Catalogue Number
NMLH.2025.37.86
Object Name
Poster
Title
paddington printshop presents the sum of our parts
Place
Paddington Printshop, London
People
John Phillips (designer); Paddington Printshop
Date
1985
Description
Screenprinted poster, "paddington printshop presents the sum of our parts" in white and yellow headers. Below is a blurred photograph of a close-up person's face in a circle, which repeats in black for the background. Below is small white text block, "For all the economic analyses we are left with the soldier; someone's son, friend, lover and enemy...The Sum of Our Parts is a tape-slide programme about images, and about men and war. This show explores the nature and structure of advertising by the armaments industry. It explores the connection between the political economy of war and the sexuality of the soldier by examining images produced in the marketing of military equipment."
This poster was made by Paddington Printshop, a community graphic design and print workshop in West London, co-founded by John Phillips and Pippa Smith. Between 1975-1991, the centre printed over 400 designs for left-wing community organisations. These publicised local political campaigns such as housing rights and food co-ops, to social gatherings including play days, gardening clubs, gigs and festivals. Their do-it-yourself style was part of the proto-punk ethos.
Multimedia
