You can immediately tell how someone feels about art when they receive it as a gift. With no time to put up a polite filter, the recipient is either elated to discover something artistically new, or they frown in disappointment at such a boring offering.
Such has been the case at this summer’s Paris Olympics. I am one of those huge Olympics fans who has the Games on all day long for the two-week duration, while periodically watching some of the Paralympics competitions as well. I don’t just watch the popular sports, like gymnastics and swimming; I’m watching as many random competitions as possible, like rugby, archery, badminton, and table tennis. The benefit of watching these sports on the extra channels that air the Games is they will also air the medal ceremonies of all the winners, not just the ones for American athletes like the main channel.
During each medal ceremony, players received slim cardboard boxes along with their medals. These boxes contained official posters for the Games, designed by Parisian illustrator Ugo Gattoni. The vibrant, Art Deco-inspired posters feature detailed illustrations of iconic French landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Seine River, as well as elements related to the Olympics, such as a gold medal and the Paris Olympics mascot. Gattoni spent 2,000 hours from September 2023 to January 2024 crafting the posters.
The posters are rich in detail, inviting viewers to explore and discover various elements that celebrate both the sporting event and the city of Paris. The designs feature iconic French landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, integrated with Olympic and Paralympic symbols, creating a utopian and fantastical depiction of Paris. The posters’ cheerful and festive tone aligns with the spirit of the Paris 2024 Games, envisioned as a grand, joyful celebration.
Of course, those details are only interesting to the athletes who are excited to see their gift. I’ve witnessed several Olympians mouth oh, wow upon receiving their box and examining what’s inside. On the other hand, I have also seen athletes furrow their brows in confusion at what that extra thing is they have to carry away with them from the podium.
I confess I have secretly judged these athletes, depending on their reaction to the poster. Having grown up with an artist mother and dipping my toe into artistic endeavors myself, I always appreciate the time and creativity that goes into any project. For anyone who frowns upon art as silly or a waste of time, an attitude I assumed the unimpressed athletes have, I imagine they are not a sensitive or sympathetic person. Harsh of me, I know, but honest. Not as prized as a medal, of course, but I think these posters deserve great respect as well.
For those interested, these posters are available for purchase at the Musée d’Orsay, the Paris 2024 shop website, and various partner stores such as Fnac and Carrefour. Gattoni expressed his excitement about having his work displayed alongside historic masterpieces, emphasizing the significance of his art being part of such a momentous event. I applaud its inclusion.