Fashion and style at the 2008 Summer Olympics

The Olympics being in Beijing is a wonderful thing for anyone fascinated with and allured by traditional Chinese art and aesthetics. The bike races run through the streets of Beijing, news coverage as well serving as a beautiful travelogue – views of Tiananmen Square, of the hutongs, of the brand-new massive ultramodern skyscrapers – that is, when air conditions allow us to see anything at all.

The design of the mascots, logos, and the large backboards seen the background of every event, on a separate note, not traditionally Chinese, but still fantastically gorgeous, brightly-colored, well done. I love the font style on the words “Beijing 2008″ on the logo, the bright blue water/waves motif on the backboards in the swimming events, the bright colors of the swashes representing the Olympic rings on the various ads we see. There is a sort of wave, brush-painted design aesthetic that we are seeing everywhere – on the backdrops, on some of the Chinese athletes’ uniforms, on fans’ t-shirts, on promotional Coke cans.

And the uniforms are fantastic too. Here’s an event where, unlike in most aspects of fashion, of everyday life, we get to see bold, vivid colors and blatant nationalism. The ways in which each country, in each event, represents its national colors is interesting and fun to watch, and evokes I think a warm, uplifting feeling of patriotism on behalf of the athletes we’re watching, regardless of their nationality. The red and gold design on the uniforms of the Chinese girl gymnasts (and I really liked the red & yellow flame design on their windbreakers as well); the way in which stars and stripes are arranged against a dark navy blue background on the US men swimmers’ swimsuits. And I think it would be hard to argue that its not pleasant simply to watch these men and women, in peak physical condition, beautiful bodies in skintight swimsuits, leotards and beach volleyball bikinis. And the new and somewhat controversial Speedo Lazer Razor suits, while I don’t much care for their black and darker black default design, fit in interesting ways (look at Michael Phelps and the other men swimmers, their shoulders down to halfway down their sides totally open, uncovered) and create a new and interesting figure or silhouette.

And, there’s the medals. I hadn’t known, realized, that at each Olympics, the medals are redesigned by the host country. That’s really cool for the athletes, I should think. As incredible, as amazing as earning an Olympic medal is to begin with, having one with that particular Chinese style, next to those of Greek (2004) or English (2012) designs, rather than just identical medals from different years… In any case, here’s the really keen thing about this year’s Chinese-designed Olympic medals – they include rings of jade. As not explained on NBC’s coverage of the subject, a ring of jade recalls an ancient form, the bi, which goes so far back in history that we cannot know its original meaning, significance, or use. Jade, of course, a material with extensive and ancient significance in Chinese culture, including associations with Heaven, spiritual power, and immortality.

There’s also the gorgeous ultramodern stadiums – I personally care for the Water Cube, a design so fantastic, so futuristic, I find it hard to believe it actually exists, over the Bird’s Nest.

As long as we’re talking about the Olympics, here’s a few more articles:
*The greatest Olympics ever by Dave Barry
*From Inside the Stadium, Another Look at Beijing’s Opening Ceremony

Speaking of which, how could I forget the Opening Ceremonies? I missed the beginning, and I’m sure there’s plenty that could be said about the costumes, dances, fireworks, every element of this amazing show. But what really amazed me was the massive narrative handscroll “painting” in the center of the arena, the use of traditional Chinese painting styles, imagery, implying an idea of the performers dancing across Chinese history. Unlike Japan, which seems to have a never-ending love affair with the West, and which really cannot seem to be convinced to love its own heritage enough, China remains obsessed with its history, its traditions, even as it modernizes, producing a wonderful blend of the distinctly “Chinese” with that modern global trans-national, trans-cultural style that cannot be said to be any more American than British, French, German, Arab, Japanese, or Chinese.