A Chinese artist, Gao Zhen, has been sentenced to three years in prison for creating satirical sculptures that authorities deemed to be "slandering China's heroes," according to human rights groups. A court in Hebei province ruled Tuesday that Gao's artwork "infringes upon the hero's reputation and harms public interest."
Gao, 70, has been detained for the past two years. His work, often created with his brother Gao Qiang, includes pieces such as "Execution of Christ," which depicts Mao Zedong-like figures holding Jesus Christ at gunpoint. Another sculpture, "Mao's Guilt," shows the former leader in a pose of contrition, while "Miss Mao" portrays him with exaggerated feminine features and a Pinocchio-like nose.
The artist moved to the U.S. in 2022 but was arrested in August 2024 during a visit to his studio on the outskirts of Beijing. Authorities confiscated his artworks and prevented his wife and young son from leaving China.
China watchers suggest Gao Zhen's arrest reflects an increasing assertiveness by the Chinese Communist Party, including efforts to police citizens internationally and retroactively. His prosecution falls under a law enacted in March 2018 that prohibits the defamation of historical figures associated with the party.
The case against Gao Zhen was heard in a closed-door trial earlier this year with limited media coverage in China. Gao plans to appeal the conviction, Amnesty International stated on Tuesday. If the verdict is upheld, his sentence would conclude in August 2027, accounting for the two years he has already spent in detention.
The UN and various human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have called for Gao's release, with the latter describing his sentencing as an "assault" on artistic freedom.