Visual Art and Propaganda Ecologies in the Basque Country: A Sample of Guernica Motifs from the Benedictine Sticker Archives (1978–1989)

The Benedictine Archives at Lazkao contain a multitude of propaganda stickers and related visual media that provide snapshot the Basque region’s artful political culture in 1970s 1980s. Some most compelling examples include several items remix Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, referencing famous antiwar painting to become form mass-circulated pastiche. This move was somewhat unusual amid strong nationalist bent public discourse art Country during this period. Almost entirely unknown outside region, these materials capture performance decade-long period between instauration Spanish democracy (1978) fall Berlin Wall (1989), when separatist sentiment reached peak Country. platform, rendered small, focused format stickers, constitutes useful index rhetorical currents within Spain, as well an interesting analogue prototype what we might call, twenty-first century, meme culture. Circulated bars other places across frequently worn upon clothing, demonstrate principle described by Jonathan Auerbach Russ Castronovo, whereby participants movements mass persuasion actively partake dissemination consumption propaganda. normally refer very concrete events (for instance, one-day celebration, protest for situation, etc.). When organized on topics themes, they create nonlinear account post-Franco history, providing narratives invite performative acts from audience. documents significance vast collection future scholars, analyzing, detail, four employ Guernica their design. It also considers representative collections play forms, pop culture, attempt influence opinion, politics, consumption.