Banned by Beijing: Calling out transnational repression through art
Making art is a defining and treasured trait of being human. Its story is not only weaved into the that of humankind but showcases its essence and wonder - spiritual, philosophical, functional, decorative, conceptual. It is utterly human. A string of ignominious episodes in history tell of those who recognised the unique power of creative expression and sought to crush it. Again and again, it’s been judged an enemy of subjugation and a mortal danger to despots.
A clear case is the Chinese Communist Party’s repression of its peoples’ right to freedom of expression. This has been widely documented, from the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre and the more recent Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang to the countless number of writers and artists locked up in jails or under house arrest.
However, few realise that its ceaseless attempts to stifle all criticism of the party and country extend beyond its borders, including into Europe. According to Freedom House, the CCP is currently conducting the most sophisticated, global campaign of transnational repression in the world.
The aim of this exhibition is to highlight the CCP’s transnational repression in Europe by and through the works and stories of dissident artists. It aims not only to warn but also to celebrate those who, whilst in
forced exile, keep facing down the long arm of censorship with the vigour of artistic expression.
Curator:
Euchar Gravina, Artistic Director at St John’s Waterloo, in collaboration with the artists and Index on Censorship. Produced by: Index on Censorship and St John’s Waterloo.
Artists:
Badiucao is a Chinese-Australian artists and human rights defender. As well as being subject to harassment and smear campaigns, he has faced multiple efforts to censor his work, including in the Czech Republic, Italy, and most recently, in Poland.
Lumli Lumlong are a husband and wife painting duo, whose artwork focuses on social issues, particularly human rights and authoritarianism. They left Hong Kong for the UK in the summer of 2021 after they were accused by the press of promoting Hong Kong independence. Their book, “Liberation of Art”, has been banned in Hong Kong. Even while in Europe, they have been subject to efforts to intimidate them and interfere with their work.
vawongsir is a cartoonist and former secondary school visual arts teacher in Hong Kong. He created cartoons reflecting the 2019 protests that were widely shared by the Hong Kong community at home and abroad. In 2020, he faced disciplinary action over a series of political cartoons deemed “inappropriate” by the Education Bureau in Hong Kong. He continues to make and share art about Hong Kong in exile.
The exhibition:
1. Lumli Lumlong: The Publisher (2016) (oil on canvas, 92cm x 72cm)
2. Lumlong: Scale Man (2011) (oil on canvas, 125cm x 200cm)
3. Lumli: Tank Man (2014) (oil on canvas, 125cm x 200cm)
4. vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm)
5. Lumli Lumlong: The Zipper (2012) (oil on canvas, 200cm x 125cm)
6. vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm)
7. vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm)
8. right: Lumli: The Brainwashed (2012) (oil on canvas, 92cm x 73cm)
left: Lumlong: National Education (2012) (oil on canvas, 51cm x 41cm)
9. Badiucao: The prisoner of umbrella Joshua Huang 雨伞囚犯 (print on foamboard, 36cm x 29.7cm)
10. Lumli Lumlong: Red Brick Wall People (2022) (oil on canvas, 200cm x 125cm)
11. Lumli Lumlong: Thousand Hands Man (2019) (oil on canvas, 200cm x 125cm)
12. right: Badiucao: “#A4REVOLUTION CHINA” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
left: Badiucao: “Wulumuqi Rd.(M)” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
Badiucao: “#A4REVOLUTION CHINA” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
13. Lumli Lumlong: Apple Man (2023) (oil on canvas, 92cm x 73cm)
14. right: Badiucao: “XI IS WATCHING YOU” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
left: vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm)
15. right: Badiucao: Devouring II (print on foamboard, 39cm x 29.7cm)
left: Badiucao: Devouring I (print on foamboard, 39cm x 29.7cm)
16. right: Lumli Lumlong: Hong Kong Fooide (2023) (oil on canvas, 51cm x 41cm)
left: Lumli Lumlong: Hidden Agenda (2023) (oil on canvas, 41cm x 51cm)
17. Badiucao: “FREE UYGHURS” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
With China becoming an increasingly dominant world power, there is growing evidence that an emboldened Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is employing a range of tools aimed at pressuring or manipulating those beyond its borders to respect – or even align with – the CCP’s political agenda. Examples are numerous, but include demands made to a French history museum to remove certain words from its exhibition about Mongol emperor Genghis Khan in 2020. The exhibition did not end up going ahead.
Banned by Beijing seeks to raise awareness of the CCP’s subversion of freedom of expression in Europe by creating a repository of reports and articles on the issue, and by providing a platform to those who are most affected by transnational repression
