The exhibition is organized as an collateral event of Artwall gallery exhibition program and takes place at art | SPACE gallery (Anglo-American University, Lázeňská 2, Praha 1)

Slovak artist Tomáš Rafa will exhibit selected works from his flags project, originally exhibited in National Technical Library and the Artwall Gallery in Prague 7, from July to Sept. 2013. Rafa's flags are inspired by the Czech Republic's red, white and blue standard chevron design and the international Roma flag which is blue and dark green with a red spoked-wheel, and these varied flags have been created to represent a new symbol of unity in the Czech Republic. They were unveiled on July 16th in Prague as a “Competition for the New Czech-Roma Flag.”

Overall, the intention of Rafa’s project was to create a dialogue about patriotism, nationalism and tolerance to minorities in the Czech Republic. And so, the artist was shocked in December, when he was issued with a fine of 2,000 CZK for “defamation of the Czech flag” by Prague 7 authorities. The investigation of this case was initialized by activists in the far-right political party DSSS.Tomáš Rafa does not agree to pay this fine, and he is communicating with Prague 7 authorities about this matter until present. In other words, he is fighting for his own freedom of expression.

Tomáš Rafa will discuss the ongoing case at the opening (Feb. 7th) and he will also be showing videos from his project “New Nationalism.eu”. Five flags will also be displayed in the art | SPACE.

Contact: Tomáš Rafa: tomas.rafa@gmail.com / Markéta Dolejšová: marketa@artwallgallery.cz