Paris 2024 Channels ‘Where’s Waldo’ With Exhilarating Posters For The Games
By Mikelle Leow, 06 Mar 2024
Image via Paris 2024
The City of Lights is gearing up to ignite the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, and the organizers just unveiled the official posters to match the Parisian spirit! A vibrant celebration of art meeting sport, these artworks, illustrated by homegrown artist Ugo Gattani, blend the excitement of the events with the timeless beauty of French landmarks.
The creations, unveiled at the Musée d’Orsay by Paris 2024 president Tony Estanguet on Monday, take us on a whimsical journey through the historical city and invite spectators and athletes alike to experience a “fantasy world of sport.” The Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe stand proudly, surrounded by athletes in action, embodying the Paris 2024 slogan “Games wide open.”
Designed as a diptych, the eye-catching posters tell a unified story of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. When viewed side by side, they form a continuous landscape bustling with the energy of 47 sports, including the newly added Breaking, Climbing, Skateboarding, and Surfing.
The Olympic Iconic Poster
Image via Paris 2024
The Paralympic poster proudly features the three Agitos symbol and a nod to Stoke Mandeville, the cradle of Paralympic sport, weaving together the rich history and vibrant future of these international competitions.
The Paralympic Iconic Poster
Image via Paris 2024
Gattoni, renowned for his intricate and lively style, poured over 2,000 hours into bringing these posters to life. His work invites viewers to explore every corner of the illustrations, discovering hidden details and stories within these Where’s Waldo-style masterpieces.
“When I was asked to design the Iconic Posters for Paris 2024, I immediately imagined a city-stadium open to the world, a suspended time in which you can wander through microcosms where Parisian monuments and sporting disciplines joyfully coexist,” Gattoni comments.
“For me, this design has to be timeless. It is based on the golden ratio and has a strong academic foundation with a lot of architecture,” the illustrator details. “Its originality lies in its surreal and utopian aspect, both in its composition and in the thousands of details that feature in it.”
The mesmerizing pieces will be on show at the Musée d’Orsay through March 10, encouraging visitors to get up close and personal with sporting marvels and Paris’s finest.
Additionally, for the first time, the Paris 2024 Iconic Posters will incorporate augmented reality, bringing the art to life through a QR code that unlocks an immersive digital experience. This feature, set to launch on July 19, promises to connect fans to the Games in a whole new way.
As we inch closer to the Games, these posters are also available for purchase as keepsakes from €20 (US$21.70) at the Paris 2024 online store, the Musée d’Orsay shop, and seven official retailers.
[via Fast Company and Reuters, images via Paris 2024]