David Černý: He was born and raised in former Czechoslovakia and „knows better than anyone else what oppression means.” With the fall of the Iron Curtain, there was a radical transformation in his hometown—Prague, where he still lives. Černý himself says that he „is not a political animal,“ yet his artworks, unvarnished and confrontational, have everything to do with the truth of the times. According to him, his older works are „more relevant than ever and clearly show that while time changes, the human brain does not.”
Černý, according to many, masters „the art of balancing between controversy and humor like no one else.“ He first gained fame in 1991 when he painted a Soviet tank pink in his native Prague as a war memorial. Since then, his „acts of artistic civil disobedience,“ installations, and exhibitions have continued to provoke reactions around the world.
This year, Černý sparked discussion with two butterfly sculptures placed on the facade of the Máj department store on Prague's Národní Street. Their bodies mimic a Spitfire fighter plane. The sculptures were installed by climbers a week ago. Prague's heritage officials have permitted the placement of the sculptures on Máj for one year. Shortly after the installation of the sculptures, some experts criticized them. The Club for Old Prague stated that the design shows signs of typical kitsch, and its overtly appealing motif aims to fascinate while also evoking emotional memories of Czechoslovak aviators. Černý rejects this criticism.
Muselum, Nádražní 2, Prague 1
