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Another striking poster from Expo (This one from ’86). What I particularly like about this poster is the formal integration of the letters A, R & T. The composition of the letters creates a visually pleasing optical illusions in regards to dimension and perspective. The letters A R T below the images looks like an after-thought to me, but nonetheless it helps communicate the message by making the image easier to decipher.
-Gregory Durrell
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Where do you get these? I want a copy…
I think this would have been more impactful as a piece had the A R T below the image not been there … causing the viewer to have to ‘get it’. But regardless .. interesting composition, another intriguing post.
this has quickly become one of my favorite blogs.
hey dean, just collected a bunch of images from various sources. that particular poster (as well as a couple I have posted before) was from an archive website which the government of quebec put online about 4 years ago, but for some reason they took it down last year, go figure….
anyhow, I think its a nice example of ’80’s pop art that still holds today – nice choice…
BTW, check out these ’80’s t-shirts from Apple (everything old is new again): http://www.scaryideas.com/Adverts/appletshirts.html
This was designed by Nelu Wolfensohn, at UQAM in Montreal.
As the designer of this poster I have two comments and a suggestion to make :
First:
The background color of this poster is not a cold, sad gray, but a warm beige (I wonder how did it get there?)
I will be glad to provide you with the right image.
Second:
For the record, the Canadian Government wanted to celebrate the presence of Canadian artists at the Canada’s Art Pavilion during the 1986 Vancouver EXPO.
The poster HAD to be bilingual and the word “ART” is.
The type’s optical illusion symbolizes an impossible reality, a different universe, proper to the field of arts.
Suggestion:
It would be a good idea to mention the name of the designer together with the client’s one.
Hi Nelu,
Thanks for the comments! To respond to some of the issues that you raise. It is our effort to promote design work and to generate some of the dialogue necessary to write the design history in Canada. Some of the images we get are low rez, or photos or scans and we would love to get the best quality that we can but in this is not always possible. As far as the gap in information at the top, we do not always have this info and the site is set up to fill the gaps with user input (your post is a perfect example). We try our best to verify this info and work hard to promote accuracy in this regard. We will update this post immediately with the accuracy that you have provided (We would love to get a better image. At your convenience, send a 72 dpi, 410 pixels wide image to our email address). Thanks again!
Todd Falkowsky
Hi Todd,
I appreciate the swift answer. Thanks!
I will forward you a more accurate image at:
cdr@motherbrand.com
You guys are doing a great (and not always easy) job.
Bon courage et félicitations!
Nelu Wolfensohn
[…] by the Government of Canada for A Celebration of Canadian Artists at Expo 86, found via the Canadian Design Resource. Great color palette, typography and use of perspective and shade to create the impossible shape. […]
I have a Totem Pole poster from the 1986 Expo and would like to know if there is somewhere I could sell it? Any help would be appreciated.
Yours truly,
Jean fulton
I just bought an original copy for 8$ today.
getting it framed tomorrow.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/f2b23878327aef5e432abeb6a469999c/tumblr_mhxri0tM0Q1r0xhc1o1_1280.jpg