A three-year prison sentence was handed down to Chinese artist Gao Zhen on Tuesday after he was convicted of "infringing upon the reputation of heroes" for creating satirical artwork, including sculptures depicting China’s former leader Mao Zedong. Gao, who lives in the U.S. and gained international recognition as part of the Gao Brothers artistic partnership, was detained in August 2024 while visiting family in China. He has remained in custody ever since.
According to his wife, Zhao Yaliang, the Sanhei People’s Court in northern Hebei province issued the ruling. Chinese authorities claimed Gao’s pieces insulted revolutionary figures. Among the works cited is a 2009 sculpture titled Mao’s Guilt, depicting the founder of modern China kneeling in repentance, alongside a series named Miss Mao, which features a caricatured version of Mao with breasts and an engorged nose.
Shane Yi, a researcher with Chinese Human Rights Defenders advocating on the case, described the sentence as "a very clear case of a violation of a person’s freedom of expression." Yi noted that the sculptures were created prior to the passage of the law under which Gao was sentenced, adding that the artist intends to appeal. The court did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Amnesty International condemned the decision, describing it as an attempt to suppress creative freedom.
"The lengthy pre-trial detention and, ultimately, decision to convict Gao Zhen and sentence him to the maximum three-year prison term under this offense illustrate the authorities’ determination to deter others from engaging in independent artistic expression," said Sarah Brooks, Amnesty’s China director. She added: "No artist should face criminal punishment for creating work that challenges official narratives or encourages critical reflection on history." Zhao expressed her desire to reunite with her husband and return to the U.S., where the family had immigrated. Having brought clothes to the court in hopes of his release, she said: "I felt two years was my limit, and I was really disappointed and sad.
I haven’t been able to catch my breath." Time spent in pre-trial detention is frequently credited toward prison sentences under the Chinese court system. The Gao Brothers, whose work confronted themes of censorship and authoritarianism, achieved prominence during an era of relative openness in China and have been exhibited both domestically and internationally. In recent years, however, state control over expression has tightened, particularly regarding political figures, following the passage of a 2018 law prohibiting criticism of the nation’s heroes.
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