Catalogue Number
NMLH.2023.35
Object Name
Poster
Title
Serve the People
People
Mao Zedong
Date
1972-1982
Description
The Poster Collective was a collective formed in 1971 at the Slade School of Art,  a group formed to initially produce posters in response to the miners strike and on the wars in both Vietnam and Ireland. It was formed on the basis of developing a coherent visual style, which addressed the political issues of the time. This included the armed struggles against colonialism in Africa, the struggle of women for equal rights and the continuing struggle against racism. The collective was active in the 70's and 80's, producing posters on a wide range of issues, including for educational purposes. The group was not-for-profit and used a variety of hand-printing techniques to create their posters. This is a green poster with white text reading "SERVE THE PEOPLE" featuring images of Chinese land workers, hospital workers, and food workers. Smaller text underneath reads "MEDICINE: Comrade Bethune's spirit, his utter devotion to others without any thought of self, was shown in his great sense
of responsibility in his work and his great warm-heartedness towards all comrades and the people. Every Communist must learn from him. EDUCATION: In the countryside the schools must be managed by the poor and lower middle peasants... It is essential to shorten the of schooling, revolutionise education, and put proletarian politics in commdand. Students should be selected from workers and peasants with practical experience and they should return to production (in a factory or commune) after a few years study. CULTURE: All our literature and art are for the masses of the people. They are created for the workers peasants and soldiers and for their use. Our literature ad art workers must shift their stand and gradually move their feet over to the side of the proletariat." These are all various quotes from Mao Zedong on different topics.
