ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Arthur Jafa's Exhibition at Galerie Rudolfinum Explores Black Representation and Contextual Dissonance

exhibition · 2026-04-20

On January 17, 2019, Arthur Jafa's exhibition titled 'A Series of Utterly Improbable, Yet Extraordinary Renditions' debuted at Galerie Rudolfinum in Prague, where it will be displayed until March 31. The showcase includes his notable 2016 video 'Love is the Message, the Message is Death,' along with significant pieces such as 'Jonathan' (2017), 'Black Flag' (2017), and 'Pledge of Allegiance 1848' (2017). Jafa's 2013 work 'Apex' features 841 images across eight minutes. In a conversation, he elaborates on the concept of 'contextual dissonance' involving black figures in predominantly white environments. The exhibition also reflects the Czech Republic's limited acceptance of black individuals, as indicated by a 2015 EQUINET survey, and is unlikely to be showcased in nearby nations due to their political situations.

Key facts

  • Arthur Jafa's exhibition ran from January 17 to March 31, 2019 at Galerie Rudolfinum in Prague
  • The show includes 'Love is the Message, the Message is Death' (2016), a seven-minute film set to Kanye West's 'Ultralight Beam'
  • 'Jonathan' (2017) depicts the 1970 Marin County Courthouse incident involving Jonathan Jackson and Judge Harold Haley
  • 'Black Flag' (2017) is a hand-sewn Confederate Flag painted matte black
  • 'Pledge of Allegiance 1848' (2017) shows African-American children saluting the U.S. flag before slavery's abolition
  • Jafa's video 'Apex' (2013) features 841 images over eight minutes with a techno soundtrack
  • A 2015 EQUINET survey found the Czech Republic had the EU's least tolerant attitudes toward black people
  • The exhibition is unlikely to tour Hungary, Poland, or Slovakia due to their current political climates

Entities

Artists

  • Arthur Jafa
  • Kanye West
  • Hans Ulrich Obrist
  • Jonathan Jackson
  • George Jackson
  • Harold Haley

Institutions

  • Galerie Rudolfinum
  • ArtReview
  • EQUINET
  • Black Panther
  • Soledad Brothers

Locations

  • Prague
  • Czech Republic
  • London
  • New York
  • Marin County Courthouse
  • Hungary
  • Poland
  • Slovakia
  • EU
  • Austro-Hungarian Empire
  • Nazi Empire
  • Soviet Empire

Sources