UK artist Sam Worthington aka Wasp Elder was recently in the Czech Republic where he painted this new mural in the city of Olomouc.
Titled “Unlock the air”, this 15.5 x 16.40 mtr. mural is inspired by the velvet revolution, a non-violent transition of power from the government of the Communist party of Czechoslovakia to a parliamentary Republic, ending a 41 years of one-party rule in Czechoslovakia There were no democratic elections between 1946 and 1990.
According to the artist, the mural is a representation of unity and mutual support within a dark setting, the setting of what sparked the revolution. The four figures represent the unarmed student demonstration in Prague that took place on November 17 in 1989 and that was brutally cracked down by the police forces. Around 600 of the demonstrators were injured. The following day students at universities in the capital declared a general strike, and were soon joined by actors from Prague’s theatres. On November 19 Civic Forum was established, becoming the voice of the protesters and a partner in dialogue with the Communist regime.
The title of the mural is inspired by Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story “Unlocking the Air” in which the jingling of keys played a central role in the liberation of a fictional country called Orsinia. Sam chose to call his work for Unlock the air because one element of the demonstrations of the Velvet Revolution was the jingling of keys to signify support. The practice had a double meaning—it symbolised the unlocking of doors and was the demonstrators’ way of telling the Communists that their time was over.
Although this a short explanation of the mural, it can be read on many levels, from the literal to the allegorical, inviting the viewer to make sense of the image based on own experiences. Here are a few images of the work.
About the artist
Wasp Elder aka Sam Worthington was born in the UK in 1986. Wasp Elder is a socially engaged artist who paints pictures populated by enigmatic figures and unstressed backgrounds, enticing a sentiment of an obscure journey. His paintings present an evocative combination of solitary figures, collaged scenes, close-ups, obscured features, and potential catastrophe. Through this working process he is able to present often marginalised figures through a dignified representation. Highlighting their humanity outside of the conflict that is seen to define them.
Author: Fran
Founder and editor of Urbanite. Street Art lover who after the finishing her MA thesis on the Mexican and Norwegian muralist movement in the 1920-50s, developed a fascination for street art and graffiti that eventually led to collaborations with different art blogs, including the creation of this one.
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