《The Most Beautiful Czech Books》Across the Pages: A Dialogue Between Czech Design and Literature
The Not Just Library, operated by the Taiwan Design Research Institute (TDRI), is proud to present its latest exhibition, The Most Beautiful Czech Books, opening today. This exhibition offers a compelling exploration of the sophisticated integration between visual design and literary expression in contemporary Czech publishing.
The exhibition is organized into two main sections, ranging from a curated selection of award-winning works from a prestigious international book design competition to a contemporary Czech literary anthology accompanied by original illustrations. Through this cross-disciplinary dialogue between image and text, the exhibition invites audiences to delve into the rich and diverse landscape of Czech book design.
BOOK BATH｜The 59th Edition of The Most Beautiful Czech Books
This section features 30 selected works from The Most Beautiful Czech Books of the Year, an annual competition regarded as the most prestigious and long-standing award in Czech book design. Founded in 1965, the competition is co-organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and the Museum of Czech Literature, now marking its 59th edition.
Each year, publishers, designers, and students from art and printing schools across the Czech Republic submit outstanding publications for evaluation. An international panel of judges assesses the entries based on overall visual design, printing quality, binding creativity, and design language. The competition not only honors exceptional craftsmanship but also serves as a barometer of contemporary Czech publishing aesthetics.
The 59th edition saw 336 entries, covering seven major categories: professional literature, belles-lettres, children’s and young adult books, textbooks, art books, catalogues, and limited editions or author monographs. The competition also includes dedicated categories for student and young creators, encouraging the next generation of design talent and reflecting the dynamic evolution of Czech visual culture.
These selected works represent the profound heritage and inventive vitality of Czech book design, showcasing how books serve as a unique medium that traverses both cultural and artistic realms. Through these works, we invite visitors to reconsider the relationship between reading and visuality, and to discover the charm of Central European design.
BATHHOUSE｜From Literature to Visual Interpretation: What Is Lacking Outside, We Seek Within
The second section centers on the Czech Centre Taipei’s recent publication What Is Lacking Outside, We Seek Within, a literary anthology featuring selected excerpts from eleven important Czech prose works spanning the past thirty years. This collection offers a compelling overview of contemporary Czech literature—its voices, traditions, and social reflections that resonate beyond geographic and cultural boundaries, echoing shared experiences between Czechia and Taiwan.
Seven renowned Czech illustrators were invited to create original visual interpretations of the selected texts. In addition to these new illustrations, the exhibition presents their extended works, including picture books, posters, and ceramic creations. Visitors can explore the original Czech titles, the anthology, and other published works by these artists, forming a rich, layered dialogue between literature and visual storytelling.
The picture books showcased are particularly suitable for families and children, offering a warm, imaginative entry point into Czech culture and illustration. At the same time, the distinctive poster and ceramic works by the illustrators offer an inspiring glimpse into Czech contemporary aesthetics, making this section especially appealing to graphic designers and creative professionals.
Through this interdisciplinary display, we invite audiences to experience Czech literature and art from multiple perspectives—where text transforms into image, and stories expand into objects—demonstrating how creative collaborations can enrich cultural expression across mediums.
This exhibition highlights not only the dual brilliance of Czech contemporary design and literature, but also the ongoing and deepening cultural exchange between Taiwan and the Czech Republic. We welcome all readers and visitors to Not Just Library to experience the creativity and intellectual energy embedded in Czech books.
Exhibition Information
Exhibition Period｜May 20 (Tue) – August 10 (Sun), 2025
Opening Hours｜10:00–18:00 (Last ticket entry at 17:30)
Venue｜Not Just Library
Admission｜NT$50 / NT$40 (for groups of 10 or more) / Free admission for eligible concession holders
Organizers｜Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, Department of Industrial Development, Ministry of Economic Affairs (Taiwan), Czech Centre Taipei
Co-organizers｜Taiwan Design Research Institute, Not Just Library, Czech Economic and Cultural Office, Museum of Czech Literature
Official Links｜Not Just Library