Surrealism 100. Prague, Tartu, and Other Stories…

Graphic design for an exhibition where Czech and Estonian surrealism enter into a dialogue

2024

WE WORKED ON

Visual Identity
Graphic Design
Typography
Print Design

"Surrealism 100. Prague, Tartu, and Other Stories..." is an exhibition where Czech and Estonian surrealism enter into a dialogue. On one hand, the two are quite different; on the other, they are connected by the complex histories of both countries in the Soviet sphere of influence during the 20th century. Much like Estonia’s cultural and art history, Czech and other Central and Eastern European art have often been unfairly left out of major narratives and overlooked. While Western Europe strongly tells its own story, it is time for us on this side of Europe to do the same.

For the exhibitions graphics, we drew inspiration from the surrealists' use of automatism – creating a bilingual design with the help of an algorithm that determined the placement of the letters. As you read the middle lines, your brain fills in the gaps.

Since the surrealist manifesto itself was designed to be clear and readable, we decided to keep the exhibition's graphic design simple and legible, to appropriately highlight the extraordinary collaboration between the two museums.

Curators: Anna Pravdová, Ph.D, Joanna Hoffmann ja Kristlyn Liier
Graphic Design: Valter Jakovski / Ruum 414
Exhibition Design: Neeme Külm, Kadri Villand / Valge Kuup Studio

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