Montreux Jazz Festival

Development & reflection (5)

Montreux lakeside & Chillon castle in Switzerland

At the occasion of their 55th festival, the Montreux Jazz launched a major visual arts initiative, asking any creatives or art students to participate in a poster contest, which I did. This year’s poster theme was ‘restart’, and the festival encountered thousands of participants from many countries.

Tammy P., participation to the Montreux Jazz’s 55th festival poster contest — gouaches, watercolours and pen on canvas, April 2021, 50 x 70 cm.

This was my ‘statement’ and description for the piece I proposed:

‘For me, the theme ‘restart’ is a synonym of new luck and hope for the future. For this poster for the Montreux Jazz Festival 2021, I have chosen to illustrate a peaceful meditative figure in its natural element, next to a century-old tree. The deep roots of the tree represent the stability, security, and interconnectivity of the universe. The theme of my poster feels a little ‘vintage’ in a way; it is a way for me to express my utopian desire for a great “return to the roots” in our modern societies. To regain a certain “authenticity,” succeed in living without gimmicks, and regain a pearl of certain wisdom about our outlook on things, especially our impact on the environment. So, with this poster, I wanted to recreate the atmosphere of the hippie years and celebrate the emergence of great artists who have forever marked the history of music and the beginnings of the festival.’

Pink Floyd’s performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival — 1970

1966 bronze statue of Freddie Mercury’s rage pose in Montreux, where the artist lived and enjoyed the peacefulness during a couple of years

Unfortunately, my poster proposal wasn’t retained, but it was an exciting and rewarding experience to create a piece of work for such a renamed festival, for which great artists like Niki de Saint-Phalle, Keith Haring, or even Jean Tinguely painted.

(from left to right) Niki de Saint-Phalle’s (1984), Keith Haring’s (1983), and Jean Tinguely’s (1982) Montreux Jazz Festival posters