demolition

From the intersection where Prague’s Olšanská and Jan Želivský streets meet, the last month and a half has been making more and more noise. Local residents and passers-by hear the sounds of demolition crews daily. It is demolishing the brutalist building of the Central Telecommunication Building, which is also nicknamed “Strougal’s Tower” after the then Prime Minister of the Czechoslovak Republic Lubomír Štrougal, who officially started construction in 1972.

The massive landmark of Prague’s Žižkov already faced a number of conflicting opinions during its operation. They reappeared when it was decided to demolish it. Some appreciated the move, others felt nostalgic regret. Now the building, which is currently being demolished, has once again come to the public’s attention. A mysterious painting measuring 16×8 meters appeared on it.

The giant painting called “Savior of women” was created by the artist JW17, who has been painting graffiti on abandoned buildings since 2007. “Graffiti is freedom, rebellion and art together. These are the essences that I searched. In general, you can paint either legally or illegally. Abandoned buildings are kind of an intermediate step. It’s still illegal, but you probably won’t be held accountable. If the owner has left the place to deteriorate for decades, a little paint on the wall is not a major impairment,” he explains JW17.

One of his latest works is the painting on “Mordor” in Žižkov. “I chose it precisely because it will be demolished. Such brutalist objects are exceptional and I take no pleasure in their deterioration or demolition. When I found out that the building was going to fall to the ground, I took advantage of the situation when there was actually nothing left to destroy.” says the artist.

He did not want to reveal how the author of the painting got into the building. But in the video where he creates the work, you can see how he moves with several other people and workers on the roof of the telecommunications tower during the day. “I won’t reveal how I entered the facility. I don’t want anyone trying to get in there either. A lot of people could then be queuing up for an excursion,” states JW17, knowing that every action has its risks. “But in general, I can deal with anything and prepare for anything. It’s not often that I overestimate my strength. But the telecommunications tower was a big bite,” he adds.

The street art artist mainly creates on the walls of abandoned buildings and objects not only in Prague, but throughout the Czech Republic and abroad. His motifs often include naked or partially exposed women. “Overall, my work is absurd and supported by my possibly ‘moron’ sense of humor,” describes the artist.

Together with the construction of the Žižkov Central Telecommunication Building after the demolition, which is expected to take a year and three quarters in total, and therefore the building should be razed to the ground in October 2024, the “Savior of Women” will also disappear. But that doesn’t bother the author. “Paintings outside are simply subject to rapid destruction. Everyone who creates on walls must be reconciled with this. The final product should not be the work itself, but its documentation. That is why I am not bothered by the destruction of my things,” concludes JW17.