Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen has been sentenced to three years in prison over artworks satirising former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, drawing condemnation from his family and human rights groups and renewed concerns over artistic freedom in China
The 70years old New York-based artist was detained in August 2024 while visiting China from the United States and was tried earlier this year in a closed-door proceeding.
Gao was sentenced on Tuesday by the Sanhe City People’s Court in Hebei province for “defaming national heroes and martyrs,” according to his wife, Zhao Yaliang.
Zhao said the family was deeply angered by the verdict and confirmed that Gao plans to appeal.
“We are deeply angered,” Zhao told Reuters, describing the ruling as devastating for the family.
Shane Yi of Chinese Human Rights Defenders urged Beijing to free Gao, saying he was being prosecuted for artworks made long before the legislation cited in his case took effect.
Gao and his brother, Gao Qiang, became known for satirical sculptures criticising Mao and the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution, a period marked by widespread political persecution and social upheaval.
Among their best-known works are “Miss Mao,” which depicts Mao with exaggerated facial features, and “Mao’s Guilt,” a bronze sculpture showing the former leader kneeling.
Gao was prosecuted under China’s Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs, which came into force in 2018 and was strengthened in 2021. The case concerns artworks produced between 2005 and 2009.
The law has previously been used against people accused of insulting military personnel killed in service and other historical figures.
Yi criticised authorities for applying the legislation to Gao’s earlier artwork and for holding a closed-door trial that excluded members of his family.
Zhao said several Western diplomats were also barred from attending the proceedings. She added that she and her US citizen son have been prevented from leaving China since Gao was detained.
The Sanhe City People’s Court did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside business hours.
The US State Department had yet to issue a statement on Gao’s prison term or the reported restrictions preventing his family from leaving China.
Goodness Anunobi
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