{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O102212"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102212/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU0784/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU0784/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BU0784","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O102212","accessionNumber":"E.796-2004","objectType":"Poster","titles":[{"title":"AFRICA","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"The work of women graphic designers is not often represented in Cuban poster art. Gladis Acosta is among the notable exceptions. Here Acosta uses the stylistic device of turning the lettering of 'Africa' into a spear. Many Cuban graphic designers incorporated the motif of weapons to symbolise the violent result of political abuse. Even the type of weapon portrayed a political significance; spears, bayonets, arrows and other 'crude' weaponry were typically associated with native revolutionaries while 'sophisticated' missiles and aircraft were used to represent imperialist forces. Barbed wire was also repeatedly used in African solidarity posters as a symbol of stringent oppression, a barrier to be overcome. Within the OSPAAAL solidarity series, spears are also the primary feature in graphics for South Africa, Zimbabwe and Vietnam.","physicalDescription":"Letters spelling out 'Africa' in the shape of a spear, breaking through five layers of barbed wire","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Acosta, Gladis","id":"A13224"},"association":{"text":"designer","id":"x36960"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"OSPAAAL (the Organization in Solidarity with the People of Africa, Asia and Latin America)","id":"A13223"},"association":{"text":"publishers","id":"AAT25574"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper","id":"x30308"},{"text":"ink","id":"AAT15012"}],"techniques":[{"text":"offset lithography","id":"AAT192900"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Offset lithography on newsprint","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Black History","id":"THES48989"},{"text":"Posters","id":"THES252963"},{"text":"Caribbean","id":"THES286921"},{"text":"Global Africa","id":"THES413895"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2008BU0784"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES413518"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"poster","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Cuba","id":"x30039"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1970","earliest":"1970-01-01","latest":"1970-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"52.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"33","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"AFRICA","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"black on white, spear shaped"}],"objectHistory":"The V&A holds a significant group of approximately 200 OSPAAAL posters. This includes over 50 OSPAAAL Global Africa posters (The term Global Africa refers to Africa and its global diasporas). ","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"'Africa' with barbed wire, OSPAAAL solidarity poster, Cuba, 1970","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Designer's name sometimes spelled 'Gladys'\n\nAttribution note: folded in four, insert from Tricontinental magazine","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[{"text":"Africa","id":"x29327"},{"text":"Cuba","id":"x30039"}],"associatedPlaces":[{"text":"Cuba","id":"x30039"},{"text":"Africa","id":"x29327"}],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"spear","id":"AAT37038"},{"text":"barbed wire","id":"AAT11064"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"solidarity","id":"x38330"},{"text":"propaganda","id":"AAT55539"},{"text":"politics","id":"AAT55537"},{"text":"imperialism","id":"x38337"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.796-2004"],"accessionNumberNum":"796","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2004,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Leslie Schreyer Loan Number","id":"THES50220"},"number":"LS.1425"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2004-08-05","availableToBook":false}}