Chinese artist sentenced to 3 years in prison over satirical Mao statues

Chinese artist Gao Zhen has been sentenced to three years in prison for creating satirical works of art depicting former leader Mao Zedong, including statues and caricatures. Gao, a U.S.-based member of the internationally known Gao Brothers artistic duo, was arrested in August 2024 while visiting family in China and has been in official custody since.

The Sanhei People's Court in northern Hebei province sentenced Gao after finding him guilty of "infringing upon the reputation of heroes." The charges stem from artworks that authorities claim insulted revolutionary figures, such as the 2009 statue "Mao's Guilt" and a series called "Miss Mao." According to Shane Yi, a researcher at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, the sentence represents a clear violation of freedom of expression, as the works were created before the law Gao was convicted under had been passed.

Amnesty International also criticized the ruling, calling it a deterrent against independent artistic expression and highlighting the lengthy pre-trial detention and maximum three-year prison term imposed on Gao.