Free museum entry for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand

Gear Up poster

Object | Part of History collection

item details

NameGear Up poster
ProductionNew Zealand AIDS Foundation; publisher; 2015; New Zealand
Phantom Billstickers Ltd.; printing firm; 2015; New Zealand
Classificationposters
Materialspaper, ink
Techniquesprinting
DimensionsOverall: 920mm (width), 1320mm (height)
Registration NumberGH025055
Credit lineGift of New Zealand AIDS Foundation, 2016

Overview

This poster advertises a safe sex message aimed at gay and bisexual men. The poster features dancer and choreographer James Luck in an overtly sexual and masculine pose, and cheekily plays on motorbike culture.

The poster was part of 'Love Your Condom' (LYC) - the New Zealand AIDS Foundation's HIV prevention programme which aimed to build a condom culture among gay and bisexual men. Eye-catching billboards and posters were displayed in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch in 2015.

Posters are a traditional method of advertising. Why does a safer sex message aimed and gay and bisexual men need to be advertised to all passers-by? Posters in the street are not easily ignored, and may catch the eye of men who don't look at targetted media such as gay magazines or websites. Such messaging can also gain respectability and traction among wider communities when displayed on authorised hoardings.