"The health of the Chinese artist Gao Zhen is deteriorating in detention. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW) and his family, the 69-year-old artist fainted last month and suffers from a chronic back problem. The artist, who generally works with his brother Gao Qiang, has been detained since 26 August 2024 in the city of Sanhe in Hebei Province under charges of "slandering China's heroes and martyrs" applied retroactively to the Gao Brothers' satirical depictions of Mao Zedong; 118 of their works that mostly were shown legally in China when they were created have also been confiscated."
""Gao Zhen's trial has been postponed for undisclosed reasons, and this might be related to the fact that Gao Zhen's case involves more China-US relations as Gao Zhen is a US permanent resident and especially his son, who is implicated and unable to return to the US, is a US citizen," Gao Qiang tells The Art Newspaper. The family "remains hopeful that through the US government continued diplomatic efforts, Gao Zhen will soon be reunited with his family and able to return to the United States"."
"In a statement earlier this month, HRW details that detention centre doctors told Gao Zhen's family that he may have arteriosclerosis, the arterial hardening that can lead to a stroke. His back problem has necessitated his sitting in a wheelchair during meetings with his lawyer, and he has been held in a 40-sq.-m cell with 14 other detainees. His application for medical bail was rejected."
Gao Zhen, a 69-year-old Chinese artist, has been detained in Sanhe, Hebei Province since 26 August 2024 on charges of "slandering China's heroes and martyrs" applied retroactively to satirical depictions of Mao Zedong. Authorities confiscated 118 works, mostly created and legally exhibited between 2005 and 2009, including sculptures, paintings and photographs. Detention centre doctors reported possible arteriosclerosis and noted a chronic back problem that requires a wheelchair during lawyer meetings. He fainted last month and is held in a 40-sq.-m cell with 14 other detainees; medical bail was denied. His trial was postponed for undisclosed reasons, and his wife and seven-year-old child, an American resident and citizen respectively, are not being permitted to leave China.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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