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Gao Zhen Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Satirical Sculptures of Mao Zedong

A Chinese court has sentenced Gao Zhen to three years in prison for sculptures that satirized former revolutionary leader Mao Zedong. The 70-year-old artist, who resides in New York, was found guilty of "infringing upon the reputation of heroes" under a law enacted in 2018. The artworks in question, including "Mao's Guilt" and the "Miss Mao" series, were created as far back as 2005 and 2009, making the conviction a retroactive application of the law. Gao Zhen was arrested in August 2024 during a visit to China and has been in detention for two years. His wife, Zhao Yaliang, and their son have been barred from leaving the country since his arrest. Human rights groups have criticized the sentence, noting that the artist was punished for work created long before the law existed. Amnesty International's China Director, Sarah Brooks, stated that no artist should face criminal punishment for challenging official narratives. Gao Zhen plans to appeal the conviction.

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