Mural Censored At The Bi-City Biennale of UrbanismArchitecture

There are other elements in Hu’s mural that make political statements as well. Security cameras are painted in the corners, evoking the government surveillance that takes place in the People’s Republic. Mao Zedong’s rallying cry, “Serve the People,” is painted as faded text.

It is unclear whether the organizers were aware of the mural’s contents before Hu executed the work.

Visitors to the biennial have indicated that security personnel did not interrupt Hu and his wife Marine Brossard when they were painting the mural. When asked about his work, the artist explained the subject matter truthfully. On Friday night, plainclothes police covered the mural with a large banner printed with a textual introduction to the exhibition, and removed the couple from the exhibition’s main venue. The police have launched an investigation regarding the mural’s display in the biennial. Those in charge of commissioning the project are also being questioned.

Hu and Brossard have been incommunicado since Saturday, December 16, after being taken by the authorities.

The Bi-City Biennale of UrbanismArchitecture is on view at multiple venues in Shenzhen until March 17, 2018.

Brady Ng is the reviews editor of ArtAsiaPacific.

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