Růžový Tank: made in Czechoslovakia

Title: Růžový Tank: made in Czechoslovakia

Photographer(s): David Kraus, Petr Jedinák, Pavel Hořejši, David Ployhar

Writer(s): Tomáš V. Novák

Designer(s): Jiří Mann

Publisher(s): Gemma 89, Praha, Czech Republic

Year: 1991

Print run:

Language(s): Czech

Pages: 16

Size: 17 x 24 cm

Binding: Softcover

Edition:

Print:

Nation(s) and year(s) of Protest: Czech Republic,1991

ISBN: 8085206234

THE PINK TANK - the IS (Iosif Stalin)-2 tank produced by the Soviet Union in 1943 was used during World War II and was one of the symbols of the Soviet Union's victory over the Nazi Empire. Tank No. 23, also known as Smichov's tank, was exhibited for a long time at today's Kinsky Square (first Soviet Tankers' Square) in the post-war years in Prague, and was considered a national monument.

On 27 April 1991, David Černý, together with a few people, coloured the tank pink. The next day, the uproar was enormous, to the point that even the Soviet embassy protested. Černý was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace and later released. The tank was painted green again, but within a few days, 15 newly elected MPs, on the strength of their immunity status, repainted the tank pink in protest of Černy's arrest.

The pink tank is now located at the military museum in Lešany

(Týnec nad Sázavou) and is no longer a national monument.

The events surrounding the pink tank have actually been going on for a long time. David Černý proposed a new monument in place of the pink tank, which was to be only a part of the tank, as three quarters were to be buried underground.

Indeed, this idea was realised in 2001, but it was the source of further criticism even from Czech politicians (including the then premier and now president Zeman) and was never installed in Kinsky Square. Today, this work is located in Lázně Bohdalec. The work, however, was also the subject of further political provocations by Černý, such as in 2008 when a white band was placed on the tank and again placed on Kinsky Square in protest of the Russian-Georgian conflict. A further curiosity, the original tank was temporarily moved to Prague on the Vltava River, where it remained on display for a few months in 2011 as part of Freedom Week.

1968-1945 = 23

1991-1968 = 23