Exhibition Identity – The Story of Czech Graphic Design

A discipline that Czechs can rightfully be proud of for a century is being presented in the main autumn exhibition at the Museum Kampa: “Identity – The Story of Czech Graphic Design”. This exhibition pays tribute to both professionals and the general public by showcasing, for the first time in history, the entire breadth of Czech graphic design across all three floors of Museum Kampa. From October 12, 2024, to February 2, 2025, the museum transforms into a showcase of this visual discipline that also serves the public. Visitors can expect hundreds of exhibits from the early 20th century to the present, including iconic posters, exquisitely designed books and magazines, dozens of logos, the evolution of state symbols and navigational systems, and outstanding examples of graphic design from the audiovisual media era. The exhibition is curated by Filip Blažek and Linda Kudrnovská, with David Korecký as the commissioner.

A Tribute to a Field that Represents the Czech Republic Successfully Abroad
The exhibition, which combines famous works of top artists with creations by emerging designers, is one of the major art events of the year. The selection is based on around 150 interviews conducted with Czech graphic designers, theorists, educators, and students during the filming of the television documentary series “Identity”, as well as the preparation of a monograph of over 500 pages of the same name, among other opportunities. The exhibition features established pieces of Czech graphic design recognized by experts, as well as works originally intended for smaller audiences. Visitors can see, for example, a detailed comparison of the Prague metro’s navigational systems from the 1970s, 1980s, and present day in life-size, the first editions of famous children’s books by Josef Lada, Karel Čapek, or Karel Poláček, and even the 20-kilogram book Šumava Dying and Romantic, written, illustrated, typeset, and printed by Josef Váchal, along with the 1932 ceremonial edition of the Czechoslovak Constitution by Josef Sejpka.
The Museum Kampa displays works by hundreds of authors, including Petr Babák, Adolf Born, Tomáš Brousil, Karel Haloun, Clara Istlerová, Klára Kvízová, Zuzana Lednická, Tomáš Machek, Alfons Mucha, Aleš Najbrt, Květa Pacovská, Martin Pecina, Marek Pistora, Jiří Rathouský, Zdeněk Rossmann, Zdeněk Rykr, Jan Solpera, Ladislav Sutnar, Karel Teige, Jana Vahalíková, and Rostislav Vaněk.
Commissioner David Korecký comments, “We rarely agree on which chocolate wrapper is more attractive, but we passionately debate political propaganda, cultural and revolutionary posters, or the aggressiveness and manipulation in advertising. Graphic design is crucial in blending public and private boundaries. Although we commonly evaluate it by aesthetic standards, it excites us because it reflects political, social, and cultural identities.”
The space is organized into six color-coded sections, thoughtfully connecting graphic design with architectural layout, designed by Jan Kloss, Matěj Činčera, and Adam Blažek, with graphic design by Studio Marvil.
Curators Linda Kudrnovská and Filip Blažek state, “The exhibition “Identity – The Story of Czech Graphic Design” is the result of years of research into a cultural community within the socially, politically, and visually turbulent region of Central Europe over the last hundred years. It explores the topic through the current lens of quality, which only time can objectively validate.”