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Event Details:
Time/Date: December 9, 2024, at 6 pm

Location: Embassy of the Czech Republic
3900 Spring of Freedom Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008

RSVP required | Admission is free.

Embassy Policy:The Embassy of the Czech Republic disclaims and excludes any and all liability for any loss, injury, or damage, alleged to have been suffered by or as a result of or otherwise on its premises. No large bags are allowed. Small purses may be checked as you pass through security for entrance. RSVP confirmation and photo ID required.

Parking: Non-metered parking is available on Spring of Freedom Street and Tilden Street.

Closest Metro: The Embassy is about a 15-20 minute walk from the Van Ness Metro Station.
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ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Different Beauty
The exhibition focuses on the powerful stories of brave individuals and communities who face repression and fight for their freedom and identity in different parts of the world. The first series captures young revolutionary fighters in Iran, including the local LGBT community, who risk their lives in the struggle against an authoritarian regime. The second series highlights women on the front lines in Donbas, Ukraine, who have taken up arms to defend their country and their identity. The third series shows the fascinating contrast of men in Cuba who transform into women and queens of the evening, leading ordinary lives as fruit and vegetable vendors in poor Havana neighborhoods during the day. The fourth series focuses on the courage of Belarusian LGBT activists, who, despite constant pressure and danger, organize illegal protests and support the community in Minsk. The exhibition connects these stories not only through powerful photography but also as a universal narrative of resistance, identity, and the desire for freedom.

PHOTOGRAPHER
David Tesinsky (*1990, Prague)
David Tesinsky is an independent freelance photographer of the people’s stories. He has worked on environmental, subcultural, social, and creative documentary as well as fine art photography. Tesinsky uses photography as a tool to open eyes and shutdown stereotypes. In his work, he has covered revolutionary youth in Iran, women warriors in the war-zone in Ukraine, gang-related problems in Guatemala and Mexico, alcoholism in Greenland, transgender in Pakistan, life of Japanese businessmen, ghetto life in Jamaica, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo and Philippines, entire families living in the cemetery in Philippines and Egypt, hard-working kids in Ghana, Rap is our religion – daily street life of the rappers in Detroit, Brooklyn, Bronx, NYC and Baltimore, among other topics. He has held solo exhibitions in Seoul, Tokyo, Dakar, Berlin, Munich, Dresden, Sofia, Prague, Belgrade, Brussels etc. and participated in group exhibitions and festivals all over Europe, USA, Israel, and Canada. His pictures appeared in such publications as The Guardian, VICE, Le Monde, Vanity Fair, The Huff Post, Stern, Spiegel, La Repubblica, The Sun, Greenpeace, and The Times. He has participated nine times at the Czech Press Photo and has been awarded in the Sony World Photography Awards, PDN storytellers, Award of excellence by Pictures of the Year International, and a nominee for World Press Photo.

GUEST SPEAKER
Christopher Walker is Vice President for Studies and Analysis at the National Endowment for Democracy, His work includes overseeing the International Forum for Democratic Studies, the Journal of Democracy, the Reagan-Fascell fellowship program, and the Center for International Media Assistance. Prior to NED, Walker was Vice President for Strategy and Analysis at Freedom House. He has testified before legislative committees, conducted briefings, and written extensively on authoritarian influence, including the concept of "sharp power," which he helped develop. Walker has served as an Adjunct Professor of International Affairs at NYU, and his writings have appeared in major publications like the Financial Times, New York Times, and Foreign Affairs. He has co-edited several influential books on democracy and authoritarianism, including Authoritarianism Goes Global (2016) and Sharp Power: Rising Authoritarian Influence (2017).https://www.ned.org/experts/christopher-walker/