Art
The London art student whose Chinese political slogan mural caused a storm – The Guardian
When Wang Hanzheng, a Chinese student at the Royal College of Art, attended a graduate show in a warehouse on Brick Lane in east London in July, he found the space crowded, unimaginative and unfit for presenting art.
It was with this in mind that at 11pm one night earlier this month Wang and a team of 22 others painted a Chinese political slogan in bold red characters along a nearby wall stretching nearly 100 metres.
The artwork – which spelled out the Chinese government’s “socialist core values”, including the words prosperity, democracy and freedom – was designed to be a “silent reminder of the oppression of thought, press freedom and free speech that is still rampant in China in 2023”, the artists said.
It provoked others to graffiti over it with references to the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, and the phrases “Free Taiwan”, “Free Tibet” and “Free Uyghurs”. But in a move described by some as ironically totalitarian, Tower Hamlets council swiftly painted over the wall’s mess of slogans and issued Wang a £50 fine.
“Contemporary art is all about doubting everything and having a rebellious spirit,” said the 27-year-old, who also goes by the name Yi Que. In that sense the work – concerned with democracy, free speech and the polarised ideologies of Chinese and UK cultures – was even more successful for him than expected.
The graffiti responding to the work started appearing within hours, something that Wang said he welcomed. But it was the backlash online that alarmed him. He had a torrent of death threats on social media and his family received threatening calls at their home in China’s eastern Zhejiang province.
“People making death threats and expressing objections through violent means, that’s exactly showing there’s a loophole in the system of democracy allowing totalitarian forces to exploit this loophole,” he said, speaking in Mandarin. “You cannot solve the problem of totalitarianism through totalitarian means.”
The work has come at a moment when UK-China relations are particularly strained. Last month, Hong Kong authorities offered a bounty for the arrest of eight overseas activists – three of whom are living in Britain – amid increasing concerns of transnational oppression. The foreign secretary, James Cleverly, is travelling to Beijing on Wednesday for meetings, in a bid to renew political dialogue between the two nations.
“Art is really about how to reflect what’s in the public and give the public a space to discuss and reflect on their own,” said Wang, who interprets the slogan as positive and as representing what should be universal values, not just those the Chinese Communist party claims to hold.
As an artist, Wang says he is interested in exploring the cross-national perspective on how the UK and China differ ideologically, and where they collide.
In a previous work, he placed five mattresses in Piccadilly Circus, offering to pay willing participants a minimum wage to lie down in the heart of central London – something he believes wouldn’t be accepted in China. Before moving to London a year ago, he paid dozens of Chinese farmers to be recorded jumping like frogs in a field.
For Wang, the setting of his latest artwork in Brick Lane is symbolic of the UK’s “free” and “chaotic” culture that stands in stark contrast to Chinese society, where such graffiti does not exist.
The council’s decision to paint over the slogan, and the graffiti that followed, ridicules the “western conception” of free speech and democracy, he said. “It’s also part of the freedom of speech in the UK’s values. Making this decision to paint it over is really showing the hypocrisy of the west.”
In the weeks since, Wang says he has tried to persevere through the criticism and he has been most heartened by an anonymous letter sent to the art college in his defence.
When asked if the work had been misinterpreted, Wang said many people don’t reflect properly on art and that too much of the focus had been on him rather than the work itself.
“The author is already dead after the work is published,” said Wang, a reference to the French writer Roland Barthes.
“I can’t control it, I’m just there for the work to happen.”
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Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
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The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
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