Chinese-designed poster for Roland Garros

The official poster for the 2015 French Open designed by Chinese artist Du Zhenjun. Photo by Sun Xiaochen/chinadaily.com.cn

The French Open tennis tournament has unveiled a poster designed by a Chinese artist for next year's event, aiming to maintain its strong appeal to the Chinese market following Li Na's retirement.

Without Li, who triggered huge Chinese interest after winning the Grand Slam event in 2011, the Paris tournament will continue engaging Chinese fans with the launch of its 2015 poster, said a French tennis official.

"We are a French event as we are in Paris, but we are international as well. That's why since 2010 we have used artists from around the world and this year a Chinese artist designed our poster. That's a sign of Roland Garros' international influence and its appeal to China," Lucas Dubourg, general manager of international development of the French Tennis Federation, told China Daily at the launch at the French Embassy in Beijing.

The poster, designed by Du Zhenjun who moved to Paris from Shanghai in 1991, depicts a player playing a powerful shot with the ball flying in an arc-like motion.

The launch of the artwork, featuring traditional Chinese ink painting brushwork and a concise style, marks the first time in 35 years that a Chinese artist has been commissioned for the tournament.

"The poster represents a strong Asian element through the traditional Chinese way of painting and the arc traced by the ball which was inspired by Zen aesthetics," said Du who learned jade engraving and traditional Chinese painting in Shanghai.

He first attracted public attention at a festival in Paris in 2003 with a significant exhibition entitled Etre humain trop lourd, or too heavy a human in English.

Li, who retired in September, delivered congratulations via a video clip.

"I send congratulations to the artist who gave us a special Chinese perspective to the tournament. As a player, I used to have no time appreciating the previous posters at Roland Garros but this time I will enjoy it," she said.

Li will be invited as a guest to a series of promotional activities and the Legends'tournament during the Open, which runs between May 24 and June 7 next year, Dubourg said.

He also said the combination of Asian roots and contemporary western art demonstrated by Du's work will make it special among all posters through the years.

"It's more than just a poster. The poster is a way to promote tennis and Roland Garros in China. I expect more and more people will like the poster and want to play tennis. I believe the guys in Paris can feel the difference and the unique Chinese style of this poster".

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn