Artist Faces Prison in Secretive Trial Over Satirical Mao Zedong Sculptures
The New York-based artist Gao Zhen, renowned for his provocative satirical sculptures of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, faced a closed-door trial on Monday over accusations of "defaming national heroes and martyrs," according to a human rights group. The 69-year-old artist, who was detained in 2024 during a family visit to China from the United States, could receive a maximum three-year prison sentence.
Details of the Trial and Detention
The one-day trial took place at the Sanhe City People's Court in Hebei province and concluded without an immediate verdict, with judgments in such cases often announced months later. Shane Yi, a researcher at the Chinese Human Rights Defenders group, which operates outside China, reported that Gao Zhen's relatives were barred from attending the proceedings. The artist was apprehended in August 2024 while on a trip to China, despite having made multiple visits without incident since relocating to the US in 2022.
Artistic Works and Controversy
Gao Zhen, alongside his brother Gao Qiang, created several controversial sculptures of Mao Zedong that critique the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution, a period marked by immense social turmoil and widespread political persecution in China. Their most famous works include Miss Mao, which depicts Mao with unsettling features such as Pinocchio noses and breasts, and Mao's Guilt, a bronze statue showing the leader kneeling remorsefully. These pieces have drawn significant attention for their satirical take on historical figures.
Legal and Human Rights Concerns
Gao Zhen has been charged for works created between 2005 and 2009, even though China's "Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs" was only established in 2018 and subsequently strengthened in 2021. This law has previously been used to prosecute individuals accused of insulting servicemen, military members who died in the line of duty, and historical figures. In 2021, a stand-up comedian was censored and his comedy firm fined $2 million after making a joke referencing a People's Liberation Army slogan.
Shane Yi commented on the case, stating, "This really shows the Chinese government's logic, when they want to target someone, they can use anything in their power to do so. Gao Zhen is an artist. He has a right to artistic freedom, period." Concerns have also been raised about Gao's health, with reports indicating he is suffering from malnutrition, lumbar spine disease, and chronic knee and eye conditions that require treatment.
Family Situation and International Response
Gao Zhen's wife, Zhao Yaliang, and their seven-year-old son, who is an American citizen, are currently under exit bans and unable to leave China, according to Yi and John Kamm, the chair of the Dui Hua Foundation, a foreign group advocating human rights dialogue with Beijing. The Sanhe Public Security Bureau and Gao's wife did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the case, highlighting the secretive nature of the proceedings and the challenges faced by the artist and his family.
