Steven Heller Recalls Curating 1984 Exhibition on Graphic Satire and Wit
In a personal reflection, designer Steven Heller looks back at an exhibition he curated in the summer of 1984, which focused on satirical humor. This showcase included artists who tackled various social, political, cultural, and environmental themes through comic visuals. Guy Billout created the postcard illustration, which he considers one of his favorites. Although Heller no longer possesses the catalog, he remembers the subtitle's effectiveness. He contemplates the relevance of 1984, possibly referencing George Orwell. If he were to recreate the exhibition, he would name it "Graphic Tricksters." Heller also examines the nature of graphic wit, contrasting verbal and visual humor, and emphasizes the role of puns in graphic design, mentioning Edgar Allan Poe and The New York Times' restrictions on puns.
Key facts
- Steven Heller curated an exhibition in Summer 1984 on acerbic and satiric humor.
- The exhibition featured two generations of artists responding to social, political, cultural, and environmental issues.
- Guy Billout created the postcard illustration for the exhibition.
- Heller no longer has the four-page catalog or the list of images from the show.
- Heller would rename the exhibition "Graphic Tricksters" if he were to mount it again.
- The essay discusses the role of puns in graphic wit and design humor.
- Edgar Allan Poe is quoted: "The goodness of the true pun is in the direct ratio of its intolerability."
- The New York Times forbids puns in headlines unless the word substitution is inextricably linked to the story.
Entities
Artists
- Steven Heller
- Guy Billout
- George Orwell
- Edgar Allan Poe
Institutions
- PRINT Magazine
- The New York Times