Who is Arthur Cadre? Symbolism of The Golden Voyager at the Olympics closing ceremony explained

On August 11, Arthur Cadre, best known for his acrobat skills, embodied The Golden Voyager at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The performance was crafted by artistic director Thomas Jolly, who wished to pay tribute to France’s historical heritage and imagine a time without the Olympics.

The 32-year-old architect-breakdancer-acrobat, who left viewers stunned, wore an intricate gold costume with spikes created by Kevin Germanier.

As per the Associated Press, Thomas Jolly wished to represent The Voyager Golden Record, a record of humanity sent to space by France in 1977. This was also the inspiration behind the title of the show, 'Records.'

In the closing ceremony, Arthur Cadre excavated the Olympic rings as a cast of dancers took the stage. Watchers were greeted with fireworks across the Stade de France roof in the background, and they also observed a large white-winged structure depicting the Victory of Samothrace.

For those uninitiated, Arthur Cadre has delivered multiple breathtaking performances, including leading the Cirque de Soleil. He has also headlined notable productions like 2022’s Dodici Note Tour and 2017’s Perle by Dragone.

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More about Arthur Cadre as The Golden Voyager Olympics performance captivates viewers

It seems like athleticism runs in the Cadre family, as Arthur's mother was part of the French volleyball team, and his father was a surfer who competed in the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Arthur Cadre took an interest in breakdancing at the age of nine and then added contortion and acrobats to his skill set later.

The 32-year-old has become an essential part of the cultural movement and has traveled worldwide to perform in Montreal, Macau, San Francisco, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, among others.

Speaking about his craft, Arthur Cadre said in a recent interview with the Malay Mail that it is “a mixture of movement art and visual art.” His Riyadh performance, Asayel, which he directed himself, gathered immense traction in the acrobats' community as it combined equestrian sports and featured 25 horses alongside 40 dancers.

Apart from his stage achievements, the fashion world has also recognized his acrobatic skills. He has collaborated with luxury brands like Jean Paul Gaultier and Dolce & Gabbana. He has also been featured in numerous high-fashion magazines. In 2022, he was featured in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list after being recognized for his success in the industry.

Cadre is also an architect. He graduated from the University of Montreal in 2015 while he honed his dance skills. He also has an interest in photography. In 2023, he unveiled an interdisciplinary art piece at the Art Basel art fair. One of his most celebrated pieces includes Wonderland Creatures, described as a "must-see photography series" by Lenouvelobs. His creations have also been exhibited at the London Art Biennale and the Dubai Art Fair.

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What inspired The Golden Voyager performance?

On its official Instagram account, Vogue France revealed that The Voyager Golden Record inspired Cadre’s costume. The magazine stated that the NASA launch was an “interstellar message in a bottle” meant for other spacegoers.

The Golden Voyager character at the Paris Olympics also paid tribute to France’s Spirit of the Bastille. The dystopian piece at the Olympics also depicted The Golden Voyager character encountering Nike, the goddess of victory, who has been linked to the ancient Olympic Games. Nike was symbolized by the statue of the Victory of Samothrace, which can be seen in the Louvre.

As per the Associated Press, the characters in the performance were meant to evoke creatures from video games and science fiction.