Dissident Chinese artist Gao Zhen has been detained under allegations of “insulting revolutionary heroes and martyrs,” according to his brother and artistic collaborator, Gao Qiang. The Gao Brothers, renowned for their provocative sculptures critiquing Mao Zedong and his regime, have faced significant scrutiny from Chinese authorities.
Gao Zhen, who relocated to the United States two years ago, was visiting family in Hebei province when he was apprehended. His brother shared details of the incident in a Facebook post, noting that approximately 30 police officers raided their art studio in Sanhe City on August 26. During the raid, several artworks were seized along with Gao Zhen’s detention.
The Gao Brothers are celebrated internationally for their controversial works, including “Mao’s Guilt,” a bronze sculpture depicting Mao Zedong in a remorseful kneeling position. Other notable pieces are “The Execution of Christ,” featuring Jesus being confronted by a firing squad of Maos, and “Miss Mao,” which portrays Mao with exaggerated physical features.
Mao Zedong, a pivotal figure in the establishment of Communist China in 1949, led the country through the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, a period marked by widespread persecution and the deaths of over a million people. Gao Zhen has previously shared with The New York Times that during this era, their father was labeled a class enemy and taken to an unknown location where he died.
In 2021, China enacted a law criminalizing the mockery or insult of revolutionary “heroes and martyrs” as part of an effort led by President Xi Jinping. This law carries a penalty of up to three years in prison. Despite the increased risks, Gao Zhen had managed to evade severe repercussions through secretive or invite-only exhibitions until his decision to emigrate to New York in 2022, driven by concerns over China’s deteriorating environment and his son’s schooling.
In response to Gao Zhen’s detention, several prominent Chinese artists and creatives have issued an open letter urging his release. The letter states, “Today, the Sanhe police department seems to see Gao Zhen’s artistic works as evidence of crime, repeating the persecution of the Cultural Revolution.”
The Sanhe public security bureau has yet to comment on the matter.
