GENERAL IDEA "AQUI" POSTER, 1985

General Idea was founded in 1967 in Toronto by AA Bronson (b. 1946), Felix Partz (1945-1994), and Jorge Zontal (1944-1994). Over the course of 25 years, they made a significant contribution to post-modern and conceptual art in Canada and beyond. With their subversive approach and interest in parody and appropriation, General Idea addressed a broad range of social and art-world issues including consumerism, media consumption, the cult of the artist, and AIDS. General Idea was both prolific and multi-disciplinary (way before it became de rigueur) creating works in a wide range of media including photography, sculpture, painting, mail art, video, performances, installations, and (perhaps most notably) artist multiples. This poster was made for AQUI! Magazine, a publication that released their issues in XL poster format mailed in a cardboard logo envelope. AQUI! ran for about 12 issues from 1984-1985, working with various artists including Barbara Kruger, Gilbert & George, Cliff Baldwin, among others. The posters were printed by Norman Lassiter, a master printmaker and one of Warhol's printers. Lassiter was an expert at creating large and technically challenging screenprints like this one. The magazine sought to create designs for all that could be viewed by all: pre-internet paper-based democratic art making. This General Idea poster was released for AQUI's 7th issue. The image comes from another GI work, "Ghent Flag," which they made in 1984 to coincide with an exhibition at the Museum Van Hedendaagse Kunst, Gent. The image represented their version of the city's flag, replacing the lion with a recurrent GI symbol: the poodle. Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto gallery. "Poodle: AQUI" Poster for AQUI Magazine Canada, 1985 Oversize-poster in paperboard envelope: screenprint From an edition of 250 Published by AQUI Magazine, Brooklyn Signed "AA Bronson for General Idea" 69"H 45"W (work, unfolded) 11"H 17"W (folded) Very good condition. With original paperboard mailer envelope.