The Montreux Jazz Festival entrusted Marylou Faure with designing the poster for its 55th edition, which will take place from 2 to 17 July 2021. The French artist and illustrator was one of the finalists in the “Silent Shores” competition, launched by the Festival last June. By unveiling its poster today, the Montreux Jazz Festival wants to convey a message of hope, but remains mindful of the situation and will closely monitor developments over the coming months.
Colourful, delicate and soothing, the poster for the 55th edition invites us on an intimate musical journey such as can be experienced at the Montreux Jazz Festival. “I wanted to capture the unique feeling of lightness and reverie that music provokes” says Marylou Faure.
Central to the French artist’s work, her female characters are often intimately portrayed, unperturbed by the gaze of others. Totally free and at ease with themselves. Here, the woman drawn by Marylou Faure seems peaceful, lulled by an imagined enveloping and colourful music. The geometric shapes that surround her are reminiscent of the strings and curves of a double bass, the angle of a grand piano… Unless it is the landscape of Montreux, its mountains, its bay and its blue sky?
“My composition is based on the geometric forms of the instruments. I like the idea of playing on the contrasts between the undulating features of women with their curves and lips and a more structured look with straight lines and a frame.”
Marylou Faure
MARYLOU FAURE
Specialising in character design, bold colours and graphic compositions, French Illustrator and Artist Marylou Faure aspires to create artwork that invokes joy with her cheeky and playful style. With the intention of tackling the issues she cares about, Marylou’s career has seen her working on many personal and collaborative projects with global brands that focus on social and ethical issues.
SILENT SHORES COMPETITION
Last June, the London-based artist was one of the 10 finalists in the “Silent Shores” competition organised by the Festival on the theme of a summer without music in Montreux. Her poster depicted a woman, whose curves blended into the Alpine landscape and the outline of a double bass. This same character is at the centre of the poster for the 55th edition: “In 2020 she was waiting. Today she is revealing a little more of her personality!”, explains Marylou Faure.
THE FESTIVAL POSTERS
Although Marylou Faure has not yet enjoyed any concerts in Montreux, she has been able to immerse herself in its visual heritage. She particularly likes the poster of Niki de Saint Phalle, one of her major sources of inspiration, and that of her friend Malika Favre.
Since 1967, the Festival has entrusted the design of its official poster to international artists. In 1982, Jean Tinguely left his indelible mark, later to become the instantly recognisable logo. Keith Haring signed three versions in 1983, and another in partnership with Andy Warhol in 1986. David Bowie joined the game in 1995, as did more recently Yoann Lemoine (Woodkid), Christian Marclay, Ignasi Monreal and JR.
55ᵀᴴ EDITION: A MESSAGE OF HOPE
By unveiling its poster today, the Montreux Jazz Festival wants to convey a message of hope. Although it is premature to formulate a definitive scenario at this stage, various avenues are being explored, taking into account the Festival’s assets, which are its indoor stages and its urban location. The Montreux Jazz Festival team is monitoring the situation closely and is relentlessly striving to offer you an ambitious programme and the best possible festival for 2021!
