Artist Gao Zhen arrested in Beijing for his sculptures criticising Mao

The New York-based sculptor arrested in his studio in the Chinese capital while he was back visiting family. According to his lawyer, he could be charged with ‘damaging the reputation or honour of heroes and martyrs’. The ruling Communist Party is tightening its grip on the narrative of history.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Chinese artist Gao Zhen (高兟) has been arrested for his sculptures criticising Mao Zedong, made years ago. Gao Zhen's younger brother, Gao Qiang (高强), confirmed that Gao Zhen was arrested for ‘damaging the reputation or honour of heroes and martyrs’. The charge is based on an amendment to China's Criminal Law of 2021. He is currently detained in Sanhe, a small town near the capital Beijing.

The Gao brothers - Gao Zhen (born 1956) and Gao Qiang (born 1962) - became famous for their sculptures depicting the image of Mao. Their works also reflected contemporary Chinese society. The Gao brothers live in the United States. Gao Zhen returned to China two months ago with his wife and son to visit family. They were scheduled to leave for New York on 3 September. Gao Zhen was arrested on 26 August after the police raided his art studio on the outskirts of Beijing.

The two artists lived for years in Beijing before moving to New York. The family personally experienced the cruelty of the Cultural Revolution. The Gao brothers' father was persecuted to death in prison when the two artists were still very young. The Gao brothers started their artistic activity in 1985. After the Chinese authorities' repression of the Tiananmen protest in 1989, they created paintings to commemorate the victims of the massacre. They used their sculptures to show their satirical attitude towards Chinese politics and society. Their works depicted politicians, policemen, migrant workers, dissidents, prostitutes, Olympic stars, from all walks of life. Among the works depicting the Chinese leader ‘Miss Mao’ has large breasts and a long nose, showing a grotesque image of a monstrous and lying mother figure. The Gao brothers' best-known work dates back to 2009: the “Execution of Christ”, showing a team of Mao pointing weapons at Jesus. Another famous work shows Mao on his knees, confessing his sins.

According to the latest Chinese law, ‘damaging the reputation or honour of heroes and martyrs’ carries a maximum of three years in prison. A lawyer met Gao Zhen during his detention and is not optimistic about his condition. According to the lawyer, the police brought photos of sculptures of Mao to the art studio of the Gao brothers in Beijing as evidence. Apparently, the authorities saw Mao as a hero and a martyr so that Gao could be sentenced to prison. However, the sculptures were created more than ten years ago and China only changed the articles on ‘injury to the reputation or honour of heroes and martyrs’ in its legislation three years ago.

Since Xi Jinping came to power, the Chinese authorities have tightened their grip on ideology and the artists' space has largely narrowed. The accusation of ‘damaging the reputation or honour of heroes and martyrs’ has become a weapon against discussions and opinions that differ from the authorities' narrative of their own history, as well as against current trends. Chinese investigative journalist Luo Changping was sentenced to seven months in prison for questioning the justification of the Chinese army's involvement in the 1950 Korean War. Qiu Ziming was jailed for eight months for questioning the death toll of the Chinese army in the February 2021 China-India border conflict. Qiu was the first person charged since the new law came into effect in March 2021.