Classical covers of the British publishing house Penguin has for good settled in the history of graphic design. Romek Marber has a significant part in this great achievement, a Polish designer who in 1960s created for Penguin one of the most popular crime book series. Marber was born in 1925 and after the War he migrated […]
Polish designer for Penguin Books – the green crime series by Romek Marber Read More
The avant-garde art of the 1920s has had tremendous influence on the development of graphic design. You can find these inspirations in today’s rock music videos as well. Below, I chose a few examples which I personally find the most interesting. In the 70s in Germany a music genre called Neue Deutsche Welle (New German
Avant-garde inspirations – Kraftwerk, Franz Ferdinand and Laibach Read More
When painting or composing any project one should consider that different compositional layouts evoke different effects on the viewer and might evoke different connotations. The dominance of horizontal lines in a painting or a graphic design project symbolizes peace, stagnation, melancholy or even sadness. This results from subconscious association of horizontal position with sleeping, retirement
The meaning of line directions in art – horizontals, verticals, diagonals Read More
I have known professor Wasilewski for 20 years. In a recent, exclusive to retroavangarda.com interview he talks about his art, art-related travels, poster design around the world and the state of Polish poster. Anna Kłos: For many years you’ve been in the Program Council as well as among the members of the Organizing Committee of
Polish and international posters – an interview with professor Mieczyslaw Wasilewski Read More
In the first half of the 70s Great Britain saw the rise of an underground subculture, which turned the graphic design of that time upside down. Punk movement took over fashion, music and visual arts and quickly spread to other countries. Its trademark were ragged clothes, Mohawk hairstyle and rowdy music. Sex Pistols is said
Jamie Reid and the Punk Rebellion Read More
“To think that Dada will ever die is an absurd. Dada will always emerge anew one way of another, always when too much stupidity has amassed” Kurt Schwitters Schwitters was right – Dada isn’t dead. It survived because dadaism is not just another art movement – dadaism is an attitude, a worldview. Dada came into
My favourite period in history of art is the avant-garde of the 20s: futurism, constructivism and most of all – Dadaism. Out of all dada artists I am most inspired by Kurt Schwitters – by his works, but even more by his amazing take on art and life, as he didn’t see a border between
MERZ – Kurt Schwitters’ combination of art and life Read More
One of the most amazing painters of 20th century was Hans Rudolph Giger, who had a tremendous influence on computer game developers, he is also worshipped by fantasy lovers. His style is so unique that there is no way to categorize him simply. HR Giger was the designer of Alien, probably the most famous sci-fi
Debbie Harry by the creator of Alien Read More
Everyone has a favourite colour – mine is black. Black is fascinating, perhaps because it has many meanings that can be juxtaposed. In western cultures and in Poland it is associated with sadness and mourning – it is the simplest connotation. It is also the colour of elegance, luxury, independence and power. In China black symbolizes happiness,
Black – what hides inside Read More
Michał Batory is one of the most appreciated poster artists in the world. He studied at Academy of Fine Arts in Łódź, but for many years now he has been living and working in Paris. His art was even exhibited in Louvre, making him the second Pole in history presented in that gallery. Not everyone knows, however,
Michal Batory’s exhibition in Warsaw – book covers Read More
Retroavangarda – international project promoting artists worldwide
