Graphic design, such as posters, books, magazines, logos, orientation systems, but also state symbols, all contribute to the identity of each nation. In the case of the Czech Republic (or Czechoslovakia), the history of graphic design since the beginning of the 20th century has been quite thorny – the Czechs first had to fight for their own state, survive two world wars, deal with two totalitarian regimes and switch from socialist planning to a market economy. Visitors to the exhibition will be introduced to the most striking works of Czech graphic design through originals and reproductions, and their creators, thanks to well-founded texts, will understand the broader cultural-historical and political context of their creation and will discover the power of graphic design in influencing society and vice versa.
The exhibition, curated by Filip Blažek and Linda Kudrnovská in collaboration with commissioner David Korecký, is part of the multi-genre project Identity – the Story of Czech Graphic Design, which includes a seven-part television series, a feature film, and a book monograph of the same name, which was published in Czech and English versions.