Catalogue Number
NMLH.2021.151.3
Object Name
Poster
Title
Ken Sprague Print "But the money is so good."
People
Ken Sprague
Events
Porton Down experiments
Date
1969
Description
Large a2 silk screen-printed poster. White background, with black and brown illustrations. There is a figure on the left, with a gas mask underneath his neck so we can see his facial features. There is a black jug next to him. He is wearing gloves. This screen print is in black and white, apart from the brown rats, Above the man there are four boxes - the box above his head has a print of a brown rat, the box to his right, next to his shoulder also has a print of a brown rat inside. Underneath the man, there is a box with a brown rat inside. The reproduction of a 17th century image of a rat is used as a reminder of the plague. Rats were being used at Porton Down in the production of chemical and bacteriological weapons - Sprague commented that the use of rats was ironic due to them previously carrying the plague, and then being used for tests for chemical and nerve agent weapons. The text on the poster is on the bottom right, and says "But the money is so good." This is commenting on the workers / people who are tested on justifying their role in Porton down, stating that despite its issues/danger/cruelty, "the money is good." This could be making wider comments about military weaponry and capitalism, and the sacrifices humanity makes for money, power, and wealth. See NMLH.2022.151 for further descriptive context about Sprague and Porton Down.
