A cultural evening dedicated to Václav Havel, one of the most important figures in modern European history, took place on Friday, October 9, 2026, at the Actaeon Classic in Rhodes, on the occasion of the presentation of the visual poetry exhibition “ANTICODES” (Antikódy). The event was organized by the Czech Association Greece, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Athens, as part of the events commemorating the 90th anniversary of Václav Havel’s birth. The exhibition highlighted a lesser-known side of the Czech writer, intellectual, human rights advocate, and former President of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic: that of a creator of experimental and visual poetry.
The event was opened by the President of the Czech Association Greece, Lenka Kanellia, who welcomed the guests and spoke about the significance of presenting Václav Havel’s work in Rhodes. She also shared a personal memory from her childhood in what was then communist Czechoslovakia, shortly before the Velvet Revolution of 1989. At the age of nine, on her way to school every day, she would see the slogan “Havel na Hrad” (“Havel to Prague Castle”), through which citizens expressed their desire to see Václav Havel become the country’s president and their hope for political change. She herself, not knowing at the time who Havel was or what the slogan meant, asked her mother, who replied, “If he succeeds, life will be better for all of us.”
A special moment of the evening was the address by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Greece, Mr. Ivo Šilhavý, who shared with the audience personal experiences from his collaboration with Václav Havel. Mr. Šilhavý worked for President Havel from the mid-1990s and continued to collaborate with him even after his presidential term ended. In his speech, he described Havel as a visionary, intellectual, and writer who possessed the rare ability to listen to others and approached even the highest office of state with humility, while noting the atmosphere of hope and positive energy he created around him, as well as his deep faith in the power of words.
The Deputy Regional Governor for Administrative Reform of the Region of South Aegean, Ms. Charikleia Yasirani, who spoke about the importance of multicultural cooperation and the bonds that unite the peoples of Europe within the framework of the European Union. At the same time, she expressed her support for the development of cultural and educational dialogue between Rhodes and the Czech Republic, as well as her willingness to support the Czech Association’s future activities on the islands of the South Aegean. The event was also attended by Lucie Macháčková, a representative of the National Library of the Czech Republic, and Vasiliki Michalaki, a member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce.
The evening continued with a special narrative and artistic program, curated and presented by Lenka Kanellia and Alexandra Palioura, Vice President of the Czech Association of Greece. Instead of a conventional biographical presentation, the two presenters chose to introduce Václav Havel to the audience through his own words, creating the sense of an imaginary conversation with him. Through selected excerpts from his letters, interviews, books, and speeches, his journey was traced from theater and literature to his activism as a dissident, the Velvet Revolution, and his election as President. The focus was on his thoughts on democracy, freedom, human responsibility, ethics in politics, and the power of speech. The narrative was accompanied by musical selections linked to Havel’s personal taste in music.
The presentation concluded with a reference to “ANTICODES” themselves—the visual poems Havel created in the 1960s, transforming words into images. Through humor, irony, and experimentation with language, these works pose timeless questions about communication, truth, and the power of words.
The Czech Association is strengthening its presence in Rhodes
The presentation of “ANTICODES” marks the Czech Association’s first cultural event in Rhodes aimed at the island’s general public, signaling another step forward in the development of Greek-Czech cultural relations. The Czech Association has been active in Rhodes since January 2025, organizing educational, cultural, and community activities for the Czech and Slovak communities.
Since September 2026, the Czech School of Rhodes has been operating on the premises of the International Multicultural School of Rhodes, which is managed by the Association of Multicultural Families of Rhodes (S.P.O.R.), forming part of a broader educational community that brings together different languages and cultures. The Czech community library, which was officially inaugurated on October 10, is also located in the same space.
“ANTICODES” is a traveling exhibition that has already been presented in various regions of Greece, including Agrinio, Ioannina, Lefkada, and Zakynthos, bringing Václav Havel’s work and ideas to the Greek public.
Acknowledgments to Partners and Supporters
The Czech Association Greece extends its warmest thanks to the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Athens for its cooperation and ongoing support in presenting the “ANTICODES” in various regions of Greece. Special thanks go to the Rhodes Hoteliers Association and personally to its President, Mr. Yiannis Papavasiliou, as well as to the Blue Bay Beach Resort, for their invaluable contribution to the organization of the event. Warm thanks also go to Zoë Driva of Rhodes Cycling, a steadfast and invaluable partner of the Czech Association in Rhodes.
Special recognition is due to the members of the Czech Association’s local chapter and its volunteers, whose active participation and personal contributions made the event possible and support the development of the Association’s activities on the island. The event was held with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
About the Czech Association Greece
The Czech Association Greece has been active since 2021 with the aim of supporting the Czech and Slovak communities in Greece and fostering cultural, educational, and social ties between the Czech Republic and Greece. Based in Athens and active throughout Greece, it organizes cultural events, educational programs, Czech language courses, community libraries, and initiatives that strengthen cooperation between the communities.