Pierre et Gilles Poster Book, poster print, 'Krootchey' (Portrait of Philippe Krootchey). Germany, published 1993.

One of six small glossy posters, printed on card, contained in a booklet with descriptive text for each poster and an artist's biography in English, French and German. This poster depicts the French DJ and musician, Krootchey.

NB: The term "negro" was used historically to describe people of black African heritage but, since the 1960s, has fallen from usage and, increasingly, is considered offensive. The term is repeated here in its original historical context.

Philippe Krootchey was an influential musician and DJ in 1970s and 80s France. In 1981 he formed the band 'Love International' with Philippe Chany and Fred Versailles, releasing the hit disco single 'Dance On The Groove (And Do The Funk)'. In 1984 Krootchey released his debut solo single 'Qu'est c'qu'il a (d'plus que moi ce négro là)' on disco label Casablanca Records. The French title translates roughly as 'What has this black man got that I do not have', using humour in the song to expose racism concerning white people being suspicious of instances where people of colour achieve prominent success. This poster is a subversion of a racist stereotype, commissioned by Krootchey to his friends, the artists Pierre et Gilles. It uses a French chocolate powder advertisement for 'Banania' as its inspiration. The trademark for this brand used a smiling black man wearing a fez as its advertising since 1915. It has become one of the most well-known examples of problematic colonial imagery in the realm of product advertising, a version of which remains on Banania packaging circa 2014. Alongside Krootchey's decolonisation activism, he was also a prominent member of the Revolutionary Homosexual Action Front (Front Homosexuel d'Action Révolutionnaire or FHAR), founded in Paris in 1971.

E.365:1-2006