New mural in Prague 5 shines light on a rare disease

A new mural in Prague's Smíchov neighborhood is drawing attention to Huntington’s disease, a rare and debilitating genetic disorder. The massive artwork, spanning over 12 meters in height and width, was created by students of the Smíchov Secondary Industrial School in collaboration with Colombian artist DjLu Juegasiempre.

The mural is a visual representation of children suffering from the neurodegenerative disorder, and its goal is to increase awareness of this incurable illness. The project coincides with the Huntington's Disease Youth Organization international congress, which runs through March 16 at Prague's Clarion Congress Hotel.

The new mural is positioned on the façade of the school building, situated at the busy intersection of V Botanice and Preslova streets. Previously home to billboards, the wall was empty for some time before the opportunity arose to transform it into an impactful work of art.

The mural was created using stencil techniques, a process that involved creating 270 cardboard stencils that were then used to apply paint to the wall. The students, guided by Juegasiempre, worked from Sunday through Wednesday this week to complete the piece. To reach the towering height of the wall, the team utilized a movable platform, ensuring precision in their application of the artwork.

The mural depicts eight children from Venezuela and Colombia, regions with personal significance for the artist, as he hails from Bogotá. These children are portrayed suffering from Huntington’s disease, which is characterized by progressively worsening motor impairments, dementia, and emotional and behavioral disorders.

The disease, which has no cure, severely affects an individual’s ability to speak, remember, and perform everyday tasks. It is passed down genetically, with a 50 percent chance of transmission from an affected parent.

The mural is the first of its kind in Europe, following similar projects in Colombia, and is part of a broader movement to raise awareness about Huntington’s disease.

The project has garnered support from various organizations, including INWARD, Factor-H, and the Prague 5 municipal district.

"We’re happy that murals in Prague 5 are continuing to thrive and that we were able to find the perfect spot for this one," says Lukáš Herold, deputy mayor of Prague 5. "Art has a unique ability to connect people and spark important conversations about topics that might otherwise be overlooked."

The collaboration between local students and an international artist underscores the power of community engagement through art, and represents the latest large-scale Prague mural aimed at social awareness following pieces tackling domestic violence and the war in Ukraine.

"This mural is meant to increase awareness of the disease, but it also carries a message of unity and hope for the future," adds Juegasiempre, whose words also adorn the mural. "Awareness is the seed of change.”