Munich Olympic Games Poster
David HockneyDavid Hockney’s Munich Olympic Games Poster (1972) was created as part of a series of artist-designed posters commissioned to celebrate the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Hockney, one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, brought his distinctive style to this work, blending figurative elements with abstract forms to capture movement and vitality in harmony with the Olympic spirit.
The poster depicts a diver in mid-dive, captured in a simplified yet powerful form, plunging into a pool of abstracted, swirling water. The diver’s outstretched body emphasises grace and athleticism, while the surrounding water is depicted through overlapping, flowing shapes in cool shades of blue and green, accented with orange. These organic forms evoke the fluid motion of water, creating a dynamic interplay between the diver and their environment. The diver’s reflection, depicted in fragmented orange hues, further enhances the composition, suggesting the fleeting nature of the moment.
Hockney’s use of vibrant colour and rhythmic line captures the physical and emotional essence of diving, a sport that combines precision, strength, and elegance. The poster includes the official Olympic emblem and the inscription “Olympische Spiele München 1972,” grounding the work in its historical and cultural context while emphasising its role as both an artwork and a promotional piece.
As part of the Camden’s Art Collection, this work highlights the unique collaboration between artists and the Olympics, celebrating athleticism, creativity, and global unity.
David Hockney’s Munich Olympic Games Poster (1972) was created as part of a series of artist-designed posters commissioned to celebrate the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Hockney, one of Britain’s most celebrated artists, brought his distinctive style to this work, blending figurative elements with abstract forms to capture movement and vitality in harmony with the Olympic spirit.
The poster depicts a diver in mid-dive, captured in a simplified yet powerful form, plunging into a pool of abstracted, swirling water. The diver’s outstretched body emphasises grace and athleticism, while the surrounding water is depicted through overlapping, flowing shapes in cool shades of blue and green, accented with orange. These organic forms evoke the fluid motion of water, creating a dynamic interplay between the diver and their environment. The diver’s reflection, depicted in fragmented orange hues, further enhances the composition, suggesting the fleeting nature of the moment.
Hockney’s use of vibrant colour and rhythmic line captures the physical and emotional essence of diving, a sport that combines precision, strength, and elegance. The poster includes the official Olympic emblem and the inscription “Olympische Spiele München 1972,” grounding the work in its historical and cultural context while emphasising its role as both an artwork and a promotional piece.
As part of the Camden’s Art Collection, this work highlights the unique collaboration between artists and the Olympics, celebrating athleticism, creativity, and global unity.
Camden Art Collection
The London Borough of Camden Art Collection consists of just under 1,000 items that include works on paper, paintings and sculptures. The main focus of the collection is works dating from the late 1950s to the late 1980s, with many pieces by artists who lived in the Borough. Many of these works were inherited from the predecessor authorities who were gifted these pieces when the Council was established in 1965. Other works were directly purchased by the Council from 1965 to 1985, with limited funding from a ‘picture loan’ scheme that the Council operated.
Supporters
