Reus, in the Tarragona region, unveiled the official poster for the 2026 Sant Pere Major Festival on Wednesday, 6 May. The artwork, created by local artist Ester Ferrando, aims to reinforce the impact of the 'tronada' firework display.
The poster uses dispersed typography and colour to represent sound and movement, according to Ferrando. An anaglyph effect, with red and cyan colour shifts, visually conveys vibration, explosion, and controlled disorder. This technique allows the artist to make sound visible. The design also offers a different experience when viewed with 3D glasses, inviting personal interpretation from the viewer.
Celebrating 400 Years of Relic
Ferrando explained that the poster encourages active participation from the audience to recognise suggested imagery. The reliquary bust of Saint Peter plays a significant role in the design. "This year we celebrate 400 years since the relic arrived, and for this reason, the smoke from the 'tronada' is shaped like Saint Peter," Ferrando told reporters. "It's a way to include his presence that isn't entirely explicit and seeks public participation to identify it."
Daniel Recasens, Councillor for Culture and Linguistic Policy, praised the decision to commission a local talent. "Backing a local artist like Ester Ferrando is a way to value local talent," Recasens said. "Our approach from the outset has been to support artists from the city and the region, and we will continue to do so."
Artist's Background and Recognition
Ester Ferrando is a visual artist from Reus with a long career, working primarily in sculpture, photography, and multimedia installations. She graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona in 1995 and studied sculpture at Escola Massana from 1991 to 1993. Ferrando balances her creative work with teaching, holding a position as a professor of Artistic Baccalaureate at the Gabriel Ferrater Institute in Reus.
Her previous roles include collaborating professor at the Open University of Catalonia from 2013 to 2016, exhibitions director at the Centre de Lectura de Reus, and coordinator of Art and Creation exhibitions for the Municipal Institute of Cultural Action of Reus. Ferrando's work has received several awards, including the Julio Antonio Sculpture Prize from the Tarragona Provincial Council in 2004 and the Gastronomic Contemporary Art Prize of Cambrils in 2016. The unveiling of the poster marks an important step in the preparations for Reus's major annual celebration.
