Artist Gao Zhen, a member of the Gao Brothers, has been detained in a Chinese detention center for close to a year on charges of violating the country’s strict anti-defamation laws. Despite facing a three-year prison sentence, Gao Zhen has hired prominent human rights lawyer Mo Shaoping to defend him in court. This decision comes after Gao Zhen refused to plead guilty to the accusations brought against him.
Last August, Chinese authorities arrested the 69-year-old artist while he was visiting family in Hubei province. He was charged with defaming the honor and reputation of heroes and martyrs due to satirical artworks depicting Mao Zedong, the founder of the People’s Republic of China. Gao Zhen and his brother Gao Qiang use their art as a form of expression and critique against the regime, drawing inspiration from their father, who was a political prisoner and died while in detention in 1968.
Gao Zhen’s arrest falls under a new amendment to China’s Criminal Law passed in 2021 under President Xi Jinping, allowing for up to three years imprisonment for such offenses. The artworks in question were created years before this law was enacted, leading to international outcry and a petition calling for Gao Zhen’s release, which has garnered over 20,000 signatures.
As a US permanent resident and green card holder, Gao Zhen’s family has also faced restrictions, with his spouse and child, both US citizens, being prohibited from leaving China. Additionally, Chinese authorities have seized over 100 artworks from the Gao Brothers’ storage as potential evidence, including pieces that have never been publicly displayed in China.
The case has attracted global attention, with governments, media outlets, human rights organizations, and activists speaking out against Gao Zhen’s detention. Notable figures such as Ai Weiwei have condemned the Chinese government’s actions, highlighting the importance of free speech and human rights. Multiple organizations have signed joint letters urging for Gao Zhen’s release and denouncing the government’s suppression of artistic expression.
Gao Zhen’s artworks serve as bold critiques of the Cultural Revolution and Mao Zedong’s authoritarian rule. His detention not only violates his rights but also represents a broader attack on the freedom of expression in China. The international community continues to advocate for Gao Zhen’s release and the protection of fundamental human rights for all Chinese citizens.
