Nations Headquarters in New York in December 2000. Since then it has travelled to Paris, Geneva, Berlin, Warsaw, Oslo, Tokyo, Osaka and Nagasaki. After its stay in Bangkok, the Exhibition will travel to Yangon and then on to San Francisco where the United Nations Charter was signed some 55 years ago.

Dawning with the Millennium, 2000, painting by Spanish artist Cristóbal Gabarrón, design by Rocco Callari, United Nations Department of Public Information. Official poster for United Nations General Assembly Millennium Summit, September 2000.

Green Way, from Space to Live series, 1991, art by Jean-Michel Folon, adapted by James Eschinger, United Nations Department of Public Information.

Safer Cities, design by M. Quiroga (Dominican Republic), based on the painting Temura by Ecuadorian artist Osvaldo Guayasamin, for World Habitat Day, 5 October 1998 (United Nations Centre for Human Settlements poster).

Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1978, art by Joan Miró (UNESCO poster).

Last Turn-Your Turn, by Robert Rauschenberg, for Earth Summit, Conference on Environment and Development, 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Freedom to Choose, 1994, illustration by Owen Smith, design by Jan Arnesen, United Nations Department of Public Information. Poster graphically depicts the United Nations Trusteeship Council goal to speed decolonization.

Communication (Spanish version), 1986, by Carzou (UNESCO poster).

Women, 1994, illustration by Coco Masuda, design by Jan Arnesen, United Nations Department of Public Information. Poster for Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995.