Olympische Spiele Munchen 1972

Editor: This is Charles Lapicque's poster "Olympische Spiele München" created in 1972 for the Munich Olympics. I’m really struck by the way he's combined classical imagery with what looks like a pretty modern style. The composition is kind of wild! What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, the '72 Munich Olympics were of course overshadowed by tragedy. Looking at this poster now, in the context of that history, I'm particularly interested in the artist’s choice to represent the games through abstracted historical and classical symbols, creating almost a mythological scene. Editor: Mythological? Curator: Yes, we have figures that look like athletes but they're also vaguely god-like, chariots and what look like laurel wreaths, all re-imagined in these interesting linear shapes and pastel colours. The original Games in Olympia had a huge impact on what we perceive to be important now. Do you see this linking to any socio-political forces that shape the production and reception of art? Editor: You mean how a commission like this from the Olympic committee gives an artist a global platform? Curator: Precisely! Lapicque’s poster attempts to connect the spirit of the games to a longer history of cultural achievement, while being promoted in a commercial sphere. It reminds us that these supposedly timeless symbols of sport and culture are, in fact, always being renegotiated. Editor: It's fascinating to think about this piece as both a work of art and a piece of propaganda. Thank you so much! Curator: A pleasure, thinking through its various complexities highlights the poster's lasting relevance beyond its intended use.