BANNED BY BEIJING: Calling out transnational repression through art and performance
Tuesday, 27 June, St John’s Waterloo, London | 19.00-22.00
The Chinese Communist Party’s repression of human rights has been widely documented, from the Tiananmen Square Massacre to the Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang. But few realise that the CCP's repression extends far beyond its borders, including into Europe.
Index’s “Banned by Beijing” event will highlight the CCP's transnational repression in Europe with an evening of art and performance. The event will provide an opportunity for attendees to see and hear what the CCP have tried to repress.
Earlier this month, the Chinese Embassy in Poland tried to block the opening of the exhibition, “Tell China’s Story Well”, by the political cartoonist and human rights activist Badiucao. Chinese embassies in Prague and Rome have previously made similar attempts to close his exhibitions. He will speak about his experience of transnational repression.
Uyghur campaigner Rahima Mahmut will share her experience of transnational repression, and perform with her band the London Silk Road Collective. Mahmut previously contributed to a report by Index, which highlighted the transnational repression faced by the Uyghur community in Europe.
The event is free to attend but registration is required.
National Security Law
The event will take place as we mark the third anniversary of the enactment of Hong Kong’s National Security Law. The exhibition will pay tribute to the 75-year-old British businessman and founder of Hong Kong's Apple Daily newspaper, Jimmy Lai who remains in prison in Hong Kong, charged with violating the national security law among other offences. It will be the first time that Lumli Lumlong's "Apple Man" (below) will be shown in public. Attendees will be invited to write messages of solidarity and support to Lai at the event.
"Banned by Beijing" exhibition
The event will also launch the “Banned by Beijing” exhibition, which celebrates artists who continue to face interference from the long arm of the CCP as a result of their work. As well as extracts from Badiucao’s exhibition “Tell China’s Story Well”, the exhibition will display artwork from Hong Kong artists Lumli Lumlong and vawongsir.
The exhibition is curated by Euchar Gravina of St John’s Waterloo. It will run until 10 July. Visit St John’s website for more information about the exhibition, including opening hours.
Exhibition map and artworks:
- Lumli Lumlong: The Publisher (2016) (oil on canvas, 92cm x 72cm)
- Lumlong: Scale Man (2011) (oil on canvas, 125cm x 200cm)
- Lumli: Tank Man (2014) (oil on canvas, 125cm x 200cm)
- vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm)
- Lumli Lumlong: The Zipper (2012) (oil on canvas, 200cm x 125cm)
- vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm)
- vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm))
- right: Lumli: The Brainwashed (2012) (oil on canvas, 92cm x 73cm)
left: Lumlong: National Education (2012) (oil on canvas, 51cm x 41cm) - Badiucao: The prisoner of umbrella Joshua Huang 雨伞囚犯 (print on foamboard, 36cm x 29.7cm)
- Lumli Lumlong: Red Brick Wall People (2022) (oil on canvas, 200cm x 125cm)
- Lumli Lumlong: Thousand Hands Man (2019) (oil on canvas, 200cm x 125cm)
- right: Badiucao: “Wulumuqi Rd.(M)” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
left (↑):Badiucao: “#A4REVOLUTION CHINA” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
left (↓): Badiucao: “#A4REVOLUTION CHINA” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm) - Lumli Lumlong: Apple Man (2023) (oil on canvas, 92cm x 73cm)
- right: Badiucao: “XI IS WATCHING YOU” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
left: vawongsir: from The Speechless Series (print on foamboard, 29.7cm x 29.7cm) - right: Badiucao: Devouring II (print on foamboard, 39cm x 29.7cm)
left: Badiucao: Devouring I (print on foamboard, 39cm x 29.7cm) - right: Lumli Lumlong: Hong Kong Fooide (2023) (oil on canvas, 51cm x 41cm)
left: Lumli Lumlong: Hidden Agenda (2023) (oil on canvas, 41cm x 51cm) - Badiucao: “FREE UYGHURS” (print on foamboard, 42cm x 29.7cm)
Contributors:
Rahima Mahmut is director of the World Uyghur Congress (UK) and the lead vocalist of the London Silk Road Collective. Despite having lived in the UK since 2000, Rahima continues to be subject to efforts to silence her and discredit her work in defence of human rights. She will speak about her experience and perform with her band.
Badiucao is a Chinese-Australian artists and human rights defender. As well as being subject to harassment and smear campaigns, he has faced multiple efforts to censor his work, including in the Czech Republic, Italy, and most recently, in Poland. He will speak about his experience of transnational repression. His artwork will also be displayed as part of the exhibition.
Lumli Lumlong are a husband and wife painting duo, whose artwork focuses on social issues, particularly human rights and authoritarianism. They left Hong Kong for the UK in the summer of 2021 after they were accused by the press of promoting Hong Kong independence. Their book, “Liberation of Art”, has been banned in Hong Kong. Even while in Europe, they have been subject to efforts to intimidate them and interfere with their work. They will display their artwork in the exhibition.
Vawongsir is a cartoonist and former secondary school visual arts teacher in Hong Kong. He created cartoons reflecting the 2019 protests that were widely shared by the Hong Kong community at home and abroad. In 2020, he faced disciplinary action over a series of political cartoons deemed “inappropriate” by the Education Bureau in Hong Kong. He continues to make and share art about Hong Kong in exile. His artwork will be displayed in the exhibition.
Event schedule:
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 6.30pm | Doors open |
| 7.00pm | Event begins. Badiucao and Rahima Mahmut will share their experience of facing transnational repression. Mahmut will perform with her band, the London Silk Road Collective. |
| 8.30pm-10.00pm | Drinks reception and launch of exhibition |
| 10.00pm | Event ends |
WiFi: SJWGuest | Password: SJWvisitors