Gdynia is 100 years old – the history of our city is short but rich. Its 100th birthday will be an opportunity for joint celebration, and the motto of Gdynia's 100th-anniversary celebrations is "community". Built by generations, starting with those who came to the Polish seaside 100 years ago to build a port and a strong Gdynia from their dreams. Subsequent generations, woven into the history of not only our city but also Poland, proudly said that Gdynia was their home. And it is they who are the heroes of the poster that Gdynia artist Jan Rutka prepared for the 100th anniversary of Gdynia. The poster will accompany us throughout 2026, and the artist himself talks about the idea behind its creation.
Under what circumstances did the idea for the poster come about? Was it clear from the beginning that this would be its final form, or was the creative process more complicated?
The poster was created during lengthy discussions with representatives of the Gdynia City Council. Gradually, the required elements and the style that would dominate the entire illustrative setting for the centenary took shape.
What was the inspiration for the poster? The history, the maritime character of the city, its most important modernist buildings, or the residents themselves?
My main inspiration was the poster created by Ugo Gattoni for last year's Summer Olympics in Paris. That is in terms of how to present a momentous event. Of course, people are in the foreground. I am mainly known for depicting architecture, especially that of Gdynia, which is also present here, but it is not the main theme; it is only a backdrop for the people who have shaped Gdynia over the years. Apart from architecture and people, there is, of course, the sea, which is where our journey begins, as shown at the top of the illustration.
Could you say a few words about the colours used?
The colours are subdued, based on colours strongly associated with Gdynia, i.e. blues and sandy yellows. The strongest accent is yellow-orange, which has somehow become integral to the city's landscape.
Who and what can we find on the poster? When we see a large group of people, we usually look for familiar faces. This is also the case here. Who can we spot in the graphic?
Since people are the most important element here, we couldn't leave out the most important ones, to whom we owe the existence of Gdynia in its current form. In the very centre, we can see Tadeusz Wenda, Eugeniusz Kwiatkowski and Franciszka Cegielska. In the crowd, we can spot Anna Przybylska, the King of Kashubia (Antoni Abraham, ed.), Zbigniew Cybulski, the Arka Gdynia mascot, etc. Of course, I will not list all the more easily recognisable characters, as it was important for the project that the graphics themselves draw the viewer in and encourage them to search for different objects and characters. To a large extent, the people represent different environments and professions. I tried to create a universal character so that everyone could find someone who is similar to them or someone from their family.
Jan Rutka is a graphic designer and illustrator born in Gdynia, who is the author of many graphics related to the city. His characteristic style and Gdynia modernism in the leading role make it immediately clear whose works we are dealing with.