Chinese dissident artist jailed for 3 years over Mao sculptures, family and rights group say
- On Tuesday, the Sanhe City People's Court in Hebei Province sentenced artist Gao Zhen to three years in prison for 'infringing upon the reputation of heroes' through satirical sculptures created between 2005 and 2009.
- Chinese authorities retroactively applied the 2018 'Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs'—strengthened in 2021—to Gao's artworks created years before the statute existed, marking a significant escalation in suppressing independent artistic expression.
- Gao's wife, Zhao Yaliang, and their son remain subject to an exit ban on alleged national security grounds, while the 70-year-old artist suffers from lumbar spine disease and has reportedly collapsed during detention.
- Diplomats from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and other missions were denied entry to the sentencing hearing, while Amnesty International's China Director Sarah Brooks called the ruling an 'assault' on artistic freedom.
- Gao has decided to appeal the conviction, challenging the court's retroactive application of the law as violating freedom of expression, even as rights groups warn the precedent threatens to silence historical criticism.
97 Articles
97 Articles
U.S. expresses “serious concerns” over condemnation of Chinese artist Gao Zhen
China Jails Artist Gao Zhen Over Satirical Mao Sculptures
A Chinese artist known for provocative sculptures of Mao Zedong has been sentenced to three years in prison. This has sparked fresh concerns over artistic freedom in China.Gao Zhen, 70, was convicted by a court in Hebei of “slandering China’s heroes” after authorities ruled that his artwork damaged Mao’s reputation and harmed the public interest.But what makes the case so controversial? Some of Gao’s most famous works were created years before t…
US Expresses ‘Significant Concerns’ Over Dissident Artist’s Conviction in China
The U.S. State Department has raised “significant concerns” over the case of Gao Zhen, a prominent artist and U.S. permanent resident, who was sentenced to three years in prison by a Chinese court on Aug. 25. Gao, 70, was arrested by Chinese police in August 2024 while returning from New York to visit family in China. He has been held in Chinese custody since then. The Sanhe City People’s Court in Hebei Province in northern China sentenced Gao f…
China Faces Rights Backlash over Jailing of Artist Gao Zhen
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. China has sentenced artist Gao Zhen to three years in prison for allegedly "slandering China's heroes and martyrs", prompting Amnesty International to accuse Chinese authorities of using broad and politically motivated laws to suppress independent artistic expression. World News | China Faces Rights Backlash over Jailing of Artist Gao Zhen.
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