CGD

Illustration (both figural and abstract) and design have endured a very complicated relationship in the 20th and 21st century. Design has often pretended not to see illustration as a valid human activity, but has sometimes made use of it – to complete an object, a symbol or a message with a decoration or a visual joke. Illustration was simply ignored by design in the 1990s and long after the turn of the century. It was Juraj Horváth who reintroduced illustration to the world of original books and design. Not only is he an active illustrator but he's also adept at creating conditions in which illustration can thrive and find new stimuli and inspiration. He shows exceptional inventiveness when creating cultural platforms and encouraging cultural activism in connection with illustration and, for over a decade, has succeeded in bringing fans, artists and co-organisers together. Organised once a year, TABOOK is an international festival of small-scale publishers. It is one of those events that bear witness to the contemporary world in a very important way – a leading small-scale publisher donates money to spread a highly urgent message. Entitled Troubled Periphery (Neklidné okraje). TABOOK 2015 went beyond the visual arts to take on political engagement and civic participation. The concept and programme for TABOOK 2015 was the brainchild of founder and organiser Terezie Horváthová and backed up by activist-themed no- nonsense graphic design by TABOOK co-founder and designer Juraj Horváth.

Iva Knobloch