The stone model in the Liberation Monument in Olomouc commemorates the years 1945 and 1968
Olomouc – A stone model with information indicating the liberation of the city in 1945 and the occupation of Czechoslovakia by Soviet troops in 1968 was installed today near the monument for the liberation by the Red Army in a park not far from the center of Olomouc by members of the architectural studio Ječmen. The stone block with more detailed information about the liberation and subsequent occupation was intended to be placed by the studio in the space in front of the monument as early as 2018 during the reconstruction of its surroundings; however, the proposal was rejected by the then city leadership. The monument itself was repaired with funds from the Russian Federation.
The stone model was installed today near the monument at a time when Russia has been militarily attacking Ukraine for a month. The model features a brief inscription "1945 - liberation, 1968 to 89 - occupation". "We will seek to open a discussion in this cultivated form about whether it is not time to face this issue," said Vojtěch Jemelka from the studio Ječmen to ČTK today. In the original proposal for the stone block for the reconstruction of the monument's surroundings, the text was more comprehensive and was supposed to interpret the events of 1945 from a contemporary perspective and relate them to the year 1968. The councillors then rejected the proposal. "As authors, we repeatedly requested a discussion, to involve historians and authorities regarding the content of the text," remarked Jemelka.
During the reconstruction of the monument to the liberation by the Red Army, according to Jemelka, period bronze plaques were added that experts found in the archive. "From our perspective, they are controversial due to the nature of the message. For example, they proclaim glory to Russian weapons. Therefore, we felt the need to supplement the information there with how we view the events of that time from today's perspective," said Jemelka.
The monument belongs to the city, and the stone model was installed today without its knowledge. "It is essentially a guerrilla action. Given that we have repeatedly tried to open this topic in vain, we want to draw attention to it again in this cultivated form," Jemelka added.
The monument to the liberation by the Red Army was ceremoniously unveiled near the center of Olomouc in July 1945 and is one of the first liberation monuments constructed in Czechoslovakia after World War II. The original design of the monument was created by architect Jaroslav Kovář Jr. The modern adaptation of the monument's surroundings, which was carried out in the 1970s, was designed by architect Zdeněk Štefka. After 1989, the monument fell into disrepair. In 2018, its surroundings were reconstructed, with new paving laid, grass and bushes planted. The monument itself was also repaired.
The stone model was installed today near the monument at a time when Russia has been militarily attacking Ukraine for a month. The model features a brief inscription "1945 - liberation, 1968 to 89 - occupation". "We will seek to open a discussion in this cultivated form about whether it is not time to face this issue," said Vojtěch Jemelka from the studio Ječmen to ČTK today. In the original proposal for the stone block for the reconstruction of the monument's surroundings, the text was more comprehensive and was supposed to interpret the events of 1945 from a contemporary perspective and relate them to the year 1968. The councillors then rejected the proposal. "As authors, we repeatedly requested a discussion, to involve historians and authorities regarding the content of the text," remarked Jemelka.
During the reconstruction of the monument to the liberation by the Red Army, according to Jemelka, period bronze plaques were added that experts found in the archive. "From our perspective, they are controversial due to the nature of the message. For example, they proclaim glory to Russian weapons. Therefore, we felt the need to supplement the information there with how we view the events of that time from today's perspective," said Jemelka.
The monument belongs to the city, and the stone model was installed today without its knowledge. "It is essentially a guerrilla action. Given that we have repeatedly tried to open this topic in vain, we want to draw attention to it again in this cultivated form," Jemelka added.
The monument to the liberation by the Red Army was ceremoniously unveiled near the center of Olomouc in July 1945 and is one of the first liberation monuments constructed in Czechoslovakia after World War II. The original design of the monument was created by architect Jaroslav Kovář Jr. The modern adaptation of the monument's surroundings, which was carried out in the 1970s, was designed by architect Zdeněk Štefka. After 1989, the monument fell into disrepair. In 2018, its surroundings were reconstructed, with new paving laid, grass and bushes planted. The monument itself was also repaired.
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