Chinese artist Gao Zhen detained amidst Controversy over critique of Mao Zedong
Chinese artist Gao Zhen, known for his controversial sculptures criticizing Mao Zedong and the Chinese Communist regime, has been detained by authorities in Hebei province. His brother, Gao Qiang, announced the arrest, citing allegations of “insulting revolutionary heroes and martyrs.”
Gao Zhen, who relocated to the United States two years ago, was visiting family in China when he was apprehended on August 26.
According to Gao Qiang, approximately 30 police officers raided their art studio in Sanhe City, confiscating several pieces of art before taking Gao Zhen into custody.
The arrest is seen as part of a broader campaign under President Xi Jinping to protect China’s revolutionary legacy, with new laws making it a crime to insult figures like Mao Zedong.
The Gao Brothers have gained international recognition for their provocative works, such as “Mao’s Guilt,” which depicts a remorseful Mao, and “The Execution of Christ,” where a line of Maos forms a firing squad.
Despite pushing boundaries, Gao Zhen had managed to avoid significant repercussions in China until recently, when he chose to move to New York for his son’s education and to escape the increasingly repressive environment in China.
In the wake of his detention, several Chinese artists have called for Gao Zhen’s release, comparing his persecution to the brutal tactics of the Cultural Revolution. The local authorities have not provided any official response to the arrest.
