An Archive of Propaganda from a Mad People’s Uprising

Lilith (Lea) Cooper

Lilith (Lea) Cooper is an artist, zine librarian and researcher based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They produce multimedia zines, prints, comics, writing, events and workshops.

They set out to create an imagined fictional archive of downloadable posters from The Mad People’s Uprising of 2033, asking what a Mad revolution might look like, creating a space to imagine beyond the present day, and locating today’s Mad, survivor and mental health activism in a longer genealogy.

These posters were created for the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2023, on the theme of ‘Revolution’.
I wanted to imagine an archive of future propaganda, and in creating a fictional future archive I wanted to create a space for imagining, a space to ask: What do we want? What would a Mad revolution be fighting for? What would it look like?
This is what I wanted, but the present kept creeping in. There’s something important in how this future imagining was frustrated. I don’t know if I set myself an impossible ask – I wanted something different but this is what I’ve got.

These posters are designed to be shared and printed. Each poster is available to print in A4 black and white low ink, A4 black and white, A4 colour and A3 RISO colour separated formats.

Click on the images below to view each poster in more detail, read about what inspired them, and download the files to print your own.

You can also read more about the project in the accompanying zine.

Download the zine

Poster Gallery

‘Revolution’ Commissions

‘Revolution’ is the theme for the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival 2023. We have commissioned five artists to create new work to address this theme – and posed a challenge to established ways of thinking.

Jamie Bolland performing electronic music in his Mercurochrome costume including a tin foil headpiece

WritingBipolar Disorder

Untinned Animal

Jamie Bolland was commissioned to develop a processional performance and a series of downloadable pamphlets inspired by our ‘revolution’ theme.

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Candlesticks on a stand next to wall coated in dark red vintage wallpaper.

Digital

Be Nice to Yourself You Little Shit I Swear to God

Be Nice To Yourself You Little Shit I Swear To God is a humorous spoken word guided meditation by Jen McGregor for those of us who might know how to give gentleness but have no idea how to receive it.

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Four women posing on colourful chairs looking into the camera.

FilmRefugees & Asylum Seekers

we depend on each other

Four immigrant women discuss the mental health challenges they faced after arriving in Scotland in this short documentary by Bircan Birol.

Watch

In the centre of the poster is a hand written large block text in black which reads ‘No One Way Works’. This quote is continued turning around the outside edges of the page, reading ‘It will take all of us shoving at the thing from all sides to bring it down - Diane di Prima.’ Around the central text is a border of 16 illustrations, which have a thin black outline, and are shaded in three shades of bright red. The illustrations are of: a razer blade; a bunch of Rosemary; a vial (like you would use for Oestrogen); a knotted rope; a pair of scissors; a crowbar; a wheatpaste brush; a balaclava; three round pills with smiley faces on; a spray paint can; a needle; a packet of prescription medications; bolt cutters;a lighter; a dildo; and a brick.

PrintmakingHuman RightsCommissions

An Archive of Propaganda from a Mad People’s Uprising

Lilith (Lea) Cooper is an artist, zine librarian and researcher based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They have created an archive of future propaganda exploring what a mad revolution would look like.

Explore