“It’s above all an honor”: meeting with Nice artist Eric Garence, author of the new poster for the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
2024-01-15 06:06:00
Renowned for his pastel colors which have enhanced the most beautiful towns in the region, the artist ANDric Garence was selected by David Massey, director of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, to illustrate the 117th edition of the tournament. He talks about the creative process behind it and the other major sporting events he would one day like to illustrate…
Tell us how you came to work on this project…
I am an illustrator for the Côte d’Azur France brand. I also work for Fragonard, Nivea, Labello… In 2021, I signed the Christmas campaign for Lenôtre, which is one of the partners of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. I met David Massey, the tournament director, during the opening of the Lenôtre boutique in Cap 3000. We talked and he found that what I was doing was very inspiring and that it reflected the color codes of the Côte d’ Azure. How optimistic it was. He invited me to come see him during the 2023 edition of the tournament to do my scouting. We discussed the spirit of the tournament, the fact that it is the oldest tennis tournament in the world on clay and that he was looking for an illustrator for the 2024 edition.
What struck you the most there?
I grew up on the Côte d’Azur and I always loved illustrations. When I was little, I had two dreams. That of making the poster for the Monte-Carlo tennis tournament and that of making the poster for the Tour de France. I already knew the club but what struck me was its proximity to the sea, and the beauty of the site. It’s idyllic. What’s exciting is that we have blue, green, orange in a small space…
And it matches your color work perfectly…
Exactly, with all these colors put side by side. The photo does not always allow it but the illustration does.
For the first time in the long history of the tournament, the poster is from the point of view of the sea. Why this bias?
Every time I work with clients, I make several suggestions. I made two sketches: a first more classic one with a bird’s eye view of the Maybourne Riviera and another vision with the sea in the foreground, the tennis court behind and the mountains in the background. It was the second one that won and from that moment I illustrated it with a graphics tablet with the vision I had in mind. I wanted to convey a certain joy of being on this court with spectators of all colors intermingling as if in painting.
The poster for the 2024 edition. Illustration Eric Garence.
Did you have carte blanche?
Completely. They received us with my colleague Joël who works with me. I am alone in drawing but not alone in working. I was immediately told “get inspired Eric, see what you can offer us”. From the moment the sketch was suitable, I was able to do the coloring which was validated by SMETT [la société Monégasque pour l’Exploitation du tournoi de Tennis, N.D.L.R.] and Rolex. There was just one initial brief, which was to illustrate in my own way the tournament between sea and mountains. Among the elements that had to be found there was obviously tennis, the location and the sea. It was a fairly simple brief which is akin to carte blanche. Rolex covers a lot of sporting events of a very high standard, so we were a little waiting to know if it would be popular but it was immediately validated.
You were talking about the Tour de France… in an ideal world, what sporting event would you like to illustrate?
In an ideal world, I would love to design the poster for the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix (laughs). It’s part of my dreams. The Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters was one of them, it is a great joy, a great pride and above all an honor. We are talking about the Principality of Monaco and Rolex so it is with great humility that I took on this job. I didn’t take it lightly, I’m quite lucky to be able to draw this.
Are you a sports fan and particularly tennis fan?
I played tennis when I was little, yes. I follow each other’s journeys. I play a little from time to time. If I do the Grand Prix poster one day, I won’t be able to say the same but for tennis yes (laughs).
Learn more
The tournament poster, signed by the artist, is available on the site www.bonjourlaffiche.com.
Please note that like every year, the poster will also be published on a limited edition stamp by the Principality’s Stamp Office.