Danish sculptor writes to Hong Kong court asking for return of Tiananmen crackdown monument

Danish sculptor Jens Galschiøt has petitioned a Hong Kong court to reclaim his 1989 Tiananmen crackdown memorial, known as the Pillar of Shame. The eight-meter tall statue, which stood on the University of Hong Kong's campus for over two decades, was removed in 2021 due to safety concerns and legal risks. Galschiøt claims ownership of the sculpture, having lent it to the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements of China in 1997 for permanent display.

He has written to the High Court requesting the return of the eight-meter tall sculpture, stating that he will not permit its confiscation, destruction, disposal, or transfer to any other entity. Galschiøt, who will not personally travel to Hong Kong to collect the sculpture, plans to engage professional art handlers and transport specialists to ensure its safe return to Denmark.

The statue commemorates the victims of the 1989 crackdown, in which Beijing sent troops to disperse pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square, resulting in hundreds, possibly thousands, of deaths. The University of Hong Kong initially removed the sculpture, citing safety reasons, but it has been stored since inside a steel container outside the Kadoorie Centre.