Saturday Art Workshop: Say It with a Mask I / to the Art of Activism exhibition

During the art workshops, we will introduce participants, in an interactive and creative way, to The Art of Activism exhibition that focuses on protest and engaged art in the Czech Republic. Together, we will explore the work of Czech and international artists and collectives who reflect on current social issues in their art, such as housing affordability, equal opportunities, environmental sustainability and safe coexistence in cities.

The workshops will focus on several topics. For example, we will try to sketch and draw designs for contemporary, futuristic and experimental monuments and installations for public spaces in reproductions of photographs of various parts of Prague. Our inspiration will be, for example, the Jan Palach Monument, which is under the administration of GHMP. This workshop will deliberately and symbolically take place during the commemoration of the anniversary of Jan Palach’s act of activism – his self-immolation.

Other workshops will be held in cooperation with the organisation Sametové posvícení (Velvet Carnival). As part of the events Say It with a Mask I and II, visitors will be able to make their own allegorical stylised masks, into which they can encode their personal symbols, thoughts and values. A joint metaphorical work, Morana, will also be created, which will be ritually thrown into the Vltava River the following day, as is tradition.

The workshops will be complemented by the creation of activist posters, stickers, banners and badges/pins that will respond to current topics. Should participants be interested, these creations can also be transferred to public spaces and allowed to interact with their surroundings. As part of our use of new media, we will try out various ways of manipulating images and photographs in graphics software on iPads. The workshops will develop visual, information and media literacy while promoting creative and critical thinking. The focus of the exhibition and educational programmes develops an understanding of the importance of civic activism and social engagement (e.g., protecting democratic values, etc.).