Artists designing past Olympic posters took their inspiration from ancient Greece; but in the later years, took inspiration from political and social views of the time. With each Olympic Games came new culture and new art.
Today’s British artists like Tracey Emin and Rachel Whiteread have become part of a very exclusive Olympic Club. They now follow in the footsteps of the greatest artists who have created posters for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The six Olympic posters have been designed by Ofili, Martin Creed, Anthea Hamilton, Howard Hodgkin, Bridget Riley and Rachel Whiteread.
Their Paralympic counterparts are the work of Emin, Fiona Banner, Michael Craig-Martin, Gary Hume, Sarah Morris, and Bob and Roberta Smith – a pseudonym for the artist Patrick Brill.
The artists were encouraged to celebrate the Games coming to London and to look at the values of the Olympics and Paralympics.
The posters have such titles as Big Ben 2012, by Morris, Swimming, by Hodgkin, and Superhuman Nude, by Banner.
Earlier on Friday, the complete line-up of the London 2012 festival was unveiled at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
The 12-week, UK-wide arts celebration marks the culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad and will run concurrently with the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
New events announced include a mass bell-ringing to mark the start of the Olympics on 27 July.
There will also be art installations at Stonehenge, Hadrian’s Wall and other heritage sites.
They join previously announced events including the World Shakespeare Festival that will see the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre and Shakespeare’s Globe join forces for the first time.
The 12 official posters for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Designed by some of Britain’s leading artists, including Tracey Emin. Among them are four winners of the art world’s prestigious Turner Prize — Martin Creed, Howard Hodgkin, Chris Ofili and Rachel Whiteread.
Emin’s image, entitled “Birds 2012”, shows two small birds perched on branches beneath the words: “You inspire me with Your determination And I Love You”. Others were inspired by London landmarks. Morris created “Big Ben”, a colourful abstract interpretation of the famous clock tower at Britain’s Houses of Parliament.
World-renowned artists including David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol were among many greats to design posters for past Games. Queen Elizabeth II has been given copies of the poster series for the Royal Collection.
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