Artist Gao Sheng from mainland China has been imprisoned by the Beijing authorities for over 400 days. Currently, Gao Sheng’s health condition continues to deteriorate, prompting his family to urgently appeal to the international community to intervene and urge Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong of the Chinese Communist Party to approve his medical parole on humanitarian grounds. Gao Sheng and his artist brothers have created a series of sculptures, including “Mao Kneeling in Repentance.”
On the morning of October 3, Gao Sheng’s brother and artistic partner Gao Qiang posted a photo on Facebook showing Gao Sheng meeting with German artist John Heartfield, who had been detained for around 180 days for creating works satirizing Hitler before being released, reflecting that “the brutal political persecution of artists by an ultra-autocracy far exceeds that of the Nazi Germany.”
According to Radio France Internationale, Gao Qiang sent an email to Paola Pampaloni, the Asia-Pacific Regional Director of the European External Action Service, revealing that Gao Sheng is currently detained in a 40-square-meter cell with 14 other detainees, exacerbating his worsening health condition.
During a meeting with his lawyer Mo Shaoping on October 1st, Gao Sheng’s weakening condition was revealed as he struggled to get out of bed in recent days. The doctors at the detention center suggested that Gao Sheng may be suffering from arterial sclerosis or even early signs of a stroke, posing significant concerns given his age of 69 and poor health.
Gao Qiang and Gao Sheng’s wife have decided to apply for his medical parole through their lawyer. Their concern lies in the fact that Gao Sheng’s previous request for medical parole due to a back issue was denied last year. Therefore, they hope that the European Union, which had previously supported Gao Sheng, could assist in urging Minister Wang Xiaohong of the Chinese Public Security to approve Gao Sheng’s medical parole on humanitarian grounds.
Gao Qiang also mentioned that his sister-in-law and nephew have been affected by Gao Sheng’s imprisonment and are unable to leave Beijing. His sister-in-law has developed depression due to the prolonged separation from her husband, while the nephew is unable to attend school normally. He believes that Gao Sheng’s medical parole would allow their family members to reunite temporarily, benefiting their physical and mental well-being.
For many years, Gao Sheng and his artist brother Gao Qiang have used satirical and humorous methods in their artworks to sharply criticize the Chinese Communist regime and history. Some of their notable works include “Mao Kneeling in Repentance,” “Execution of Christ,” and “Prostitution Raid.”
In an interview with the German media outlet “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” in October 2014, Gao Sheng expressed that if the internet in mainland China did not strictly block information, the majority of Chinese people would support the democratic Umbrella Movement by Hong Kong citizens.
Gao Sheng mentioned that many of his friends shared images of the Hong Kong protests on WeChat and Twitter to show their support. He believed that if information was not heavily filtered, most Chinese people would stand with the Hong Kong citizens.
He stated that most Chinese people have been brainwashed by the official Chinese media, and many are unaware of the events in Hong Kong. Regardless of the outcome, he emphasized that the spirit of Hong Kong’s fight for political rights will be remembered in history.
Gao Sheng believed that while the internet restrictions and oppressive environment pose obstacles, the protests by the people of Hong Kong will revive the spirit of dedication and enthusiasm for democracy in the long run. He also expressed concerns that the Chinese government may not concede but will not repeat the violent crackdown as seen in the 1989 Tiananmen Square incident. However, a prolonged confrontation may lead to greater suppression by the Chinese authorities, and he hoped that the tragedy on the mainland would not replay in Hong Kong.
Living in the United States, Gao Sheng returned to mainland China last summer to visit, and he was arrested at his home in Sanhe, Hebei Province on August 24th. His wife and children were also under surveillance.
Gao Sheng’s arrest has raised concerns among overseas Chinese literary and artistic circles. Writers such as Ma Jian in the UK initiated a joint open letter calling on the authorities to stop political censorship in the field of Chinese literature and art and to release Gao Sheng.
By September 13, 2024, 180 artists, writers, poets, professors, and civic scholars from various fields around the world signed the open letter. The signed letter has been submitted to international human rights organizations.