14 June 08
www.vam.ac.ukA vibrant new exhibition that explores the fascinating representation of the Olympic Games through the visual medium of the poster!
Very interesting to see such a huge collection of Olympic posters gathered together. Iconic images from the past shown with more recent examples, each reflecting the political and cultural atmosphere of their respective times. Great also to see the dynamic images created by Hockney and Warhol which were produced and sold as limited art editions!
...It was a real treat to find a copy of the poster from the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Shown above with 'Cobi', this beauty was designed by Xavier Mariscal, the wonderful multi-talented creative from Barcelona. His design for the official Mascot, 'Cobi'. took the world by storm and was hugely popular. The little chap appeared on everything form Ltd edition coke cans, shown left, to key rings and T shirts.I first became interested in the work of Mariscal during the early 90's, his Olympic commissions were everywhere and it was hard not to fall in love with his vibrant and energetic style! I have followed his studio's creative output ever since and collected many books and examples of work. His hand drawn type is sensational, and is key to most projects! Check Studio Mariscal for more examples and info!
(Below) ...My much treasured, and well thumbed, 'Mariscal' book showing logo and 'giant prawn sculpture' for Gambrinus Restaurant, Barcelona (1988)... Tasty!
The V&A 'Museum of Chilhood' is also worth a visit in it's own right! The building housing the Museum was moved to Bethnal Green in 1866, having first been used as an exhibition facility in South Kensington. The Museum is part of the V&A family of museums, and houses the national childhood collection. Examples of retro toys and board games are shown alongside more recent electronic games and consoles. The galleries are designed to show the collections in a way which is accessible to adults and children of all ages. Fab!
7 out of 10
