The Sleeping Giant: Posters & The Chinese Economy

February 27, 2020–February 14, 2021

The Sleeping Giant: Posters & The Chinese Economy explores China’s economic relationship with the world through poster design.

By the 20th century, Western powers had already forced their way into the Chinese market. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, foreign and local companies rapidly expanded their commercial activities in China and experimented with Western marketing ideas. The most popular posters, called yuefenpai (calendar posters), were a marketing sensation and became key publicity tools to promote everyday products including cigarettes, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

In 1949, with the establishment of the People’s Republic under Mao Zedong, public posters made a stark turn towards Socialist Realism. Later in the 1980s and 90s, Chinese graphic design embraced a more internationally modern look as globalism brought the far reaches of the world together.

This collection comes to Poster House through generous loans from Marc H. Choko, Merrill C. Berman, Oded Boldo, the Chisholm Larsson Gallery, Philip Williams, Battledore Limited, and others.

Press

“AlAwadhi and Zhu first had the idea for “Gay Agenda” while exploring the catalog for Poster House’s recent exhibit, The Sleeping Giant, which explores China’s economic history through poster design.”

— AIGA, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

“Step into the Poster House museum as it presents a discussion on its latest exhibition, “The Sleeping Giant,” which explores the Chinese economy over the decades through poster design.”

— THE NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

“The posters designed between the ’30s and ’70s are colourful propaganda campaigns that directly mimicked Soviet Realism.”

— HUCK, APRIL 2, 2020

“…these posters provide a visual history lesson in how China became the economic juggernaut it is today.”

— FAST COMPANY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020

“…a new exhibition featuring more than 50 posters from the 1920s to the early 2000s, covering a century of poster design – everything from products to political propaganda.”

— THE GUARDIAN, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

“One, The Sleeping Giant, explores how posters illustrated China’s economic development in the 20th century. The other, The Swiss Grid, delves into the ubiquitous Swiss design and typographic style, typically involving sans serif fonts and a geometric-yet-asymmetric page layout.”

— BEDFORD + BOWERY , FEBRUARY 25, 2020

“AlAwadhi and Zhu first had the idea for “Gay Agenda” while exploring the catalog for Poster House’s recent exhibit, The Sleeping Giant, which explores China’s economic history through poster design.”

— AIGA, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

“Step into the Poster House museum as it presents a discussion on its latest exhibition, “The Sleeping Giant,” which explores the Chinese economy over the decades through poster design.”

— THE NEW YORK TIMES, SEPTEMBER 26, 2020

“The posters designed between the ’30s and ’70s are colourful propaganda campaigns that directly mimicked Soviet Realism.”

— HUCK, APRIL 2, 2020

“…these posters provide a visual history lesson in how China became the economic juggernaut it is today.”

— FAST COMPANY, FEBRUARY 28, 2020

“…a new exhibition featuring more than 50 posters from the 1920s to the early 2000s, covering a century of poster design – everything from products to political propaganda.”

— THE GUARDIAN, FEBRUARY 26, 2020

“One, The Sleeping Giant, explores how posters illustrated China’s economic development in the 20th century. The other, The Swiss Grid, delves into the ubiquitous Swiss design and typographic style, typically involving sans serif fonts and a geometric-yet-asymmetric page layout.”

— BEDFORD + BOWERY , FEBRUARY 25, 2020

Selected Images

illustrational poster of a Chinese woman with short black hair wearing a luxurious yellow robe

Brunner Mond & Co. Ammonium Sulphate by Zhou Baisheng , 1930

illustrational poster of two young Asian women heavily accessorized holding school books

Crosfield’s Umbrella Soap by Zheng Mantuo, 1925

illustrational poster of a Chinese woman posing in luxurious clothing

The Rat Cigarettes by Xie Zhiguang, 1938

illustrational poster of four Chinese women standing outside in conversation

“Sisters” Meeting of all Regions for the National Heroes Conference by Li Mubai & Jin Xuechen, 1964

illustrational poster of various Chinese people of different occupations and professions standing together and look off into the distance. Pink and red flowers fill the spaces between them.

Cultural Revolution Glows by Yang Jiabao & Cai Sheng, 1972

illustrational poster of three Chinese people armed with different tools

Carry Out People’s War Against Lin Biao and Confucius by Zhang Ruji & Wang Jiao , 1974

graphic poster of a whistle turned over

Communication International Poster Exhibition by Chen Shaohua, 1996

illustrational poster of a suited person with flames in place of head

20th Century Chinese Design Exhibition/Past and Future by Zhang Qing, 1998