Organization of Solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America
Posters of Solidarity: Cold War Narratives Revisited in Berlin
April 22nd, 2026
An exhibition dedicated to the visual and political legacy of the Organization of Solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America is currently on display, offering a rare insight into the intersection of art, ideology, and international solidarity during the Cold War. Running from April 15 to June 6, 2026, the exhibition has been developed by the Department of History at the University of Hamburg in collaboration with the Ibero-American Institute. Featuring posters and publications produced in post-revolutionary Cuba, the exhibition explores how visual culture was mobilized to communicate political narratives and foster transnational alliances across the Global South.
The displayed works date primarily from the 1960s and early 1970s, following the Cuban Revolution and the fall of Fulgencio Batista. Commissioned by OSPAAAL after its founding at the 1966 Tricontinental Conference in Havana, the posters were part of a broader effort to promote revolutionary solidarity among countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Distributed alongside publications such as the Tricontinental Bulletin and Tricontinental Magazine, these materials aimed to cultivate a shared political consciousness, often circulating discreetly across borders. The organization itself, supported by the Cuban Communist Party, functioned as a cultural and ideological node within a wider network of anti-colonial and socialist movements.
Artistically, the posters represent a departure from traditional socialist realism, incorporating elements of Pop Art, Op Art, Conceptual Art, and Minimalism. This fusion of avant-garde aesthetics with political messaging underscored the ambition to appeal to diverse international audiences while reinforcing narratives of revolutionary inevitability in the so-called “Third World.” The exhibition also draws on the extensive journal collections of the Ibero-American Institute and original prints from the Luigi Bardellotto Collection, providing a comprehensive overview of OSPAAAL’s cultural production and its enduring scholarly relevance. Although the organization ceased operations in 2019, its graphic legacy continues to attract global academic interest.
From a cultural diplomacy perspective, the exhibition highlights how visual media served as a strategic instrument for building ideological alliances during the Cold War. By revisiting these materials in a contemporary European context, the initiative fosters dialogue on historical narratives between the Global North and South, while also engaging with current debates on postcolonial memory and international cooperation. It reflects Germany’s broader commitment to supporting multilateral cultural research and underscores the role of academic institutions in facilitating cross-regional understanding and knowledge exchange.
In conclusion, the exhibition not only preserves a significant chapter of Cold War cultural history but also demonstrates the enduring power of art as a diplomatic tool. By situating OSPAAAL’s work within both historical and contemporary frameworks, it contributes to ongoing discussions about global solidarity, cultural identity, and the long-term implications of ideological exchange.
