Joska Skalnik, an influential contemporary artist from the Czech Republic, opened an exhibition of his work at the National Gallery of Jamaica in Kingston last Sunday.

Skalnik is highly regarded for his participation with the majority of Czech artists in the fight for democracy and human rights during the communist totalitarian regime and Soviet occupation. Like his friend Vaclav Havel - writer, dissident and later president of the Czech Republic - Skalnik was imprisoned.

The view from his prison cell window on to the clear blue sky was a source of inspiration, which led him to use mainly blue in his abstract symbolic work - a legacy of the 1989 Velvet Revolution which helped return democracy to the Czech Republic.

Photographer Winston Sill was at the opening of the exhibition and captured some highlights.

Piece called 'Situation' by Joska Skalnik.

'Reliquary of Flying' by Joska Skalnik.

An untitled piece by Joska Skalnik.

Jeremy Cresswell (left), British High Commissioner, Stanislav Slavicky (centre), Ambassador of the Czech Republic, and Joska Skalnik discuss the featured work.

Ambassador of the Czech Republic, Stanislav Slavicky (left), and Gianna Fakhourie chat about art at the exhibition called 'Art and Freedom', featuring works by noted Czech artist Joska Skalnik, held at the National Gallery, Kingston, last Sunday.

Singer and songwriter Sezi (left) and fashion designer Lubica make a pretty picture themselves.