Air India / Immigrant Labour
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1976
This object is a political screenprint poster produced in black and white on paper. Designed by The Poster Collective, it was created in the United Kingdom around 1976. The poster measures 53.3 cm in height by 78.8 cm in width.
The layout juxtaposes two distinct black and white photographic scenes side by side, each accompanied by printed text below. On the left is an image depicting a smiling Asian flight attendant adorned in an ornate sari and jewellery aboard an aircraft. The text beneath reads: "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".
On the right side, a contrasting photograph depicts an immigrant cleaner in an airport lounge pushing cleaning supplies and a dustbin. The corresponding text beneath states: "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".
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
The subject of this poster addresses exploitative immigrant labour, asserting that society is complicit in appreciating exoticised representations of faraway places while disregarding labour injustices faced by immigrants originating from those regions.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- Screenprint
- Dimensions
- Height: 53.3 cm; Width: 78.8 cm
Technical characteristics
- Inscriptions
- Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Research required; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: 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; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required Date: Text: Research required; Latest: Research required; Earliest: Research required; Note: Research required; Type: Research required; Medium: Research required; Method: Research required; Script: Research required; Content: 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; Language: Research required; Position: Research required; Inscriber: Name: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Association: Id: Research required; Text: Research required; Description: Research required; Translation: Research required; Interpretation: Research required; Transliteration: Research required
- Maker recorded
- The Poster Collective
- Place recorded
- United Kingdom
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Air India / Immigrant Labour
- Museum object number
- E.667-2004
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.