Within graphic design — or, more likely, outside of graphic design — posters belong in a special, enviable plateau that only a few practitioners have the opportunity to design and produce regularly and, even less, the ones that master it. Then, within poster design, there is the culture of the international poster biennial competitions… highly regarded, publicly visible, career defining juried events that select the best posters in the world, based on broad categories or specific themes. These biennials attract the most prominent poster designers from around the world, both to serve as judges and as entrants, to a richly diverse range of locations like Tehran, Mexico, and Warsaw. The former two, celebrated their 9th edition in 2007, the latter is now accepting entries for its 21st edition, and, it’s in contrast to the standards and legacy set by these (and other) biennials, that a brand new biennial will have to establish itself: The Chicago International Poster Biennial.
This biennial is the first from The Chicago International Poster Biennial Association (CIPBA), a new not-for-profit organization established to “promote visual literacy, multiculturalism, and international cooperation through the poster work of artists from around the world.” The organization was initiated by Yann Legendre, a French designer working in Chicago and Lance Rutter, a graphic designer and former AIGA Chicago President. As far I am aware, I think this is the only international biennial in the U.S., at least in recent memory, making this a very important initiative that should help to broaden the scope of design that gets seen here, which can be painfully limited.
“We want posters to be seen as the quintessential public art form,” says Rutter “because they engage citizens at street level, requiring an emotional
and intellectual response. They also stimulate dialogue and articulation of important issues — social, political, and economic. As a part of the larger design community, we also want to help the City of Chicago craft its international reputation as a proponent of international cooperation and as a strong civic advocate of design.” CIPBA is trying to show the winners of the biennial at the Daley Bicentennial Plaza in the heart of the mesmerizing Millennium Park in Chicago — an effort that should enrich the visitors’ experience and provide a sense of what graphic design can do. Hopefully this Chicago biennial will come to be seen as influential, relevant and important as others around the world.
Official poster for the biennial, designed by Yann Legendre.
As far I am aware, I think this is the only international biennial in the U.S.,
Colorado State University has been hosting a biennial poster exhibition for the past 30 years. This is the best link I could find.
On Apr.10.2008 at 10:15 AM