“a thousand colours”
About the project
Muôn màu, “a thousand colours”, opens up the topic of mental health and neurodivergence in the Vietnamese community in Czechia.
Through personal stories, art and community gatherings we help break the stigma around mental health problems and create space for sharing.
Mental health is still a big taboo in the community. People with mental health difficulties or neurodivergence often face misunderstanding from their families and those around them.
Fear of rejection and shame can trap them in a vicious circle in which isolation makes their inner distress and the symptoms themselves even worse.
We believe that every mind and every way of experiencing has its own unique shades.
Through art workshops we give inner feelings shape and space and show that all the colours of the human mind are valid – and that you don’t have to carry an invisible burden alone.
We look for and share the stories of people who show that you can live a full, meaningful and colourful life even with a mental health condition or illness.
from a Muôn màu art workshop
What Muôn màu means
Muôn màu is a Vietnamese phrase that can be loosely translated as “thousands of colours”, “many colours” or “colourfulness”. But it is not only about colours in the literal sense. In the project’s name they are a metaphor for the diversity of people, their minds, emotions, experiences and the ways they perceive the world.
“We want to show how differently people can experience the world, and that despite our differences we can understand and enrich each other.”
How the project comes to life
stories
The personal experiences of people who decided to open up topics that are rarely talked about.
Story galleryart
Creating as another way to express what we sometimes don’t have the right words for.
The art of sharingdialogue
Gatherings, workshops and discussions that create space for questions and mutual understanding.
Workshopsawareness
We connect personal experiences with the perspective of mental health professionals.
We are preparing a brochure of stories and an exhibition of paintings. We will announce the date on this website and on Instagram @tamly.cz.
how it began
From cards to an exhibition
Muôn màu builds on TAMly’s conversation cards and community gatherings. They showed us that when people are given a safe tool, they can open up even very sensitive topics within families and across generations.
We were inspired by the ADHDee exhibition by Denisa Olšavská, whose photographs showed the world through the eyes of a person with ADHD and that ADHD need not be seen only as a deficit, but also as a different way of thinking and a source of creativity. In January 2026, together with Denisa Olšavská and the association Akrasia we held a panel discussion on ADHD. It was very well received and showed us that the topic resonates in our community and deserves space. This experience encouraged us to create this project.
Who Muôn màu is for
- people with their own experience of mental illness or mental health problems, from the Vietnamese community and beyond,
- parents and loved ones trying to better understand mental health,
- Czech friends, partners and other minorities with a similar story,
- psychologists, teachers, social workers and other professionals,
- everyone interested in mental health in connection with Vietnamese culture.
Who is behind the project
Muôn màu is part of the TAMly initiative, which creates space for dialogue about mental health, relationships, identity and the experience of living between cultures.
- Tu Anh Vo
- project coordinator
- Bao Nhi Do
- project manager
- Veronika Ngo
- artist and workshop facilitator
- Anna Pohořelá
- exhibition production
- Eliška Kálalová
- expert advisor