We’ve long been fascinated by zine art — it’s a breeding ground for some revolutionary ideas and techniques, and also one of the last bastions of genuine underground-ness in our increasingly homogenized culture. So we’re definitely excited about In All Our Decadence People Die , a new exhibition in NYC that showcases anarchist zine art from the late ’70s and early ’80s. The exhibition draws on an archive stored at Dial House, a 16th-century cottage in England that’s been home to an anarchist creative arts center since 1967. The archive was maintained by artist Gee Vaucher, who was closely associated with the Dial House collective and the punk band Crass. The exhibition encompasses both Vaucher’s own work and that of like-minded contemporaries — it’s fascinating to see how some of the techniques and ideas pioneered by anarchist zinesters (particularly stencilling) have since crossed over into the mainstream. We’ve collected some of our favorites after the jump.
Unknown artist, No Order. 1980s. Originally spray-painted stencil on computer paper.
Gee Vaucher, original art for cover image to International Anthem #2. Circa 1979. Collage.
Unknown artist, Margarine the Leaderine. Circa 1980-1986. Poster, 42 cm x 30 cm.
Class War nn. [#18?]. London, UK, circa 1985. Offset-printed periodical, unbound.
All the Poets #1. Mark Schlömburg, John Tottenham, and Billy Carless, eds. London, UK, Sept 1979. Offset-printed fanzine, side-stapled.
Anarchy #34. London, UK, circa 1982. Offset-printed periodical, saddle stapled.
Anarcho/Nihilist. Mr. Tree, ed. [London, UK?], circa 1983. Photocopied fanzine with spray-painted stencilling, side-stapled.
Unknown artist, Hello Hero, 1980. Originally spray-painted stencil on computer paper.
Slug #4. Sydney, Australia, circa 1979-1980. Photocopied fanzine with screen-printed cover, saddle stapled.
UK Anarchists, Who the Fuck Says the Police Have the Right… [Livingston, UK?], circa 1980s. Photocopied handbill.
In All Our Decadence People Die opens at Boo-Hooray Gallery, 265 Canal St #601, New York on September 30, and is on daily from 11am-6pm until October 20. The opening is at from 6pm-9m on September 30, and there’s a talk and film screening on October 1 from 4pm.