Olimpia Zagnoli Designs 51st Barcolana Poster with Environmental Message

The 51st edition of the Barcolana regatta, set for October 13, 2019 in the Gulf of Trieste, has unveiled its official poster created by illustrator Olimpia Zagnoli. Known for her geometric pop style, Zagnoli (born 1984 in Reggio Emilia) has collaborated with international publications including the Times, the Guardian, the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Glamour. Her design depicts the dramatic moment when thousands of boats scatter at the start, with a prominent flower symbolizing the fragile ecosystem. Following the 2018 controversy sparked by Marina Abramović's poster with the slogan "Siamo tutti sulla stessa barca" (We are all in the same boat), which drew criticism from the Lega party, this year's image returns to a more serene yet engaged tone. Organizers have set a participation cap of 2,700 boats, acknowledging the environmental impact of the event, which set a world record in 2018 with 2,689 entries. The flower also pays homage to Trieste poet Umberto Saba, who described the city as "a rough, voracious boy with blue eyes and hands too big to give a flower." Andrea Illy, President of illycaffè and a lifelong sailor, announced the company's continued sponsorship and artistic direction of the poster, noting that the tradition has previously featured artists such as Gillo Dorfles and Marina Abramović. illycaffè, which sponsors numerous art fairs and collaborates on projects like the Art Collection coffee cups, has overseen the poster's artistic direction.