Punk gave a visual (and offensively irreverent) face to the anti-establishment feelings of youth in the late 1970s, and the creative influence of its music, art, fashion and graphics has never really faded. Graphics from the on-going presence of the Anti Nazi League and other anti-fascist and anti-racist statements provide evidence of the challenges of a society rich in ethnic, religious and racial diversity.

The Miners’ Strike of 1984-5 and the Poll Tax rebellion of 1990, both during Margaret Thatcher’s premiership, remain two of Britain’s most shocking examples of civil unrest over the past two decades. Images of clashes between police and rioting crowds surfaced in the memorabilia, photos and posters of the time, particularly those produced by independent presses, and still haunt the mainstream media today. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, a plethora of individual artists, community workshops, and poster and postcard presses - including Leeds Postcards, Cath Tate Postcards, See Red Posters and others - all worked to give a voice to unrepresented groups, such as striking miners, feminists, immigrant communities, the elderly and the gay community.

Other projects involving health, safe sex, disability awareness, child abuse, drug awareness and so on are performing one of graphic design’s most difficult jobs: the task of challenging peoples’ everyday attitudes, thinking, habits or behaviour. All are tackled against the backdrop of the normal routines of daily life, or the secure comfort of home (however false that security or normality may be).

Nevertheless, some do the job with outright shock tactics. Cramer Saatchi’s "pregnant man" poster promoting contraception in 1969/70, now viewed as an iconic piece of design, was actually thought by many at the time to be much too shocking. Other examples shown here deliver their shock more subtly: with conversational remarks or images that challenge personal prejudices; or cartoons that show us a "Looney-Tune" fantasy of child-bashing that then converts to a harsh, hellish reality.

For further information please contact Alison Moloney.