As the 2024 Summer Olympics begin in Paris, exhibitions highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the Olympics are being held all over Europe. Here are the exhibitions inspired by the Olympics in many places, from the Gagosian and Louvre in Paris to the Zagreb Archaeological Museum in Croatia.
The 2024 Summer Olympics began in Paris, the capital of France, on July 26. Paris is also hosting the Cultural Olympics, a series of cultural events and art exhibitions held in parallel with the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games, which will last until September 11, have led to the opening of many exhibitions highlighting the historical and cultural significance of the games not only in France but also across Europe. Here are some highlights from the Olympic Games-inspired exhibitions in Europe:
“The Art of the Olympics”: Gagosian
Gagosian’s Paris gallery, in both of its two exhibition spaces on Rue de Castiglione and Rue de Ponthieu, features sports-themed artwork.
The Castiglione space features Andreas Gursky’s Amsterdam, Arena I (2000), Christo’s preparatory drawing for his colossal 1974 sculpture Running Fence, and Man Ray’s playful Jeux Nocturnes (c.1970), featuring a mysterious soccer ball.
The Ponthieu space showcases famous poster designs for previous Olympics, including Rachel Whitehead’s colorful rings for the 2012 London Olympics, David Hockney’s summer-themed design for the 1972 Munich Games, and Cy Twombly’s work for the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics.
“The Art of the Olympics” exhibition can be visited until September 7.
“Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy”: Louvre
Located in Paris, the Louvre Museum looks back at the beginning of the world’s greatest sporting event. The exhibition sheds light on the history of the modern Olympics through archaeological finds, modern artifacts and iconography.
The exhibition “Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy” focuses on the story of the revival of the Olympics and the French creators behind it. The story begins with the revival of the ancient Greek sporting event as the idea of Pierre de Coubertin in 1894 and continues with the first Olympic Cup designed by French linguist Michel Bréal for the marathon, a new event added to the Games in Athens in 1896.
The exhibition “Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy” can be visited until September 16.
“Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter Ancient and Modern Olympic Games”: Zagreb, Croatia
The Archaeological Museum in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, is opening its doors with an exhibition dedicated to ancient and modern sports competitions.
The exhibition takes its name from the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter”, meaning “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together”. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the history of the Olympics from 776 BC to the present day, with works such as sculptures, posters, medals and sports equipment.
The curators describe the exhibition as “in keeping with the spirit of the phrase mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body), taking those looking for inspiration on a journey through history, highlighting the enduring value of sports as a tool for personal and social development”.
The exhibition “Citius, Altius, Fortius – CommuniterAncient and Modern Olympic Games” continues until October 31.
“Paris 1924: Sport, Art and the Body”: Cambridge, England
“Paris 1924: Sport, Art and the Body” exhibition features works by international artists inspired by the games of a century ago.
Among the artists in the Fitzwilliam Museum exhibition are Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, Natalia Goncharova and Umberto Boccioni. Their modernist art is accompanied by classical sculptures, 1924 Olympic posters and iconic designs. The exhibition also features a letter written by American long jumper William DeHart Hubbard, the first black athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.
The exhibition also includes a section dedicated to the Cultural Olympiad Art Competitions that were part of the games between 1912 and 1948. “Paris 1924: Sport, Art and the Body” exhibition will continue until November 3.
“Muscles & Mind: Irish Art Olympians”: Waterford, Ireland
The exhibition, which opened on the day the 2024 Olympics began in Ireland, showcases the works of artists who competed for their countries in the Olympics between 1924 and 1948, when art became an Olympic discipline.
The exhibition, which is located at the Waterford Art Gallery, features some of Ireland’s most famous artists representing their countries, including Jack B Yeats, Letitia Hamilton, Mainie Jellett, Seán Keating, Flora Vere O’Brien and Sir John Lavery. The curators of the exhibition, titled “Muscles & Mind: Irish Art Olympians,” say they wanted the exhibition to highlight the importance of art as an Olympic discipline and what it means to represent our country as an artist.
“Muscles & Mind: Irish Art Olympians” exhibition will continue until November 26.
Source: https://artdogistanbul.com/olimpiyat-atesi-sanatla-bulustu/