Covered in street art and political messages, the John Lennon Wall in Prague has been a well-known symbol of peace for decades. Artists from 27 EU countries, Norway and the Ukraine have now redesigned the wall.
The idea generator and curator of the project is the Czech artist Pavel Šťastný. It took place under the motto “Wall of Freedom and Energy” as part of the Czech EU Council Presidency, which lasts until the end of 2022. The newly designed wall is now also set to go on a European tour – at least as a photo on an inflatable wall mockup that will soon be on display in Paris and other European capitals.
Artists from across the ?? are repainting the John Lennon Wall in Prague?
?? proud to be a part of #WallofEnergyandFreedom
with Iva Mrázková & Pitt Brandenburger pic.twitter.com/rop5EMd5ne— Luxembourg Embassy in the Czech Republic (@LUinPrague) September 7, 2022
“It’s a utopia that world peace prevails, we don’t have to kid ourselves about that,” said German street art artist Denis Klatt at the vernissage on Wednesday. His new picture on the wall shows a dove of peace dropping its chains and looking for the key to happiness. Next to it, Ukrainian artist Viktoria Savchuk painted a destroyed tank in a field of sunflowers.
Prague’s John Lennon Wall is currently being painted over by artists from all over Europe in a Czech EU presidency project named Wall of Energy and Freedom. pic.twitter.com/QpoeP1S4eQ
— Ian Willoughby (@Ian_Willoughby) September 7, 2022
Since the 1970s, the wall near the Charles Bridge, actually the outer wall of an estate owned by the Order of Malta, has been a place of protest against communist rule. After the death of John Lennon in 1980, a spontaneous memorial was created here, which soon became a symbol of freedom and peace. Despite all attempts by the communist government to whitewash the pictures, it was repeatedly repainted. So the fact that the Wall is still constantly changing today is part of it. Today the wall is a popular motif for tourists.
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