Illustrator of the BGF 2024 Poster
Amaury “Ammo” Dastarac has been living and working in Brussels for 16 years. He has worked as an illustrator for over 20 years and started drawing as soon as he could hold a pencil. His artistic path began in secondary school, continued at the Beaux-Arts in Angoulême, and concluded with a BTS in visual communication. He developed his style alongside his job as a school supervisor in Bordeaux, the city where he also took his first professional steps by creating concert posters and album covers.
His influences are varied, ranging from major periods in art history (engraving, Art Nouveau, Japanese prints) to more contemporary graphic cultures such as concert posters, comics, manga and video games. He enjoys drawing a wide range of subjects, with a special fondness for nature and its unique details: plants, dried or dead flowers, insects.
How did you approach the creation of this poster? Was there an idea, an atmosphere or a message you wanted to convey?
I first looked at the posters created in previous years and wanted to try a different approach. What I found interesting was to imagine Brussels as a game board, and the Grand-Place seemed the ideal playground for that. Viewing it from the perspective of a pawn or miniature felt like a fun idea.
What does this poster represent to you?
Play, of course, but also the conviviality and diversity that this universe offers.
If you had to describe your poster in three words, which would you choose – and why ?
Celebration – fun – action.
I think these are the dominant elements when playing board games.
What memory will you keep from working on this illustration for the BGF?
A really great project! The exchanges with the team and the creative freedom I was given were very cool. Congratulations to you for the passion and dedication you put into this festival!
Is there a detail or Easter egg in your poster that few people notice?
The stylised coin in Mario Bros style is a little nod to my influences from video games.
