In a chilling reminder of China’s tightening grip on free expression, Gao Zhen, a prominent dissident artist and one half of the Gao Brothers duo, was arrested on August 26 while visiting family in Hubei province. The 68-year-old artist was charged with “defamation” of Chairman Mao Zedong under a law that forbids mocking the nation’s heroes and martyrs. The news of his detention first surfaced on August 31 through a post on the Gao Brothers’ social media, quickly spreading across platforms and igniting widespread outrage among artists and activists.
The arrest has cast a harsh spotlight on China’s severe anti-defamation laws, which have been increasingly wielded against those who dare to challenge the state’s official narratives. Gao Zhen, along with his brother Gao Qiang, has long been known for provocative works that critique totalitarianism by manipulating the image of Mao. Their most infamous series, Miss Mao, depicts the former Chinese leader as a grotesque, infantile figure, most notably in the sculpture “Miss Mao Trying to Poise Herself at the Top of Lenin’s Head” (2009), which featured an absurdly small Mao perched atop a massive Lenin bust. The brothers, who have faced censorship and repression for decades, trace their defiance back to a personal history marked by tragedy—their father was imprisoned and died under Mao’s regime, labeled a “class enemy.”
Gao Zhen’s latest run-in with Chinese authorities underscores the perils faced by artists who use their work to confront political power. According to a notice received by his wife, Gao has been charged with damaging the reputation of a “national hero” and remains detained in the city of Sanhe. He had been scheduled to return to New York on September 3, where the brothers currently reside.
The broader implications of Gao Zhen’s arrest are stark. In 2021, under President Xi Jinping’s leadership, China enacted a law that punishes the “slander” of national heroes and martyrs with up to three years in prison. This legislation has been used to silence critics, including journalists and internet users, who question the government’s official portrayals of Chinese history. The United States State Department has reported several such cases, including the arrest of seven individuals for online comments deemed insulting to Yuan Longping, the late “Father of Hybrid Rice.”
The Gao Brothers are represented by Deborah Colton Gallery in Houston, Texas, though the gallery has yet to comment on Gao Zhen’s detention. Meanwhile, the international art community is rallying for his release. British-Chinese writer Ma Jian took to social media, urging the media and the public to pay attention to Gao Zhen’s plight. “We ask the righteous in the literary and art circles to call for Mr. Gao Zhen’s release and for freedom for him and his family,” Ma wrote, capturing the growing chorus of voices demanding justice for one of China’s most outspoken artistic dissidents.
