MARISCAL DRAWING LIFE

JAVIER MARISCAL (1950-)

Javier Mariscal is a prolific illustrator and designer. His energetic career began in Spain during the 1970s and he continues to work on a large number of projects with his team at Estudio Mariscal. Mariscal's designs and artwork encompass a wide range of mediums, he is celebrated for his comic strips, graphic design work, furniture designs, painting, animation, interior design, illustration and work with brand and logos.

Across these disciplines, Mariscal's bold and inquisitive imagination, his sense of humour and fun, and his enormous appetite for life contribute to a unique and characteristic style. Mariscal's first published works followed his move from his hometown of Valencia to Barcelona to study Graphic Design. These included the radical underground comic El Rrollo Enmascarado, produced with a group of friends in 1973.

The comic had such an immediate and large impact that it was closed down by government order after only two months. In 1979 Mariscal created his famed 'BAR CEL ONA' logo. Combining graphic design and typography into a welcoming symbol that encapsulated the confidence of the city as it emerged from the constraints of Franco's rule, the logo also established Mariscal as an internationally recognised designer.

The 1980s were an extremely fertile period for Mariscal. He was invited by Ettore Sottsass to take part in his celebrated Memphis collective and contributed two furniture designs to the group. In 1987 he created 'Cobi', who would go on to be chosen as the mascot for the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona and cement Mariscal's reputation for inspired branding.

In 1990, the multi-disciplinary Estudio Mariscal was established, allowing Mariscal to take on almost any design brief. The studio went on to tackle such diverse projects as the re-branding of a political party, the creation of multi-media theme-park attractions, a number of film and TV animations and the interior design of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars. "Drawing Life" is a celebration of the work of Mariscal.

Designed, written and illustrated entirely by Javier Mariscal, it details the varied works of Mariscal and his studio, as well as featuring entirely new artwork produced for the book. The book will accompany an exhibition of Mariscal's work, to open at the Design Museum in London at the beginning of July. A limited number of Collector's editions will be available, each of which will be accompanied by a piece of artwork individually produced by Javier Mariscal.