‘Tiny Statements’ – The Power of Badges

History curator Stephanie Gibson has a particular interest in how tiny things can have big impacts – especially in protest movements. She talks through some of these objects which feature in Te Papa’s collection, but also her personal one.

^{Stephanie Gibson holds a rainbow ribbon from the 2018 Pride Festival. Photograph by Rachael Hockridge. Te Papa}

You don’t have to carry a big banner down the street to make your point – sometimes something tiny like a badge can be just as effective. I’m always on the lookout for protest objects for Te Papa’s collections, but also my own. I can often be found rummaging in op shops looking for gems.

I’m particularly drawn to tiny activism. Mass-produced objects like wristbands, ribbons, badges, and stickers can claim public space and attention regardless of their size. They act like small travelling billboards, providing easy and cheap opportunities to send messages to the wider world.

Tiny activism is everywhere once you start looking. White ribbons against violence towards women, red ribbons for HIV / AIDS awareness, nuclear-free bumper stickers, wristbands calling for safer working hours for doctors, the list goes on.

^{Red ribbon from World AIDS Day (held annually on 1 December); Rainbow Youth ribbon from the 2018 Pride Festival; and a white ribbon, about 2013. The White Ribbon campaign is held annually on 25 November. Personal collection of Stephanie Gibson}

Sometimes I literally stumble across objects in the streets such as the ‘Safer Doctors’ wristband found on a path near Wellington Hospital.

^{Wristband calling for safer working rosters for junior doctors, New Zealand, 2016. Personal collection of Stephanie Gibson. Photograph by Rachael Hockridge. Te Papa}

Travelling billboards

Stickers have long been used by protest movements. They’re cheap to produce and easy to slap onto any surface. In the days when everyone wrote letters (and for those who still do), stickers like this one could be added to thousands of envelopes and sent across the world.

^{‘Buy New Zealand Nuclear Free Goods’ sticker, 1985. By Eastern Suburbs Peace Group. Gift of Mark Strange, 1989. Te Papa (GH003650/23)}

Badge of courage

Badges are my favourite form of tiny activism – partly because they have such a long history dating back to the 12th century when they were worn for religious and secular reasons including faith, status, allegiance, and identity. They were made from cheap metal alloys and either stitched or pinned to clothing. Manufacturing processes in the 1890s enabled the development of the most common type of badge still seen today – small discs of plastic, printed paper, and metal tightly pressed together with a pin at the back.

^{A selection of the many badges gifted in memory of Ron and Carmen Smith, 2015. Photograph by Rachael Hockridge. Te Papa}

Badges are also interesting because they present designers with a great challenge – how to fit a symbol and message into a tiny round space. Many will remember one of New Zealand’s most effective protest designs – the Halt All Racist Tours (HART) split black and white heart symbol. It was designed to be easy for anyone to draw, paint, or print quickly. It was apparently designed by a Christchurch screen printer. If anyone knows, please leave a comment!

^{Halt All Racist Tours badge, early 1970s. By HART. Gift of the Estate of Ron and Carmen Smith, 2015. Te Papa (GH024496) ‘STOP The ’81 Tour’ badge, 1981. By HART. Gift of Anne Else, 2004. Te Papa (GH014505)}

Badges play an important role in protests – they are cheap to make, easy to distribute and sell for fundraising, and wearable on any clothing. They are small enough to be relatively nonthreatening, and can slip beyond dramatic protests into everyday life – although the saying ‘badge of courage’ is a reminder that even a tiny stand can take enormous bravery.

^{Ans Westra, Anti-Springbok tour demonstration, 1981. Purchased 1993 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (O.012098)}

Watch this short video of Stephanie Gibson sharing of her favourite badges from Te Papa’s collections

Stephanie Gibson is Curator New Zealand Histories and Cultures at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. She is researching the material and visual culture of protest, conflict and reform, as well as everyday life in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her continuing museological research focuses on museums and community participation.

Further Resources

Te Papa Curators Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault recently released the book ‘Tiny Statements: A Social History of Aotearoa New Zealand in Badges’, celebrating the history of badges in New Zealand

Stuff article, How I write: Te Papa Curator Stephanie Gibson.

Ensemble magazine, Sunday Star-Times, Stephanie Gibson interviewed by Tyson Beckett.

RNZ Nine to Noon, Stephanie Gibson interviewed by Katherine Ryan

Stephanie Gibson and Claire Regnault answer 10 questions about their book Tiny Statements: A social history of Aotearoa New Zealand in badges with Te Papa Press.