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Chinese artist Gao Zhen jailed over satirical Mao statues
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- Chinese artist Gao Zhen, part of the internationally known Gao Brothers duo, was sentenced to three years in prison for "infringing upon the reputation of heroes" due to his satirical artworks depicting former leader Mao Zedong.
- Gao was arrested in August 2024 during a visit to China and has been in custody since; the works in question include a 2009 statue called Mao’s Guilt and a series titled Miss Mao, which authorities claim insult revolutionary figures.
- Human rights advocates and organizations like Amnesty International condemned the sentence as a violation of freedom of expression and a deterrent against independent artistic expression.
- Gao plans to appeal the sentence, with supporters noting that the artworks were created before the law under which he was sentenced was passed.
- Gao’s wife expressed disappointment over the sentence and hopes to reunite with her husband and return to the U.S., where the family had previously immigrated.
