Chinese artist jailed over satirical works of ex-leader Mao Zedong

International community calls for release of Chinese artist Gao Zhen jailed over his satirical sculptures In short: A US-based Chinese artist has been sentenced to three years jail over his satirical works dating back nearly two decades. Gao Zhen was arrested two years ago while visiting family in China. What's next? International rights groups and advocates are calling for Gao Zhen's immediate release. A Chinese artist has been sentenced to three years in prison for “infringing upon the reputation of heroes” over his satirical works of art, prompting international condemnation and calls for his immediate release. Gao Zhen was part of an artistic duo known internationally as the Gao Brothers, whose works included statues of China's former leader Mao Zedong. The 70-year-old was living and working in the United States but was arrested while visiting family in China in August 2024 and has been in official custody since. But on Tuesday he was sentenced by the Sanhei People's Court court, according to his wife, Zhao Yaliang. "We feel outraged," she told Reuters. "Ever since I learned of the verdict, I haven't been able to recover from it. "It's devastating." Satirical work featured former Chinese leader Mao Zedong The charges against Gao relate to artistic works that China's authorities claim insulted revolutionary figures, including a 2009 statue called Mao’s Guilt, which shows the former leader and founder of modern China as kneeling in repentance. Another prominent piece in the series called Miss Mao, shows a caricatured version of Mao with breasts and an engorged nose. Amnesty International's China Director Sarah Brooks said this case was designed to "illustrate the authorities' determination to deter others from engaging in independent artistic expression". "No artist should face criminal punishment for creating work that challenges official narratives or encourages critical reflection on history,"she said. "This trial demonstrates how broadly worded and politically motivated laws are used — and worse, in this case, used retroactively — to silence artists, activists and other individuals who dare to express views that differ from those of the Chinese government. "The Chinese authorities must repeal the law on heroes and martyrs unless they can ensure that it is in line with international human rights standards and must cease criminalising peaceful expression and artistic creation." Gao retrospectively charged under 2021 laws Gao was charged under China's "Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs", which came into effect in 2018 and was strengthened in 2021. In this case, the law has been applied retrospectively for Gao's artworks made between 2005 and 2009. The law has previously been used to prosecute individuals accused of insulting members of the military who died in the line of duty, as well as historical figures. Diplomats had been barred entry to the trial, according to Gao's wife, who learned of the verdict through his lawyer. She and her son, a US citizen, have also been blocked from leaving China since her husband's detention two years ago. Shane Yi, a researcher at Chinese Human Rights Defenders, described the sentence as "a very clear case of a violation of a person's freedom of expression". "The court has now sentenced him to three years … for artwork he made as far back as 2005, some 16 years before the law he was charged under even existed," he said. "The only outcome that respects Gao Zhen's rights is his immediate, unconditional release. "By applying a law retroactively and holding a closed-door trial that shut out even his own family, Chinese authorities have shown exactly how little due process they're willing to give." The Gao Brothers, whose works addressed themes of authoritarianism and censorship, became famous in a time of relative openness in China and were exhibited both inside the country and abroad. Reuters/AP