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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/236127
- Title
- Ape Guevara: Greenpeace poster
- Author(s)
- Muratovski, Gjoko
- Abstract
- The 'Ape Guevara' poster---as it eventually became to be known---was developed as a visual that captures the spirit of Greenpeace. Since its conception, the image was used in a number of Greenpeace campaigns and in various applications, ranging from t-shirts and stickers, to banners. Its best-known use was on a poster for the global promotion of the Greenpeace Design Awards (2009)---a poster design competition that attracted the participation of over 1500 creatives from 77 countries. The image is a crossover between the iconic Che Guevara stencilled portrait based on Alberto Korda's photograph 'Guerrillero Heroico' [English: Heroic Guerrilla Fighter] (1960), and the face of Dr Cornelius---a rebellious chimpanzee scientist from the cult movie 'Planet of the Apes' (1968). The narratives behind these classic characters are essential to the message this poster tries to convey. The poster can be interpreted in two ways: as a warning that we are heading towards a dehumanised dystopian apocalypse, or as a vision of a utopian paradise worth fighting for. The interpretation is left to the viewer. This is a simple yet striking visual that tells a story without using any words. In doing so, the poster aims to achieve iconic values as defined in the history of graphic design and illustration.
- Publication type
- Design
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology. Faculty of Design
- Source
- Exhibited online at Galeria: Icograda's international design exhibit, 19 April 2012
- Publication year
- 2012
- FOR Code(s)
- 1203 Design Practice and Management
- Keyword(s)
- Campaign design; Design; Graphic design; Greenpeace; Greenpeace Design Awards 2009; Guerrillero Heroico (1960); Guevara, Ernesto Che (1928-1967); Planet of the Apes (1968); Posters; Symbolism; Visual communication
- Publisher
- Icograda
- Publisher URL
- http://www.icograda.org/feature/galleria/galleria488.htm
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2009 Gjoko Muratovski.
- Additional information
- This item is part of the Icograda permanent collection.
