China: Dissident artist jailed for satirical Mao sculptures
Sculptor Gao Zhen was charged under China's "Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs." His supporters have called for his immediate release.
China has sentenced dissident artist Gao Zhen to three years in prison for creating satirical sculptures of former leader Mao Zedong. The sculptures, created in the 2000s, addressed sensitive topics such as the Cultural Revolution and the Tiananmen Square massacre. Gao, who lives in New York, was arrested during a visit to Beijing in August 2024 and found guilty of infringing upon the reputation of heroes.
The artworks in question, "Mao's Guilt" and the "Miss Mao" series, were created as early as 2005, long before the 2018 and 2021 legislation that prohibits such criticism. Gao's wife and son, who are US citizens, have been barred from leaving China since his detention. Human rights groups have condemned the verdict, calling it a violation of freedom of expression.
Amnesty International's China Director Sarah Brooks stated that the lengthy pre-trial detention and the maximum three-year sentence demonstrate the authorities' determination to deter independent artistic expression.
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