Perhaps you've already seen in the news that the John Lennon Wall in Prague's Malá Strana district (The Lesser Town, in English) was painted over in pure white on 17 November by a group of art students who only left the text "wall is over".

I have to admit that the news of this action shocked me and I didn't understand it at the beginning. After I assimilated the idea, I now reflect on the message that this wall is supposed to send to the world.

But let us talk a bit on how this piece of concrete became the John Lennon Wall. During the 80's, the wall was increasingly covered with graffiti and Beatles' lyrics by the youth of the city, who saw in it a perfect way of communicating their grievances of the communist regime. 

In 1988, the wall was the reason of clashes between the security police and hundreds of students in the nearby Charles Bridge. It became a symbol for ideals such as peace and love. 

Owned by the Knights of Malta, the wall was constantly repainted over the years, which made the first graffitis almost invisible under the many layers of paint. 

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This year is indeed a year of anniversaries. On 17 November, Czechs marked 25 years from the Velvet Revolution, which was a peaceful transition of power in what was then Czechoslovakia. Popular demonstrations paved the way to the end of a 41 year long communist rule and the conversion to a parliamentary republic. Hence, the reason why the art students painted the wall in white.

Initial thoughts about the wall's new color were that it was vandalised. Even the Knights of Malta filed a criminal complaint, but have now retracted it. 

Personally, I do not agree with the wall being painted over in white. Perhaps if I read more about the reasons why these students made such a decision, I would change my mind. 

The truth is, maybe the graffitis weren't the most important feature of the wall at all, but rather the message of freedom that this piece of concrete signifies for the youth of the city and to the rest of the world.

At the John Lennon Wall in Malá Strana, Prague.