|
*
* * * Statement read in front of the New Zealand Consulate in Santa
Monica, June 3, 2010* * * * *
STATEMENT FROM VISUAL ARTISTS GUILD REGARDING SCULPTOR CHEN WEIMING AND
HIS
ARTWORKS
June
3, 2010
The
Visual Artists Guild joins with those organizations and individuals who
are
outraged that Hong Kong police confiscated sculptor, a New Zealand
citizen,
Chen Weiming's 21 ft by 10 ft relief depicting the Tiananmen Massacre
and the
10 ft statue of the new interpretation of the Goddess of Democracy just
days
before the city's Annual Tiananmen Remembrance Vigil.
The
Visual Artists Guild stands beside artists who use their works to
express
freedom and social justice. We stand beside artists, individuals and
organizations to denounce Hong Kong's deportation of Chen Weiming, the
creator
of sculptures.
We
demand that the 13 activists who were arrested during the confiscation
of the
art works and later released on bail to have the bogus charges against
them be
dismissed by Hong Kong officials and their bail money returned to them.
Although
we
are relieved that the art works have been returned to Hong Kong
activists
from Hong Kong's police and will be on display during June 4th's
candlelight
vigil in Victoria Park, we share the distress of many who view Hong
Kong's recent actions as participating in political censorship of an
event for
which Beijing refuses to apologize.
It
is disturbing that 21 years after the Tiananmen Square massacre - a
subject
that is still taboo in every city of China except for Hong Kong and
Macau -
that Hong Kong officials would attempt to suppress political expression
by the
survivors."
When
Mr Chen arrived in Hong Kong to inspect his
sculptures to make sure that they have not been damaged while in Hong
Kong
police custody, the Hong Kong government summarily deported him.
We
demand that the government of New Zealand stand up for her
citizen. We ask that the New Zealand government demand that the Hong
Kong
government apologize to Mr. Chen Weiming and allow him to enter Hong
Kong.
Ann
Lau, Chair, Visual Artists Guild
Below
is part of a declaration by art students who created the 1989 Goddess
of
Democracy:
"At
this grim moment, what we need most is to remain calm and united in a
single
purpose. We need a powerful cementing force to strengthen our resolve:
That is
the Goddess of Democracy. Democracy...You are the symbol of every student
in the
Square, of the hearts of millions of people. ...Today, here in the
People's
Square, the people's Goddess stands tall and announces to the whole
world: A
consciousness of democracy has awakened among the Chinese people! The
new era
has begun! ...The statue of the Goddess of Democracy is made of plaster,
and of
course cannot stand here forever. But as the symbol of the people's
hearts, she
is divine and inviolate. Let those who would sully her beware: the
people will
not permit this! ...On the day when real democracy and freedom come to
China, we
must erect another Goddess of Democracy here in the Square, monumental,
towering, and permanent. We have strong faith that that day will come
at last.
We have still another hope: Chinese people, arise! Erect the statue of
the
Goddess of Democracy in your millions of hearts! Long live the people!
Long
live freedom! Long live democracy!"
|
I applaud Google for its brave stand on ...