Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, was the site of historical first Pride Parade for the rights of LGBTQ individuals on May 22, 2010. The event was marred by violent clashes with members of the far-right extremist group, the Slovak Solidarity, who threw stones and tear gas grenades at the participants of the parade. Many of the LGBTQ individuals suffered injuries in these confrontations. The march, which began at Hviezdoslav Square in the city center, had to be rerouted to the other side...
The New Nationalism at the Heart of Europe is a large photo and video-art project, in which Tomáš Rafa maps the public manifestations of nationalism, extreme right, racism and lack of tolerance in different countries. Since 2009, the artist documents meetings of radical and revolutionary groups, but also the anti-government and anti-extremist demonstrations, marches and supporting events for the rights of the minorities or clashes of anti-Fascists with supporters of ultra right movements. read more
On May 1, 2015, in Brno, Czech Republic, around 1,500 to 2,000 individuals gathered to oppose a May Day procession organized by the extremist group “Dělnická mládež” (Worker Youth). The protesters blocked access routes to Malinovského Square while chanting slogans like “Náckové ven z Brna” (Nazis out of Brno). The situation escalated as the police intervened to separate the opposing groups, deploying hundreds of riot officers, mounted police, and even a helicopter...
On September 1, 2015, an anti-immigrant protest organized by the far-right People’s Party Our Slovakia (ĽSNS) and its leader Marian Kotleba took place in the city of Trnava. Around two hundred supporters gathered at Trojičné Square, chanting nationalist slogans and displaying anti-immigrant banners. The rally remained mostly peaceful, although one incident occurred when protesters tore a sign reading “I’m ashamed of you” from a young man’s hands. After the demonstration ended, a group of...
On March 27, 2024, Kunsthalle Bratislava hosted a poignant farewell event, marking the end of its existence as an independent institution.This closure resulted from a directive by the Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic to merge Kunsthalle Bratislava with the Slovak National Gallery (SNG), effective April 1, 2024. The decision to dissolve Kunsthalle Bratislava was announced in early 2024. On January 16, 2024, the institution’s director, Jen Kratochvil, resigned following the...
On 17 May 2014, hundreds of people gathered in central Warsaw for the “Marsz Szmat” (Slut Walk), a public demonstration against sexual violence, victim-blaming, and the social stigma faced by survivors of assault. The march began near the Polish Parliament and moved through the city centre, filling the streets with chants and banners demanding respect for women’s rights and bodily autonomy. Participants carried placards declaring that the responsibility for sexual assault always lies with the...
On July 7, 2012, the annual Budapest Gay Pride Parade took place amidst a backdrop of heightened security measures, as the event drew both passionate supporters and vehement opponents. The parade served as a vibrant celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in Hungary while also highlighting the challenges faced by the community in a tense social and political climate. The 2012 Budapest Gay Pride Parade saw thousands of participants take to the streets...
Tens of thousands of nationalists marched in a demonstration organized by far-right groups in Warsaw on November 11th, 2017, as Poles celebrated their country’s Independence Day. The far-right march has become one of the largest such demonstrations in Europe, overshadowing official state observances and other patriotic events. Participants carried banners depicting a far-right symbol dating to the 1930s and expressed sympathy for xenophobic or white supremacist ideas. Speakers spoke of...
On 25 March 2025, Erik Ždiľa, a student at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, presented his work Hymna (Anthem) in front of the Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava. The work was a sound installation in which a compressed-air compressor played the Slovak national anthem on a set of beer bottles. The work was presented in front of the Slovak National Gallery as part of the relay protest Art Will Not Be Silent! The relay protest took place in front of the Slovak National Gallery...
This video captures the civilian population caught in the middle of the ongoing war in Ukraine, which started with the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014. The conflict has been fueled by a hybrid war, involving not only military operations, but also propaganda, cyber attacks, and the support of separatist movements. Despite several ceasefires, the fighting has continued, and the conflict has caused the largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. In 2022, the situation in Ukraine...
In the summer of 2015, the area surrounding Budapest’s Keleti Railway Station became an unexpected and harrowing epicenter of the European refugee crisis. Thousands of refugees, primarily from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, found themselves stranded at Keleti Station Square, transforming the area into a makeshift camp and a vivid illustration of the human toll of war and displacement. As the number of refugees arriving in Budapest surged, the Hungarian government decided to suspend all...
On September 9, 2021, members of Młodzieżowy Strajk Klimatyczny (Youth Climate Strike) staged an occupy protest in front of the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Warsaw. The demonstration demanded urgent government action to address the climate crisis. Protesters gathered with banners reading “Nie ma planety B” (There is no Planet B) and “Działajcie teraz!” (Act Now!), calling for an end to subsidies for fossil fuels, a clear plan to reduce emissions, and a...
On November 28, 2020, activists of the Ogólnopolski Strajk Kobiet (All-Poland Women’s Strike) unveiled a symbolic plaque renaming Rondo Dmowskiego in central Warsaw as Rondo Kobiet (Women’s Roundabout). The action came in the midst of nationwide protests sparked by the tightening of Poland’s abortion law and symbolized both resistance to patriarchal politics and the reclaiming of public space. The plaque, placed at one of Warsaw’s busiest intersections, directly challenged the legacy of Roman...