The poster for the 2024 Olympics (©Paris 2024)
Official Posters depict ”Abundant and Joyful Universe” of Paris 2024
by Philip Barker
Games Organisers have described the signature posters for Paris 2024 as “the dream representation of a stadium city and a utopian fantasy version of Paris.”
They are the work of Parisian cartoonist Ugo Gattoni who was commissioned to produce the posters in June last year.
“I immediately had an idea. I came home here to the studio and I already had the stadium in mind on my journey back. I wanted to make a Paris stadium. I had even already made a first sketch,” said Gattoni.
“I imagined a suspended time in which you can wander through microcosms where Parisian monuments and sporting disciplines joyfully coexist. For me, this design has to be timeless.”
The posters for the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been conceived as a diptych with a similar style.
They include “Les Phryges,” the stylised mascots of the Games based on the headgear worn in the era of the French Revolution, and a depiction of the medals.
“These works of art are powerful reminders of the values upheld by the Games and project us into the festive and sporting summer atmosphere that awaits us in a few months’ time. We’re opening the Games wide, so open your eyes wide,” insisted Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet.
Paris 2024 President Tony Estanguet flanked by poster designer Ugo Gattoni and Paris 2024 Head of Design Joachim Roncin at the Musee D’Orsay where the official launch took place. (©Paris 2024)
Prints have gone on sale. Posters in the 30 x 40cm format start at 20€ and prices for the 50 x 70cm size begin at €27.
The poster will also be available in augmented reality for fans of the Games.
The packaging of the posters includes a QR code that links to an immersive experience that brings the work of art to life digitally. This will be launched on July 19th on the official IOC app andalso through the Snapchat @olympics account.
Paris is renowned for its tradition of poster art in the years of La Belle Epoque and notably in the work of Henri Toulouse Lautrec.
A century ago, Jean Droit, an artist born in that era was chosen to produce one of the official posters for Paris 1924. 12,000 were printed and distributed internationally.
His work was only one of two designs chosen from an entry of 150. The other was by the artist known as Orsi. This had a print run of 10,000 and was also used in programmes, postcards, in books of matches and other souvenirs.
“Through the duplication of this design both posters became the face of the Paris 1924 Olympics” wrote ISOH Secretary Markus Osterwalder in Olympic Design, his encyclopaedic history of graphic design at the Olympics.
Originals of both posters remain sought after and have realised over $2000 each at recent auctions.
There was no official poster for the 1924 Winter Olympics although Auguste Matisse produced striking posters for the Paris Lyon Mediterranee railway company to promote tourism at the time of the Chamonix Winter Sports Week, later designated as the first Winter Olympics.
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