CGD

The illustrator Marek Pokorný attracted the attention of the Czech Grand Design 2018 jury by his drawings for the comic book Saint Barbara, which he co-prepared with the scripters Vojtěch Mašek and Marek Šindelka. Novotný's work on Saint Barbara is, in the context of the Czech comic-book scene, outstanding due to its lush décor and wide span across a whole range of genres. The artist does not only pursue drawing but also animation and his multimedia approach significantly influced the final form of the book.

The artist perfectly managed to adjust the drawing style of the individual strips to the unsettled atmosphere and cadence of the intriguing story, inspired by an eleven-year old Kuřim cause of the mysterious and puzzling figure of Anička Škrlová. The detailed, realistic renditions of characters and interiors swiftly alternate with schematic sketches while, in an instant, readers are left to inhale the enigmatic genius loci of Chan's camp via images on the verge between infographics and old photography. Some frames look as if Novotný borrowed them from a film reel while next time, the colorful illustrations are reminiscent of a notice board found a Scout clubroom. The inventive graphic design by Nikola Klímová helped keep the rhythm and beat of the work, and its chain – lo and behold, you world of comic books – does not drop down on any of the two hundred pages.

Hana Slívová