Book Presentation: Hi, Citizens!

Karel Kryl’s work reacted intensively to developments in the social situation and was publicly engaged. For more than two decades, it was also closely linked to the singer’s work at Radio Free Europe. The artist sharply criticised the occupation in August 1968 and the pragmatism of normalisation society, and later – from similar positions – also opposed Czechoslovakia’s transformation after 1989. He consistently called for the establishment of a responsible civil society. The book Ahoj občani! (Hi, Citizens!) is a companion publication to an exhibition of the same name organised by the National Archives and the Museum of Prague at the House at the Golden Ring. It is the most extensive Kryl exhibition to date, including a number of documents from his personal archive that were previously inaccessible to visitors or readers.