04/23/2026
Opening May 9 at Pioneer Works, Office of War Information (O.W.I.) is a new installation by New York-based archive and publishing platform Khajistan (, .archive).
Named after the WWII-era U.S. agency, the exhibition takes the form of a decaying American psyops print shop. Inside, a printer churns out military propaganda leaflets circulated in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya between 1990 and 2022, while interactive terminals invite visitors to explore a digital archive of their metadata, translations, drop locations, and stated objectives.
The exhibition also presents American propaganda ephemera from Khajistan’s collection, ranging from original leaflets airdropped over Japan during the Second World War to U.S. War on Terror printed matter, including “Rewards for Justice” matchbooks. Together, these materials trace both shifts and continuities in the rhetoric, design, and logic of American psychological warfare, showing how war is framed as reluctant, necessary, even humane, and justified in advance.
On view May 9–August 9, 2026.
Opening reception on Friday, May 8, 7–9 pm.
Learn more and RSVP at the link in bio. 🔗
Designed by Joey Chriqui () and curated by Saad Khan (), with curatorial and technology support from Herbert A. Friedman, Ray Camp (), and Amad Ansari ().
📸 Images: 1. “Friendship: Afghanistan and the United States, 2001–14.” In American War Propaganda Leaflets, 1990–2022, edited by Saad Khan (Khajistan Press, 2024). 2. “Office of War Information leaflet 2048.” U.S. war propaganda leaflet dropped over Japan during World War II. In American War Propaganda Leaflets, 1944–1945 (Khajistan Press, forthcoming).