Rock, pop, underground – GraphicPécs 2024

Program

The 1960s were a key period in the United States, a time of unprecedented upheaval, marked by political protests, social changes and artistic experimentations. The counter-culture flourished, civil rights were asserted, and music became a reflection of the aspirations of a committed generation. Indeed, in parallel with these profound transformations, rock’n’roll, folk and pop music became key means of expression for committed artists and the younger generation. During this period, San Francisco became a mecca for the music scene, home to legendary bands such as the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane and Janis Joplin, witnesses and actors of the counter-culture. This period saw the birth of a graphic design conscious of having become a powerful means of communicating ideas, questioning established norms and expressing political, social and cultural commitment. As a means of visual expression, graphic design played a central role in disseminating the ideas and values of the counter-culture.

A collection of influential posters, often produced to promote concerts, festivals, demonstrations and other counter-culture events, will be on display.

These vibrantly colored posters are true masterpieces, combining psychedelic aesthetics with strong symbolic elements. They reflect the spirit of protest and experimentation of an era. Nowadays, graphic designers draw inspiration from this period while bringing a modern perspective to their work, demonstrating that this form of visual expression continues to evolve and resonate with our times. The exhibition will also spotlight equally design-led record sleeves that have helped, and continue to help, shape the visual identity of music groups. For the most part, they push the boundaries of graphic art. And some have become icons of musical graphic design. A true celebration of freedom of expression, more than 100 underground works produced from the 2000s onwards will be on show. These graphic artists, often on the bangs of the mainstream, have created works that defy norms and shake up expectations. While paying homage to their predecessors, whether Pop Art, the psychedelic forms of the 1960s or the punk style of the 1970s, the artworks on show reflect a constant desire for innovation. Visitors will discover striking posters, retro-futuristic album covers, bold illustrations and much more, all wrapped up in the rebellious spirit characteristic of underground graphic design. In addition, hundreds of alternative and underground publications from all over the world will be on display. Among them, American underground comics will be presented.

The essential role of graphic design in shaping pop and underground culture is highlighted in this exhibition, which begins in the United States and its artistic and cultural ferment of the 1960s, but opens up to the whole world and continues over time. Visitors will be invited to explore how the influence of 1960s pop and underground graphic design continues today, to understand the lasting impact of this period on contemporary visual culture. As much for art and history enthusiasts as for music and counter-culture fans, the Rock Pop Underground exhibition will reveal the aspirations, revolts and visual experimentations of a large generation of graphic designers whose artistic power is timeless.

Michel Bouvet and Fanny Laffitte, curators of the exhibition

Full list of featured artists :
JORGE ALDERETE (Mexico)  – MARTIN ANDERSEN (UK) – JONATHAN BARNBROOK (UK) – FRANK BETTENCOURT (USA) – BIG ACTIVE (UK) – CHRIS BIGG (UK) – MICHEL BOUVET (France) – ANTHONY BURRILL (UK) – PETER CHADWICK (UK) – ART CHANTRY (USA) – EMEK (USA) – LAURENT FÉTIS (France) – FORM (UK) – FURY (France) – ANITA GALLEGO (France) – MONO GRINBAUM (Argentina) – IGOR GUROVICH (Armenia) – JIANPING HE (Germany) – GARY HOUSTON (USA) – MELCHIOR IMBODEN (Switzerland) – PEDRO INOUE (Brazil) – DENNIS LARKINS (USA) – ALAIN LE QUERNEC (France) – YANN LEGENDRE (France) – LISA LOTITO (USA) – ALEJANDRO MAGALLANES (Mexico) – MIKE MCINNERNEY (UK) – STANLEY MOUSE (USA) – VAUGHAN OLIVER (UK) – ÉTIENNE ROBIAL (France) – STUDIO BOOT (Netherlands) – STYLOROUGE (UK) – JOHN VAN HAMERSVELD (USA) – GARTH WALKER (South Africa) – ZIP DESIGN (UK)

More informations: https://graphicpecs.hu/