Screenprints in context

Final Screenprints

The aim was to tie together my introduction, starting with See Red in the 1980's and how they stood up for women artists etc, then taking us to the essays conclusion that 'girl power' is still needed for ongoing women's issues. These themes depicted on the 3 posters are produced as they would have been by See Red using screenprinting,

Evaluation

The screen-prints created to accompany this essay are done in a way that reflect the same techniques, meaning and cause as See Red Women’s Workshop in the 1980’s. As a group, they created screen-prints using mainly illustrations of protest imagery of women in against oppressions they faced with issues such as pay gap and social expectations. I wanted to take this idea and join with all too familiar issues still being protested today by women, joining the two therefore joining with the conclusion that ‘girl power’ is still needed as there are still issues.

These screen-prints were self-printed, as they would have been by See Red. They are not meant to be perfect or corporate, and meant to be self-funded and self-designed which is a protest in itself- not needing corporations to back their cause, fighting their own. The imperfect screen-prints represent vast amount of production that would go towards creating posters and signs for a protest, which would need to get out the message as instantly as possible. This effect of the screen-printing and the illustration gives a more authentic, honest message which seers through within See Red’s well-respected posters.

The hand drawn/DIY aesthetic is impactful, immediate, and reactive. They are accessible due to the simple line drawing and use of two colours. Reds and pinks were mainly used in a form of ‘reclaiming pink’ and in a protest/see red danger impact.

The posters selected for design boards and blog are the most legible and clear out of vast experimentations of colour screen-prints- the titles are large to attract attention even in a crowd at a glance (for protest would be printed larger).  Alternatively, as well as these screen-prints I would have liked to print them larger for protest basis, in leaflet form for distribution in protest, and created singular signs. However, I was aware that the essay reference is to See Red’s style which was protest within a poster format rather than signs which I wanted to stick to. I also considered adding more coloured layers as See Red used, however feedback was given that they were impactful enough as they were, and more colour could distract from the message itself.

The titles/themes of each poster are all modern phrases and are recognized within protest communities and from social media trending and hashtags, giving them a modern edge and attraction.

The distribution of these screen-printed posters being in galleries and protests combine both inspirations for the making of them. They contain relevant political messages in an accessible way for a large audience, whilst also being illustrations for feminist style exhibitions.

Poster illustrations and final feedback crit

These are the 3 I will screenprint using bold colours as See Red did with theirs to dramatize the message. Pink will also be experimented with each poster to fit with a recent theme of 'reclaiming pink', proudly using the 'female' colour in defiance.

The illustrations are very imperfect and tactile which is true to see red's style of illustration, and will be recreated as they would have been in the past but with messages echoing of the past which are being fought against today.

The posters support my essay in conclusion that women's issues are still being fought the same as they were, despite small progress. These are in the spirit of female collectives/groups which have recently spiked and as concluded in the essay, using 'girl power' phrases/methods overall have a positive effect despite dispute between the underground and the mainstream marketed 'girl power'.

The posters will then be photographed in art spaces, photographed being distributed in a protest manner, perhaps can set up a staged protest.

had considered creating posters that can be used as signs within these themed protests, but wanted them to relate to see red women's workshop posters as this is the starting point of my essay, bringing modern and past together in this practical.