Olympic Language: Exploring the Look of the Games

In cooperation with the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion, with the support of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), will stage an exhibition entitled “Olympic Language: Exploring the Look of the Games” from 20 July to 28 August 2021. The exhibition will be displayed at Ginza Graphic Gallery (ggg) in Tokyo’s Ginza district.

Originally staged at The Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 10 May 2018 to 17 March 2019, this exhibition will travel to Japan.

Overview and Features

ggg was established in 1986 as part of DNP’s cultural contribution activities, and has been run by the DNP Foundation for Cultural Promotion since 2008. For more than 35 years, it has exhibited the work of outstanding designers and landmark graphic design from around the world. Design has been a very important element of successive Olympic Games, and this exhibition, spotlighting the history of visual expression at the Games, not only contributes to ggg’s aim of popularising and promoting graphic culture, but also provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy learning about the Games’ profound relationship with graphic design.

Olympic emblems, pictograms, torches and medals are part of a visual identity or “Look of the Games”, developed for each edition of the Olympic Games that reflects the host city and country. The Look of the Games is often inspired by the culture, character and history of the city and country concerned. This exhibition focuses on five editions of the Games that are noteworthy for their design: Tokyo 1964, Mexico City 1968, Munich 1972, Lillehammer 1994 and Athens 2004. Their Look provides a sense of coherence, presenting the audience with one common identity of the Games through official Olympic properties such as the emblems, posters, pictograms, mascots and much more.

Ginza Graphic Gallery Special Exhibition
Olympic Language: Exploring the Look of the Games

The exhibition is part of the Tokyo 2020 Participation Programme operated by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Key exhibits: (All artwork ©International Olympic Committee)

  Tokyo 1964  Official poster

 Tokyo 1964 Pictograms

 Mexico City 1968 Official poster

 Munich 1972 Official poster

 Lillehammer 1994 Official poster

 Athens 2004 Official poster

View of the exhibition at The Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland

View of the exhibition at The Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland