Author of the Strength of Communities Visual: I feel responsible for how the streets across the Czech Republic will look at a given time

Illustrator Filip Zatloukal spent quite some time in Brussels last year. He brought back experiences that prove even a big city can be a pleasant place to live. According to him, the strength of communities is often the first step toward positive change. But why is a chair the central motif of his poster this year?

What was the first thing that came to your mind when you found out this year’s theme would be The Power of Communities?

I think my first thought was about how people can help each other. I imagined something broken, not quite functional. From there, my thoughts led me to a broken chair, which then appeared in the visual for this year’s festivities. The community is symbolized by several little figures communicating through various activities.

Why was it something broken and not functional?

It wasn’t a negative emotion. Probably because, in recent years, many problems have emerged that people have dealt with. They stood up and solved them together.

During the pandemic and also after the war in Ukraine started, it became clear that Czechs can be very supportive…

Definitely. I also thought about local things like the tornado in Moravia and floods. Communities reacted very positively to these disasters. People didn’t say, “That’s not my problem.” I was looking for an object that could show this strength, and a chair is something I often see thrown away near dumpsters. So it occurred to me that it could represent a DIY approach to solving problems.

Posters you’ll soon start seeing in the streets

Was the fact that you’ve created several visuals for Zažít město jinak in a row more of an advantage or a limitation for you?

Kind of both at the same time. Of course, I’m curious how people will relate to it, which will never be 100% because the groups of people are so diverse. Still, I try to make sure everyone can find some connection with the visual. And since I’ve done it several times already, I have some idea what people need, how they will work with it, and for what purpose they’ll use it. That definitely helps me.

So you didn’t feel pressured?

I always try to do the work as conscientiously as possible, but of course, I feel a certain responsibility for how the streets all over the Czech Republic will look at a certain moment. That it works as it should.

What led you to choose this year’s colors? Is there a particular reason?

Not directly. I chose them with many things in mind, like contrast to the previous year and some continuity. I also considered how it will look on the white background, which I respectfully took over from my predecessors who did the visuals before me. But I also thought about how people will work with the palette in their own local areas.

Have you learned something new over the five editions you’ve worked on Zažít město jinak as a graphic designer and illustrator?

Lots of things. Being in the incubator of organizers is definitely enriching.

What, in your opinion, characterizes a typical organizer?

I’d almost compare it to the question: What is art? There’s no single answer. It’s a broad spectrum of different things. But they are all active people. Someone wants to bring people closer to their creative space, someone local business, someone wants to make a change for the better and is looking for allies to push and realize their goal…

Filip at the neighborhood festivals in 2021

Why is it necessary for people to gather in communities and be active?

I used to think I was active, but Zažít město jinak showed me what that can really look like. When I first attended Zažít město jinak, I even wrote a post about the experience on my then blog. The festival shows people that they don’t have to just accept public spaces that don’t belong to them. It shows how we can use and cultivate these spaces. Change often comes when people around you actually want it.

Why can’t this just be left to the city councils, which are responsible for these things?

I think often the power to change something is missing until people push for it. And city councils should fulfill the wishes of the people they represent. Although people often don’t want many things simply because they can’t imagine them. Zažít město jinak shows them a kind of “rehearsal” for change. From articles I read on the Zažít město jinak website, I know that in Ljubljana they wouldn’t want to give up their city center, which today is for people but used to belong to cars. And in New York, people now welcome congestion charges for the city center, even though at first they strongly resisted it.

You spent quite a lot of time in Brussels last year. What could we learn from there?

Brussels had huge problems with overwhelming car traffic and air pollution. It’s also quite hilly like Prague. But they had the courage to address it. They limited cars in the center. Some streets are even closed at weekends when it’s impossible to do so during the week. They introduced many pedestrian zones with permitted local traffic. Their public space was a big experience for me. When I lived in Holešovice and wanted to walk anywhere, I had to cross two traffic corridors and wait a few minutes at every traffic light. We could be inspired by Brussels’ approach and their effort to make things better — looking for ways to improve.

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