{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O301425"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O301425/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE4608/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2014HE4608/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2014HE4608","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2014HE4593","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O301425","accessionNumber":"T.628-1997","objectType":"T-shirt","titles":[{"title":"Atomic Scream","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"One of the most famous paintings in the world is Edvard Munch's \"The Scream\" which has been reworked and parodied many times over. This shirt is printed with Winston Smith's 1980 version titled \"Atomic Scream.\" In it, Smith shows the screaming figure reacting to an atomic explosion and mushroom cloud in the background. This design was used as artwork for the back cover of the Punk Rock band Dead Kennedys's album \"Kill The Poor,\" and is based on an earlier version of \"Atomic Scream\" from 1977 where Smith drew a gas mask on the screaming figure.\n\nWinston Smith (b. 1952) is an American illustrator and collage artist who describes himself as a Punk Surrealist. He created artwork and logo designs for the Dead Kennedys. His work often addresses current controversies and incorporates social commentary, such as the fear of nuclear war in \"Atomic Scream.\" This shirt was most likely created as Dead Kennedys merchandise. It was part of a large collection of T-shirts collected by Richard L. Velleman, including many band shirts from his favourite rock and punk groups alongside shirts with skateboarding, surfing, partying and LGBTQ+ themes as well as random amusing or funny shirts.\n\nWe do not know who Richard Velleman was or anything about him beyond that he collected and wore these shirts, many of which show clear signs of having formed part of an actively and enthusiastically worn wardrobe; and that the collection of shirts was donated to us in his memory after he died in 1994 or 1995. The choice of T-shirts is often deeply personal and subject to the wearer's individual taste, acting as a wearable billboard for their beliefs, tastes and other opinions.","physicalDescription":"White cotton T-shirt printed with a parody of Edvard Munch's 'The Scream', with a mushroom cloud in the background.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Winston Smith","id":"AUTH407870"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Teximp","id":"AUTH407872"},"association":{"text":"manufacturers","id":"AAT25230"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Dead Kennedys","id":"AUTH323817"},"association":{"text":"designed for","id":"x41471"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"cotton","id":"AAT14067"}],"techniques":[{"text":"printing","id":"AAT53319"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed cotton","categories":[{"text":"Clothing","id":"THES48975"},{"text":"Textiles","id":"THES48885"},{"text":"Fashion","id":"THES48957"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"T&F","id":"THES48601"},"images":["2014HE4608","2014HE4593"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"005","id":"THES309403"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"T-shirt","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"United States","id":"x29333"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1980","earliest":"1980-01-01","latest":"1980-12-31"},"association":{"text":"drawn","id":"x30545"},"note":""},{"date":{"text":"1980s","earliest":"1980-01-01","latest":"1989-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Donated by Andrew Shanahan in memory of Richard L. Velleman","dimensions":[],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"The artwork on this shirt, which reinterprets Edvard Munch's famous painting \"The Scream\" to show the screaming figure reacting to an atomic explosion and mushroom cloud in the background, was created in 1980 for the Dead Kennedys album \"Kill The Poor\", where it was reproduced on the back cover. Winston Smith had created an earlier version of \"Atomic Scream\" in 1977 which shows the screaming figure wearing a gas-mas. The 1980 image is a mirror image redrawing of the 1977 image.\n\nWinston Smith describes himsef as a Punk Surrealist, and is known for his montages, illustration work for magazines such as <i>The New Yorker</i>, <i>Playboy</i> and <i>Spin</i>; and particularly his artwork and logo designs for the Punk Rock group the Dead Kennedys. He often incorporates social commentary and current controversies into his work. In this image, Munch's screaming figure is shown to be reacting to current and ongoing fears of nuclear war. This shirt was probably created in the early 1980s as Dead Kennedys merchandise.\n\nDaniel Milford-Cottam, 17/04/2025","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Printed cotton T-shirt, United States, 1980s. Printed with 'Atomic Scream' (1980) by Winston Smith, USA, created in 1980 for the back cover of the Dead Kennedys's \"Kill The Poor\" 7\" album (1980)","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"atomic explosion","id":"x39415"},{"text":"nuclear explosion","id":"x36102"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["T.628-1997"],"accessionNumberNum":"628","accessionNumberPrefix":"T","accessionYear":1997,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2024NR8836"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-13","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}