On August 23, the Los Angeles Ukraine Cultural Center will host a celebration of the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Sculptor Chen Weiming has been invited to attend and speak at the event.
Chen Weiming, in an interview with Dajiyuan before the event, stated that he will focus on the theme “Freedom is not free”, urging people not to forget the hardships brought by war, and to continue supporting the Ukrainian people in defending their national sovereignty, freedom, and dignity.
“Freedom is not free. It requires courage to defend, conscience to support, and the rejection of indifference and forgetting by each individual,” Chen Weiming said. Defending freedom, democracy, and human dignity is not only the responsibility of the Ukrainian people but also a collective responsibility of all humankind.
Chen Weiming was specially invited this time in relation to the large group sculpture “Defending Freedom · Ukraine” that he and volunteers from the Freedom Sculpture Park worked on together. In June of this year, the artwork was unveiled at the Freedom Sculpture Park in Yermo, Southern California, with representatives from the Los Angeles Ukraine Cultural Center and Chinese volunteers who had been to the front lines in Ukraine in attendance.
Chen Weiming mentioned that representatives from the Ukraine Cultural Center initially thought it was just a small sculpture, but upon arrival, they saw a large group sculpture standing on the ruins of war. The solemnity of the artwork and unveiling ceremony deeply moved them, leading to his invitation to the event.
The sculpture depicts three soldiers rescuing a girl from the ruins of war. A female soldier on the left is operating a drone, the central soldier is holding the rescued girl, and another soldier with a Chinese face represents volunteers from mainland China, Taiwan, and other Asian regions who support Ukraine.
Chen Weiming explained that the soldiers symbolize courage, the child symbolizes the future, and the rubble beneath their feet represents the disasters brought by war. Through art, he aims to record history, ensuring that the deceased are not forgotten, the afflicted are cared for, and to remind future generations that peace is not guaranteed, and freedom does not come without effort.
He stated that this sculpture also allows the Ukrainian community to see that the Chinese people are not synonymous with the Chinese Communist government. The stance of the Chinese government in the Russia-Ukraine conflict has caused some Ukrainians to harbor resentment towards China. However, this sculpture created by Chinese people shows another group of Chinese supporting Ukraine and opposing aggression.
“We are Chinese, but we are not the Chinese Communist Party. We believe in freedom, democracy, and human dignity, and we will always stand with the Ukrainian people,” Chen Weiming said.
He believed that the Russia-Ukraine war is not just a territorial conflict between two countries but also a battle between authoritarian forces and the values of freedom. The Ukrainian people are not only defending their own land but also preventing aggression from spreading to other countries.
“If Ukraine falls, it will not only be Ukraine under threat,” Chen Weiming explained. Surrounding countries of Russia may face greater security pressures; if the aggressors benefit from the war, it could also encourage other dictatorships to follow suit.
He pointed out that this war could affect the security of the Taiwan Strait, the Korean Peninsula, and the entire Asian region. If Ukraine successfully resists aggression, it will deter regimes attempting to change the status quo through force. However, if the aggressors succeed, the risk of conflict in other regions may rise.
Therefore, he hopes that more overseas Chinese will understand the current situation in Ukraine and not view this war as a distant conflict unrelated to themselves, but rather consider the relationship between aggression, dictatorship, freedom, and their own security.
Regarding the responsibility of the international community, Chen Weiming stated that in the face of aggression and the expansion of dictatorships, peace cannot be achieved through concessions alone. History has shown that if aggressive behavior is not effectively stopped, concessions will only allow the aggressors to advance, leading to greater disasters.
He believed that countries that have provided security guarantees to Ukraine should shoulder the corresponding responsibilities by providing weapons, medical aid, and other material assistance; other countries should also support Ukraine based on the principle of maintaining peace and opposing aggression.
Chen Weiming emphasized that “freedom is not free” is not just a romantic slogan, but it represents the loss of life, the separation of families, the suffering of the wounded, and the tears of loved ones.
He had visited Syria and witnessed the devastation of the streets after the war. He recalled a mother losing several children in the war; wounded individuals in hospitals not only endure severe physical trauma, but some also face long-term psychological shadow.
“Only those who have truly experienced war will know how heavy that sentence is,” Chen Weiming said. The sacrifices in war are not just numbers of casualties but the pain that every wounded individual and their families must endure. Therefore, he holds deep admiration for those risking their lives to defend freedom.
Chen Weiming mentioned that since Ukraine declared independence in 1991, they have spent 35 years defending their national sovereignty amidst the flames of war. This year’s Independence Day event is not only a cultural celebration but also a voice of support for front-line soldiers, reminding people that freedom is not a one-time effort.
On the day of the event, it is planned to screen a video detailing the creation process and unveiling ceremony of the sculpture “Defending Freedom · Ukraine.” Huang Jielei, an external liaison officer of the Freedom Sculpture Park, has also been invited to speak.
The event will take place on August 23 in the afternoon at the Los Angeles Ukraine Cultural Center, with participants gathering at the entrance at 1:45 PM. All individuals who support Ukraine are invited to participate.