As winter nears, London is unveiling the art activities related to the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics in the city. Conceptual artist Martin Creed will be ringing all the bells in England for the international sporting event's opening day, while a superstar group of British artists have designed the official posters for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The collection, featuring work by Tracey Emin, Fiona Banner, Chris Ofili, and Rachel Whiteread, showcases the artists's signature styles while celebrating the city and athletics.
Chris Ofili, "For the Unknown Runner" / Courtesy London 2012
Whiteread plays with the iconography of the games and turns the Olympic rings into a composition of circular coffee mug stains in bright colors. Painter Howard Hodgkin's "Swimming" poster features a powerful sweep of blue paint that brings to mind the waves swimmers make pushing off for a race or a diver entering the water.
Tracey Emin, "Birds 2012" / Courtesy London 2012
Tracey Emin's "Birds 2012" for the Paralympic Games reads "You inspire me with your determination and I love you" in her iconic handwriting, while Bob and Roberta Smith's poster exhorts "courage, inspiration, sweat, love."
The participating artists have certainly succeeded in overshadowing the London Games' universally-panned 2012 Olympics logo, which some critics have likened to a pair of robots caught in a compromising position. Let's hope that these smart, engaging posters become the true face of the games.
-Kyle Chayka, ARTINFO
More of Today's News from ARTINFO:
Calder Foundation Accuses Retired French Fabricator of Forging the Artist's Mobiles
Like what you see? Sign up for ARTINFO's daily newsletter to get the latest on the market, emerging artists, auctions, galleries, museums, and more.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.