Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case 3G, Shelf DR26

Air India / Immigrant Labour

Poster
ca. 1976 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The subject of this poster is exploitative immigrant labour. It charges that we are all complicit in appreciating the seemingly exotic splendour of faraway places while ignoring the commonplace labour injustices inflicted on immigrants from those same places.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAir India / Immigrant Labour (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Screenprint
Brief description
Anti-labour exploitation poster in black & white, Poster Collective, Tolmers Square, United Kingdom, ca. 1976
Physical description
Black and white photographic image of a glamourous, smiling Asian flight attendant dressed in an ornate sari and jewellery. This is paired with an image of an immigrant cleaner pushing a dustbin and cleaning supplies through an airport lounge. Text below.
Dimensions
  • Height: 53.3cm
  • Width: 78.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Rajput windows and the ethereal voice of the sitar./ Murals of the legends of Krishna and silks and brocades from Rajasthan./ A glimpse of India on your way to New York./ AIR-INDIA
  • Ash trays and the extensive dirty floors of the airport./ The arrivals and departure board of Heathrow and the overalls from Acme./ A glimpse of exploitation on your way to New York./ IMMIGRANT-LABOUR
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Places depicted
Summary
The subject of this poster is exploitative immigrant labour. It charges that we are all complicit in appreciating the seemingly exotic splendour of faraway places while ignoring the commonplace labour injustices inflicted on immigrants from those same places.
Other number
LS.1362 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.667-2004

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Record createdSeptember 29, 2004
Record URL
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