Throughout history the Czech lands have never had any colonies. However elements associated with the phenomenon of colonialism still present themselves in Czech art and cultural institutions even today. Yet there is limited willingness in the Czech Republic to talk about issues related to the exploitation of the mineral or cultural wealth of former colonies. Art historian Matthew Rampley from the Faculty of Arts whose research was awarded an EXPRO grant by the Czech Grant Agency, is trying to find out why.
"When I started to analyse more design or films in the Czech context, I began to realize how many racist parables and stereotypes there are about other nations, cultures, or religions, and not just the historical ones. Moreover, there are museums in the Czech Republic that have collections of artefacts from formerly colonised countries. What struck me most, however, was the fact that there is almost no debate about the origins of some of the artworks," Rampley explains the impulses that led him to the project Czechs and the Colonial World: Design and Visual Culture since 1848.
Rampley noted that while in Poland or Austria, the colonial heritage has been seriously discussed for a long time, in this country these topics are discussed with considerable reluctance.
Who is blameless
Criticism of colonial attitudes and practices usually concerns the great European empires, and the British-born scholar wants to find out how relevant these issues are to the Czech Republic today. For although it was never directly a colonial power, it was part of Europe's colonial past, and Czechs participated as traders, explorers or administrators in the service of various empires.
Yet the Czechs see themselves more as a country colonised by the Habsburgs, the Third Reich or the Soviet Union and have little understanding of the decolonisation efforts that are occurring across Western Europe.
They often argue in this context that they are a small nation that has never had colonies. Matthew Rampley understands these attitudes, but he believes it is important to talk about these things and open up discussion about the origins of some museum artefacts or the role of individuals in the colonial era, among other things.
Although it is sometimes acknowledged that these objects are found in museum collections in this country, commentators tend to excuse or explain this fact by saying that our situation was different from that of imperial powers like Britain or France.
It is not only in the Czech Republic that the argument is made in discussions about decolonisation that everyone did it, so why should we be blamed for it now. However, Rampley argues that we need to look at whether there were other ways of approaching things at the time, adding that there were criticisms of colonialism as early as the mid-19th century.
The claim about the Czech non-colonial past is therefore only one side of the coin. There is plenty of evidence that the relationship to empires and colonies was much more complex.
"I want to understand this situation and I am trying to suggest that Czechs were also involved in colonialism, not only as victims but also as actors. Among other things, the same kinds of colonial ideas and prejudices exist here as in former empires. A good start, I think, would be to acknowledge the fact that Czechs also enjoyed the benefits of colonialism, and to try to talk openly about the origins of museum artefacts, for example. This can also help us to understand some aspects of contemporary Czech society and to take a more open and critical attitude towards the past."
Moralising is not the way
However, Matthew Rampley stresses that he is not in favour of moralising and creating blame for the actions of the past, which he believes is not a productive way to go. As he says, each act, artefact, or work of art must be considered on its own merits.
"There is certainly no need to return all colonial objects to their original owners or to their countries of origin, but we should talk about the ways in which they came into Czech cultural heritage. And perhaps even take a cue from some European institutions such as the Wereldmuseum (Museum of World Culture) in Leiden or the Weltmuseum in Vienna, which have begun to use the history of artefacts in their collections for education and awareness," Rampley adds.