November 17, 2009 - December 18, 2009
PRE-POSTMODERN SWISS POSTERS: From the Collection of Aaron Marcus

At the turn of the last century the poster rapidly became a vital force in the visual arts, as artists such as Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Jules Chereet, and Herni Van de Valde helped to establish it as an independent medium for visual communication through which the artist expressed aesthetic ideas through the shapes, colors, and composition of typographic as well through illustrative elements. The changing nature of communication within 20th century society demanded a simple, bold, and efficient medium that could be viewed and understood "on the fly."

Switzerland was one of several countries to be influenced by Bauhaus principles of visual composition propounded by constructivist artists such as El Lissitsky and Joseph Albers. They considered the artists as a designer from modern technological society, and offered radical ideas through new and dynamic typographic elements. With the success of the Bauhaus movement, the imagery of machined forms reduced to "functional" simplicity received a powerful international impetus. Although there was some work done during the Depression and World War II, it was only after the war that poster design activity increased. Bt the mid-1950s, strong, identifiable, groups of poster designers had emerged, producing works of striking boldness and geomometric simplicity.

Through examples of the "Swiss" approaches to posters-applying such principles of graphic design as Sans Serif type styles, simplified imagery, open space, and consistency of design-this exhibit focuses on the works of several artists/designers who have had considerable international influence on graphic design. They have been drawn from the private collection of noted designer Aaron Marcus, Fellow, AIGA; Member, CHI Academy and the ICOGRADA Graphic Design Hall of Fame; Editor-in-Chief, User Experience (UPA); and Editor, Information Design Journal. In conjunction with the opening of this exhibtion, Mr. Marcus will discuss the work included in this exhibition as well as its contexts and influences from 5 - 6 pm on November 17 in Art #133 in the School of Art and Design on the SJSU campus. The public reception for this exhibition will follow immediately in the Gallery.

Jo Farb Hernandez, Director
Natalie and James Thompson Art Gallery

For additional information concerning the gallery program and visiting artist lecture series, contact:

Jo Farb Hernandez, Director
Natalie and James Thompson Galleries
San Jose State University
School of Art and Design
ART 129a
San Jose, CA 95192-0089
telephone: (408) 924-4328
fax: (408) 924-4326