Replies to post #441099 on Tornado Alley (PROG)

[arizona1]

Those are stunning.

[fuagf]

Yes. Stunning photos. And -- "In 2014, Nicklen, along with his wife Cristina Mittermeier, and later joined by Andy Mann (both also award-winning photographers), co-founded the nonprofit organization SeaLegacy, which uses film and photography to raise awareness of climate issues and help protect the planet.

“Photography is one of the most effective and powerful tools we have to tell complex stories, like the story of climate change,” says Mittermeier."

is so true.

[fuagf]

Artist calls for support from Australia as Chinese government tries to stop exhibition

"Ten photographs that made the world wake up to climate change"

By Joyce Cheng and Toby Mann

Posted 4h ago


As a member of the Chinese diaspora in Australia, Badiucao said he calls for the support of the government in the wake of the threats.(Supplied: Jan Slavik)

A Chinese-Australian dissident artist has called on the federal government for more "support and protection" after Chinese officials tried to cancel his art exhibition.

Key points:

* China's embassy in Poland said posters advertising the exhibition were "a smear
of the image of China and Chinese leaders [and] hurt Chinese people's feelings"

* The art centre where the exhibition is due to be held called the persistent interference from Chinese officials "preventative censorship"

* Badiucao told the ABC the accusations against the show were "very absurd"

The show, due to open on Friday at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art
in Poland's capital, Warsaw, showcases art pieces by the artist known as Badiucao.

It discusses a range of issues, including China's human rights violations, censorship, and geopolitical tensions.

The Chinese government has called for the exhibition, titled Badiucao: Tell China's Story Well, to be cancelled due to what it described as a smear campaign against China.

The show satirises Chinese President Xi Jinping, discusses issues around Beijing's propaganda, and also highlights the relationship between China and Russia in light of the war in Ukraine.

It showcases images that depict Mr Xi and Vladimir Putin eating human flesh.


One of Badiucao's art works depicts Mr Xi eating what appears to be human flesh.(Supplied: Badiucao)

The 37-year-old artist told the ABC the accusations against the show were "very absurd" as his artworks are not meant to be seen as realistic.

He said Chinese counsellor Yao Dongye visited the museum for the second time yesterday and "officially expressed" his concerns over the content.

--
"He [Mr Yao] thinks this is bad for the Chinese government. [He thinks] this is hurting the Chinese [people's] feelings," he said.
--

Badiucao said Mr Yao made accusations that the exhibition shows images that are "not true" and "false".

https://twitter.com/badiucao/status/1668362567016755200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1668362567016755200%7Ctwgr%5Ec29b7afa2c950bc868a9cdd0ea9557cb3521ec61%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc.net.au%2Fnews%2F2023-06-14%2Fchinese-government-wants-to-stop-exhibition-by-australian-artist%2F102471996

Last week, a representative of the Chinese embassy in Warsaw sent a letter to Poland's Ministry of Culture and National Heritage expressing Beijing's concerns after seeing posters for the exhibition.

--
"These posters are a smear of the image of China and Chinese leaders, hurt Chinese people's feelings,
and undermine bilateral relationships between China and Poland," said the letter obtained by the ABC.
--

"We firmly reject this.

"We don't want this kind of exhibition which undermines China–Poland relationship to be held in Poland."

The letter also asked for confirmation that the exhibition was being funded by the Minister for Cultural Heritage and asked for a face-to-face or phone meeting.


One of the images in the exhibition satirises Beijing's attempts to censor images of Winnie the Pooh. (Supplied: Badiucao)

Badiucao, who describes himself as the Chinese Communist Party's least favourite artist, commonly discusses the issues of human rights, free speech and the abuse of power under Chinese Communist Party rule in his art.

The Australian citizen often satirises Mr Xi, including through references to Winnie the Pooh, a character whose images are regularly censored on Chinese social media .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-18/winnie-the-pooh-falls-foul-of-the-chinese-government/8720556 .

He said he disagrees with the notion that the show would "hurt Chinese people's feelings," as he believes there is a diversity of beliefs and mentalities among the Chinese people.

"There's no democracy in China, they [the government officials] are not entitled to really represent China as a country or the Chinese population," he said.

"By criticising the Chinese government, it's actually supporting the true will of the Chinese people who want their freedom back."


Badiucao said as an Australian citizen he hoped the government would act more.(Suppled: Jan Slavik)

Ujazdowski Castle released a statement that complained a representative of the embassy had also visited the gallery and demanded the exhibition be stopped.

"We would like to express concern and astonishment at the actions of the Chinese embassy in Warsaw against the Centre for Contemporary Art Ujazdowski Castle, which have been carried out for several days, whose aim is to prevent the opening of the exhibition," the statement said.

--
"At the same time, the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art
website was blocked in the People's Republic of China."
--

The gallery labelled the embassy's behaviour as "preventive censorship, which we strongly oppose".

"We urge all committed to free speech and expression to support us and the artist in resisting this pressure by visiting the upcoming exhibition and by writing letters of support to the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland."

Badiucao said he was pleased with the measures the museum had taken to tackle the situation.

"As an Australian citizen, and a member of the Chinese diaspora in Australia, I do hope our government, our embassy, would act more," the artist said.

"I hope that the embassy in Poland is sending a representative to the opening to show their solidarity."

Badiucao said he had also notified Australia's ambassador to Poland, Lloyd Brodrick, about the situation seeking "the support and protection of the Australian government" but hasn't had the chance to meet with him after a cancelled meeting.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Poland's Ministry of Culture and Historical Heritage and the Chinese Embassy in Australia have been contacted for comment.

Badiucao faced censorship and threats in the past


Badiucao says he's been personally harassed and followed in the past.(Supplied)

Badiucao is no stranger to threats and cancellations. He said what happened this time is not surprising, as similar incidents have happened when he was travelling and exhibiting in Italy, Czechia, also known as Czech Republic, and Belgium.

"The Chinese Embassy or Consulate abroad was sending these kinds of threatening letters or calling the curator of the museum, demanding the same thing, that the shows [need] to be cancelled," he said.

--
"For me, I very much expect similar intimidation and that threats will
be given for this coming exhibition in Warsaw as well," he said.
--

"I've been personally followed and harassed back in Australia, and my family back in China has
been subjected to this kind of harassment constantly from the National Security Police as well.

"I think this probably will be their next step."

In November 2018, organisers of Badiucao's first international solo event in Hong Kong cancelled the exhibition after what they said were threats made by Chinese authorities .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-03/australian-artist-badiucaos-hong-kong-show-cancelled/10463058 .

After being retitled Made in Hong Kong, Banned in China, the 19-piece exhibition was eventually featured at The Facility in Melbourne .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-27/badiucao-new-melbourne-exhibition-street-art-festival/11995456 .

In 2019, Badiucao accused the National Gallery of Victoria of "self-censoring .. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-08-27/chinese-dissidents-accuse-ngv-of-stifling-free-speech/11450750 " after it declined a request to host an event that will feature a talk about democracy and Hong Kong.

Other venues also declined to host the talks, which were eventually put on at the Melbourne City Conference Centre.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-14/chinese-government-wants-to-stop-exhibition-by-australian-artist/102471996

[fuagf]

TV here has just introduced me to - Grayson Perry | Smash Hits

"Ten photographs that made the world wake up to climate change "

nationalgalleries

23,747 views Aug 9, 2023
Smash Hits is the biggest-ever exhibition of Sir Grayson Perry's work, covering his 40-year career. Perry?has gone from taking pottery evening classes to winning the Turner Prize, presenting?television?programmes on Channel 4?, and writing acclaimed books.?Pottery allowed him the opportunity to indulge his fascination with sex, Punk, and counterculture,?amongst other things,?in the most?unlikely?and polite of art forms.?Today he is one of?Britain's most celebrated artists and cultural figures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kC3kOvCEpBQ