Finn Nygaard presented his poster to the staff at IMS. Photo: Rasmus Steen/IMS

Danish artist Finn Nygaard has captured the essence of IMS' work in a poster funded by the Danish Arts Council. The "Support free media" poster is available upon request in exchange for a donation to IMS' work supporting media affected by armed conflict, human insecurity and political transition

Up close, the Finn Nygaard poster  simply looks like odd geography:  Greenland cozies up to the west coast of Africa, Australia hangs delicately below Europe and Asia. However, as you step away, the striking image of banded eyes and mouth register and the juxtaposition of countries fades away. The new poster for International Media Support (IMS) embodies the phrase ’Support free media,’ the only text on the image and a summation of the non-profit organization’s work.

Executive director Jesper Højberg remarked that the poster ’captured the essence’ of IMS and illustrated the middle ground it occupies between the ’global community standards’ and the ’down and dirty work necessary to make a difference.’ He went on to commend Mr. Nygaard for highlighting the ’unique and specific mandate’ IMS and all media development organisations face to promote freedom of expression around the world.

Mr. Nygaard is well known in Denmark as a graphic artist with the unique skill of blending political commentary with arresting imagery. Funded by the Danish Arts Council, Mr. Nygaard exclusively chose IMS as his next partner for a poster project.  At an IMS staff meeting, the artist commented that ’everything you are doing is connecting with everything I am doing in my poster work.’ Mr. Nygaard began his collaboration with IMS by asking questions and investigating the values of the organization.  Once he commenced mapping out the structure of the poster, the text still posed a problem. Mr. Nygaard threw out many options such as ’freedom of expression’ before finally settling on ’support free media’ as the message.

The staff responded enthusiastically to presentation of the poster. Many interpreted the design in different ways but all agreed that it represented a ’beautiful way of free expression.’ In a scene reflecting the international reach of the organisation, project officers began claiming posters: ’I want to take one to Jordan! I want to take one to Ghana tomorrow!’ Schemes to snag a signed copy were also discussed in quiet corners around the room.

The IMS communications department plans to distribute the generously donated posters selectively.  The poster is available upon request to IMS. Please contact IMS at: LD[snabela]i-m-s.dk or by phone: +45 8832-7005.