Colonialism poster
Typography, poster design
A poster on colonialism that was selected for Central Saint Martins' exhibition, 'Rooted not Rendered', for South Asian Heritage Month.
This poster is a critique on how South Asian culture is being turned into a trend. The text expresses a personal frustration of seeing traditional desi culture suddenly seen as “cool”, once separated from cultural origin.
Using a visual style pulled from today's internet culture of "brat", the piece reflects how patterns of rediscovery happen online, where culture is reframed & aestheticised. The conversational tone rejects the expectation to be grateful for this kind of recognition.
By working within a trend-based format on "brat", I’m also questioning my own position as a designer. The piece asks who gets to define what's "cool", and why South Asian culture is so often rendered as aesthetic before being understood as lived experience.
Instead of presenting culture as purely decorative or palatable for the eye, the work holds onto the discomfort of cultural appropriation.
colonialism and it's completely different but also still colonialism A2 poster
