<aside> 🌐 https://tmavomodry.cz/

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For the 34th edition of the Tmavomodrý Festival, I had the honor of continuing the visual identity I established the previous year, which celebrates the talents of blind musicians against the backdrop of Brno’s iconic landmarks. This year’s design, however, carried a new, deeply emotional significance.

On the evening of July 1st, 2024, Benjamin Levíček, a gifted 20-year-old blind musician from Brno, passed away suddenly due to heart failure. Despite his young age, a talented violinist, flutist, and singer, Benjamin had a profound legacy in the music world. He showcased his original piece, "Bohémská," during the 2023 competition "Nevídaná píseň" and collaborated with the well-known influencer Michal Horák on a song. Benjamin’s music resonated with audiences at concerts like "Světlo pro světlušku." His last farewell occurred on Thursday, July 11th, at St. Thomas Church in Brno. Coming from a musically gifted family, with his father a soloist at Janáček's Opera and his brother a pianist and organist, Benjamin's journey in music was remarkable. Despite his blindness and diabetes, he became an accomplished artist, performing with symphony orchestras and renowned musicians, including Pavel Šporcl.

In collaboration with the festival organizers, we agreed that this year’s visual would be a tribute to Benjamin. I redesigned the main illustration to feature him, capturing his blonde, untamed hair and violin as heartfelt homage. The design remained consistent with the previous year’s blue-toned style, ensuring visual continuity while introducing a profound narrative shift.

This year’s concert featured blind and visually impaired young artists, students, and teachers from ZUŠ schools in Prague, Brno, and Levoč, and was held in Červený kostel, an entirely new venue for the festival. The shift to this sacred space brought a unique and elevated atmosphere to the event. As a mother, I was particularly delighted by the children’s corner in the church, where my son happily played while I enjoyed the music and the design’s presence in such a meaningful setting.

Once again, posters were displayed across Brno, taking over the large poster barrel near McDonald’s and appearing in various city locations such as Zelný trh, Šilingrovo náměstí, and Malinovského náměstí.

This project challenged me creatively and emotionally, and I am grateful for the opportunity to honor Benjamin’s legacy. I’m excited to see how the festival’s visual identity continues to evolve in the future.