“Hello Citizens!” („Ahoj občani!”)

„Ahoj občani!” (“Hello, citizens!”) was how Karel Kryl greeted the audience after his emotional return to Czechoslovakia from exile in December 1989.

An exhibition celebrating the legendary protest singer Karel Kryl marks two important anniversaries: the 80th anniversary of his birth and 30 years since his death. It offers an intimate look into his life and work, featuring items from his personal estate, recently donated to the National Archives by his wife. On display are previously unpublished manuscripts, drawings, photographs, and oil paintings, but also personal treasures, like the guitar he played at his final concert in Chomutov on February 25, 1994 just a week before his untimely death.

Singer, songwriter, and poet, Kryl was one of the leading voices of protest in Czechoslovakia. His music captured the frustrations of the nation after the Soviet-led invasion in August 1968. His iconic song ‘Bratříčku, zavírej vrátka’ (‘Close the Gate, Brother’), written immediately after the invasion, became an anthem for the occupied country. In 1969, Kryl emigrated to Germany, where he worked as a journalist for Radio Free Europe, but also continued to sing and compose.

Karel Kryl passed away in Munich in March 1994, but his legacy lives on. His songs are still sung in pubs and around campfires, even by younger generations who never experienced the world he sang about.

Tuesday–Sunday: 10 am–6 pm