#Film #Censorship
No hope for pro-democracy films to be shown in Hong Kong: disappointing filmmaker claims

The Hong Kong government promulgated in June 2021 an amendment to the inspector's guideline of Film censorship regulations.

On the same day, the Office for Film, Newspaper and Article Administration (#OFNAA) declined approval for a short film, titled “Far From Home” which took anti-ELAB movement as background. The short film was intended to join the 15th Fresh Wave International Short Firm contest.

The film’s director Mok Kwan-ling told stand News on August 25, 2021 that in OFNAA’s response to her on August 17, the office requested as many as 14 counts of amendments. She described such request as excessive to the extent of going in contrary to the original intention of the film.

Without viable alternative,Mok decided to withdraw her film, saying that “it is not hopeful for it to be screened in Hong Kong”.

Source: Stand News; #Aug25

https://thestandnews.page.link/HoSrgvdNJQsz6FdJ6

#FailedState #Art #Screening #PolicalSuppression #FarFromHome #MokKwanLing

#Remembrance
“I won’t suicide” #exhibition organised to showcase #WhiteTerror and #PoliceBrutality

"I cherish my life and love Hong Kong. I do not suffer any physical or mental illness, and I have no intention of suicide or self-harm..."

During the anti-extradition law amendment bill (Anti-ELAB) movement in Hong Kong in 2019, mysterious “body found” incidents had aroused tremendous public attention.

Many young pro-democracy protesters openly put down their “I won’t suicide” declaration on social media in order to avoid becoming the next victim of suspected police brutality.

Recently, Hongkongers abroad called people to screen cap of these declaration for an exhibition from 10 to 19 September, 2021 in Manchester.

Documentaries of this pro-democracy movement will also be shown at the exhibition so that visitors can come to learn all the truth and facts.

Artists, including Wong Kwok-choi(黃國才), Chu Yiu-wai(朱耀煒), Cheung Ka-lei (張嘉莉), Black Blog, Rice and Beans were invited to the exhibition.

The oganiser of the exhibition asked protesters to screen cap their declation, remove any sensitive information before sending their submission.

Source: Stand News; #Aug24

https://www.thestandnews.com/international/%E5%BE%B5%E9%9B%86%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E6%8A%97%E7%88%AD%E8%80%85-%E4%B8%8D%E8%87%AA%E6%AE%BA%E8%81%B2%E6%98%8E-%E4%B8%8B%E6%9C%88%E8%8B%B1%E5%9C%8B%E6%9B%BC%E5%9F%8E%E5%B1%95%E5%87%BA

#Art #Culture

Mid Autumn Festival 2021: May we share the same moon, no matter where we are

September 21, 2021 marks this year's mid-autumn festival, a day that symbolizes reunion.

For many Hongkongers, it proves to be difficult in the context of 2021.

"Though a thousand miles apart,
May we share in this beautiful sight,
Under the waning moon we wait,
Until she shines again, so full and bright"

===

Wishing our readers peace on this Mid Autumn festival, from all of us at #BeWater HK.

===

Source: Ah To #Sept21

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=417583549736343&id=100044541035098

#Art #LionRock #MoonFestival
#MidAutumnFestival

#GlobalSolidarity
Czech Terezín Memorial Exhibits Portraits of Hong Kong #PoliticalPrisoners

A painting installation by Hong Kong artist #LorettaLau depicting some Hong Kong political prisoners will open on 7 October 2021 in Terezín Memorial, a former #NAZI concentration camp in the #CzechRepublic.

Lau was invited to take part in Fortress 1980 exhibition and human rights conference. Titled ‘The Cells’, the paintings are installed in solitary confinement cells, a stark reminder of ‘the nature of the dictators has never changed,’ said Lau.

'The Cells' features 13 political prisoners under the Hong Kong National Security Law, including Jimmy Lai Chi-ying, Tonyee Chow Hang-tung, Tony Chung Hon-lam, Agnes Chow Ting, and more.

A faint portrait of each prisoner is painted on a piece of white door curtain installed at the entrance to a solitary confinement cell.

To have a clear view of the portraits, visitors must walk into the cells. Looking from inside out, the images will be lit up by the light outside.

The design aims to arouse the visitor’s empathy with those imprisoned. ‘I hope by having them walking into the cells, they will have a direct and personal experience of how being confined feels like,’ said Loretta.

*Note: The artist Loretta Lauwill stage a live performance at Terezín Memorial at 5pm Thursday Oct 7 (HKT 2300). She will use her movements and voices to commemorate the countless people who suffered in the concentration camps, to resonate between the tragedies in the past and the happening misfortunes.

The performance will be streamed live at: https://youtu.be/IZ6b-KPctOk

Source: Stand News #Oct1

https://www.thestandnews.com/art/%E6%8D%B7%E5%85%8B%E7%B4%8D%E7%B2%B9%E9%9B%86%E4%B8%AD%E7%87%9F%E7%B4%80%E5%BF%B5%E9%A4%A8%E5%B1%95%E8%A6%BD-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E8%97%9D%E8%A1%93%E5%AE%B6%E7%8D%B2%E9%82%80%E5%8F%83%E8%88%87-%E5%B1%95%E5%87%BA%E5%9C%8B%E5%AE%89%E6%B3%95%E8%A2%AB%E6%8D%95%E8%80%85%E8%82%96%E5%83%8F

#Art #Culture #Installation #Exhibition #TheCell #ProtestArt #ConcentrationCamp

#NeverForget #Art
HK Lennon Walls recreated through frames of photographs

#LennonWalls #IPA #AddOil

Source: Stand News; #Oct15
https://thestandnews.page.link/A4CdKHKFbhDDSzZL8

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

#NeverForget #Art
HK Lennon Walls recreated through frames of photographs

During the pro-democracy anti-Extradition Bill Movement in Hong Kong in 2019, HKers in many districts spontaneously built #LennonWalls to voice their democratic wishes.

Two years have gone by, the Lennon Walls have been destroyed and washed away.

A Hong Kong photographer, Harvey, recreated the Lennon Wall by collating frames of panoramic photographs.

Harvey called it “Assembly”. His work won a third place in a "Professional Event, Social Cause" of the #IPA International Photography Awards this year.

The 27-year-old photographer Harvey told the press that he was happy to win the prize.

Humbly, he said the works belong to Hong Kong people. He added, "these two years have been tough for Hongkongers". He is hoping that people still remember the cause of the movement, and still remember to support each other and #AddOil.”

View Harvey's Lennon Wall artwork: https://bit.ly/3aH7fI6

Source: Stand News; #Oct15
https://thestandnews.page.link/A4CdKHKFbhDDSzZL8

#Censorship #PoliticalSuppression
"Barbarious", "Mafia Tactic": #PillarofShame Creator Shocked as the University of Hong Kong Demands Removal

Part 1/2

On October 7, 2021, the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) called for the removal of a statue commemorating the pro-democracy protesters killed during the 1989 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing, with a 6-day deadline.

The "Pillar of Shame" had been placed on long-term display inside the HKU campus since 1998 with support from the HKU Student Union.

Representing the university, US law firm Mayer Brown issued a letter demanding the now-disbanded Hong Kong Alliance (#HKASPDMC) – the organiser of Hong Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigil – to “immediately … make arrangements for the sculpture (the 8-meter-tall Pillar of Shame) to be removed from the university’s premises”.

“If you fail to remove the sculpture … it will be deemed abandoned,” the letter said, “if the Alliance fails to take it away, and the university will deal with the sculpture at such time and in such manner as it thinks fit without further notice.”

Danish artist #JensGalschiot, the statue's creator, was shocked at the demand, calling it “barbarous” and a “mafia” tactic. He told reporters that he remains the owner of the sculpture, and he has hired a lawyer to protect his property, which was only on loan to the Alliance.

“I hope that my ownership of the sculpture will be respected and that I will be able to transport the sculpture out of Hong Kong under orderly conditions and without it having suffered from any damage,” he said, adding that any damage would be the university’s responsibility.

Galschiot described the act as an attempt to erase China's collective historical memory. In a statement, he wrote in contempt, “China has made the Pillar of Shame ever taller and bigger in the eyes of the world.”

Read Part 2:
Law Firm Refuses to Represent Hong Kong's Top University
https://t.me/guardiansofhongkong/31306

#TiananmenMassacre #Memorial #Art #CollectiveMemory

Sources: Stand News; InMediaHK; #Oct18

https://thestandnews.page.link/cWZQyyVUAc2Z255J7

https://thestandnews.page.link/ExESJ1tzktLMiEoR6

https://bit.ly/3vq26O4

#Art #Freedom
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show

Source: Stand News, #Oct23

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️

#Art #Freedom
Italian city defies China bid to scrap dissident's art show

An Italian city is going ahead with plans to host an art exhibition by a Chinese dissident despite a request from China's embassy to cancel it.

The show, called "China is (not) near," is due to run from November 13 to February 13, 2021 in the northern Italian city of Brescia.

The exhibition by #Badiucao, a cartoonist also known as "The Chinese Banksy", is expected to denounce Chinese political repression and censorship of information on the COVID pandemic.

Brescia Mayor #EmilioDelBono told local press that his office would not comply with a request from the Chinese embassy in Italy to scrap it.

He said the friendship between the Italian and Chinese people "is not in question", but "I think it is important to show that you can stay friends while criticising some things".

The deputy mayor, #LauraCastelletti, earlier tweeted that "For us art and freedom of expression are an essential combination".

#Italy #FreedomOfExpression

Source: Stand News, #Oct23 https://thestandnews.page.link/PHgLpzQ5HDsT9fKR8

US Law Firm Withdraws from Representing the University of Hong Kong Amid Outcry from Civic Groups and US Politicians

On behalf of the University of Hong Kong (#HKU), the law firm #MayerBrown issued a letter to Danish artist #JensGalschiot, demanding the removal of his famous sculpture #PillarofShame, which has beena symbol commemorating the victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre and on display on campus since 2003, within six days.

The action prompted an outcry from pro-democracy and human rights groups, who expressed dismay that a US law firm was helping the Chinese regime to suppress the commemoration of the massacre.

28 civil society groups signed an open letter calling for Mayer Brown to withdraw from representing the university, citing the importance of safeguarding the firm’s “integrity in defending the right of freedom of expression”.

US Republican senators including Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham also condemned the firm.

Mayer Brown initially defended its representation of the university, saying the dispute was simply a real estate matter. But on October 15, 2021, the firm backed down, saying, "going forward, Mayer Brown will not be representing its longtime client in this matter.”

Following Mayer Brown's withdrawal, former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying took to Facebook to denounce the firm as having been "infiltrated by foreign powers" and calling on all "Chinese" clients to withdraw their business.

The sculpture was still in the university campus as the deadline for its removal passed.

The debate over removal of the Pillar of Shame from #HKU was brought to a legislative meeting on October 18, 2021, when pro-Beijing legislator Luk Chung-hung, a representative from the pro-CCP Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, took it in a verbal inquiry.

Luk referred the sculpture as “trash” three times, calling it a "totem of anti-CCP sentiments" that has confused and poisoned youngsters in Hong Kong. He called for local police to assist the university in handling the case.

#TiananmenMassacre #Memorial #Art #CollectiveMemory

Sources: Stand News; InmediaHK; #Oct18

https://thestandnews.page.link/cWZQyyVUAc2Z255J7

https://thestandnews.page.link/ExESJ1tzktLMiEoR6

https://bit.ly/3vq26O4

#Art #Creativity
Activists Preserve HK's Tiananmen Memorial Pillar in Digital 3D Model: "They Can't Silence Us All"

In October 2021, the University of Hong Kong (#HKU) demanded the Danish creator Jens Galschiøt to remove the statue which has been on display on campus since 1998.

An activist group had digitally scanned the #PillarofShame and made the 3D model publicly available, in an effort to preserve the statue commemorating the pro-democracy protesters killed during the 1989 Tiananmen massacre in Beijing.

Thre group "Lady Liberty HK" announced the release of the publicly accessible file in a Facebook post on October 29, 2021.

"The 3D file preserves details including every face on the statue, #JensGalschiøt's signature, the writings and plates on the base," said the post.

While Galschiøt, the statue's creator, had made similar pillars commemorating other ignominious events in other countries, all pillars are unique.

This 3D model therefore represents "THE Pillar of Shame that belongs to Hong Kong."

The original Pillar had been placed on permanent display inside Hong Kong University's campus since 1998. However, HKU had recently demanded its removal, a move that drew condemnation from civic groups worldwide, as well as Galschiot, the statue's creator and owner. He had called on Hong Kong citizens to, in the event that the statue is demolished, gather as many pieces as they could, so that it could be rebuilt elsewhere in the world.

Echoing the artist's call, the group Lady Liberty HK wrote: "If one day #HKU act in accomplice to Hong Kong Gov. and the CCP and removes the statue, anyone in the world can still view it online and recreate it."

The group takes its name from the 4m-tall statue of a Hong Kong protester, which it created and displayed during the 2019 Anti-ELAB Movement, but had been destroyed by unidentified individuals. The group had also published the model file for the statue; one 3D-printed replica is now preserved in the collections of the Museum of New Zealand.

Source: Lady Liberty HK Facebook #Oct30

https://www.facebook.com/LadyLibertyHongKong/posts/647090700010700

#Resistance #3DModel #PreservingHistory #LadyLibertyHK

#PopMusic #Censorship
Top Ranking Song Mocking Chinese nationalists Banned in China and Delisted from HK-based streaming app

Malaysian rapper #Namewee and Taiwan-based Australian singer #KimberlyChen Fang-yu rolled out a Mandopop song titled "#Fragile" (玻璃心, or literally meaning "#GlassHeart"), on Youtube in mid-October 2021.

The term "glass heart" is commonly used to describe nationalist Chinese netizens who become easily upset when a social media post attacks the Chinese Comminist Party (#CCP).

While the song can be interpreted as a love song, the music video satirizes the CCP and nationalist Chinese netizens
(aka "#LittlePinks") through the extensive use of the color pink, simplified Chinese subtitles, and a giant and clumsy panda.

References are made to China's claims to Taiwan, bat soup representing COVID19, the Great Firewall, and #XiJingping's latest political campaign Common Prosperity.

The song hit the internet with an overwhelming popularity, receiving over 10 million Youtube views in just first few days.

The pro-China netizens criticized the lyrics for "inflicting insults on China", leading to both the ban of the singers in China and the removal of their #Weibo accounts.

In response, Namewee wrote on his Facebook page pointing out that the song has reflected a general trend as more people are realizing CCP's oppression and encroachment. The artist said, "[this song is] not so amazing, it's just a mirror."

Commenting on the freedom of expression in artistic creation, Namewee said, "If I have to give up creative freedom and my ideals, this goes against any artististic pursuit.  I would rather stop creating."

Namewee added in his comment that with the growing number of supporters, he would consider leveraging their influence to resist and protest against authoritarianism.

He said, "I believe if one remains silent in the face of iron fist, it would foster and reinforce them [authoritarianism]. Until one day, the iron fist hits your head as it spares no one."

On October 27, 2011, the Hong Kong-based music app, #MOOV, was found delisted the song from its app. Netizens slammed the music app, calling it "#FragileMOOV".

Source: Stand News #Oct25; as1 entertainment #Oct27

https://thestandnews.page.link/v8e74czAgLL9oV6Z8/

#PopCulture #PopSong #MandoPop #MOOV #Delist #Creativity #Art #Culture #MusicVideo #Ban

Surprise #Screening of Hong Kong Protest Documentary "Revolution of Our Times" at Film Festival in #Japan

The Tokyo Filmex festival wrapped up on November 7, 2021 with the surprise screening of Hong Kong director Kiwi Chow's “Revolution of Our Times,” a documentary about the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.

In an interview, a Hongkonger working in Japan told reporters that she cried so much and couldn’t stop while watching the film.

She added that the film was intense, which reminded her of countless police-civilian confrontations during the 2019 movement. “Perhaps , it is the pain that has connected Hongkongers,” she said.

Another local source reportrf that the theater was full as #Filmex quickly sold out some 700 tickets for the screening.

After the screening, the whole house of audiences stood on their feet and clapped for minutes to show their respect. Even some Japanese shed tears.

“Revolution of Our Times” had its world premiere in July in the #Cannes Film Festival, where the festival deliberately delayed announcing its programming in order to minimize the chance of political blowback from the Chinese government.

The Filmex organizers used the same approach and only announced the screening on November 6, which was one day before the event.

“Revolution of Our Times” was filmed by #KiwiChow for more than a year during the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong that was sparked off by the city government’s attempt to pass a law that would allow extradition to China.

The government action triggered massive peaceful protests, followed by several months of civil disobedience and on-street confrontation. This in turn was met by unprecedented military-style tactics on the part of Hong Kong police, an aggressive prosecution policy by the government and the imposition by Beijing of the #NationalSecurityLaw.

More recently, a new #FilmCensorship law introduced in Hong Kong in early November makes it unlikely that films like “Revolution of Our Times” will be allowed to screen in the city where it was made.

Sources: Citizen News; Stand News; Variety; #Oct7

https://bit.ly/3HkwA9J

#RevolutionOfOurTimes #HongKongCinema #Documentary #Art #FilmFestival #Censorship

#Action
Advocacy Group Campaigns for #Screening Films about Hongkongers' Fight for Democracy on #Netflix

"Fight for Freedom Stand with Hong Kong," a group advocates for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong called for fellow citizens to appeal to Netflix and request the showing of some pro-democracy documenteries and films produced in Hong Kong. These titles include:

- Revolution of Our Times;
- May You Stay Forever Young; and
- Far from Home

All these films chronicled the Anti-ELAB movement in Hong Kong in 2019, capturing the bravery and extraordinary resilience of youths in the face of brutal repression, and their plea for international help.

Under the #NationalSecurityLaw, it is a safe assumption that these films cannot be officially shown in Hong Kong.

On its Facebook post, the advocacy group cited the Chinese Communist Party's pressure as the key hinderance to distribution of these films.

The group encouraged netizens to make their voices heard through the "Title Request" page of Netflix:

https://help.netflix.com/en/titlerequest

Source: Fight for Freedom Stand with Hong Kong; #Nov10

https://www.facebook.com/standwithhk/posts/1329589067471758

#RevolutionOfOurTimes
#HongKongCinema #Documentary #Art #Streaming #FilmDistribution #Censorship

#PillarOfShame #Censorship
Danish Sculptor seeks immunity from Hong Kong's National Security Law

Danish artist Jens Galschiot created the Pillar of Shame, a statue that commemorates democracy students and citizens who died on June 4, 1989 during Beijing’s brutal crackdown. The University of Hong Kong (#HKU), where the statue was displayed, has earlier demanded its removal from the campus.

The artist has asked Hong Kong authorities for immunity from the #NationalSecurityLaw so that he can take the statue back to Denmark.

In an open letter issued on November 12, 2021, #JensGalschiot said he is willing to take the statue back to Denmark, but he needs to be in the city to make sure it is dismantled properly without causing significant and irreparable damage to the costly sculpture.

Galschiot also called for assurances that he and his colleagues would not be prosecuted under the national security law.

#Sculpture #NSL #Art #FreedomOfExpression #TiananmenMassacre #June4 #Denmark

Source: Citizen News; #Nov12
https://www.hkcnews.com/article/47611/%E9%AB%98%E5%BF%97%E6%B4%BBjens_galschi%C3%B8t-%E5%9C%8B%E6%AE%A4%E4%B9%8B%E6%9F%B1-%E9%A6%99%E6%B8%AF%E5%A4%A7%E5%AD%B8-47619/hku

#Art
#Brescia Exhibits #Badiucao's Artwork that Mocks Beijing’s #Propaganda

Source: Radio Free Asia; #Nov13

Read more
⬇️⬇️

#Art
#Brescia Exhibits #Badiucao's Artwork that Mocks Beijing’s #Propaganda

Defying the calls of the Chinese government to cancel an exhibition in a northern Italian city, #Brescia is hosting the first international solo exhibition by the 35-year-old artist, #Badiucao, an exile from China who now lives in Australia.

Displaying a torture instrument such as a rocking chair, dissident artist Badiucao mocks the propaganda of Beijing in this exhibition named “China is (not) near”.

The show denounces political repression in China and the country’s censorship of the origin of #Covid19.

Beijing responded to the exhibition in anger, accusing Badiucao’s works of being “full of anti-Chinese lies” that “jeopardise the friendly relations between China and Italy”. The PRC's embassy in Rome sent a letter to Brescia’s town hall.

Deputy Mayor #LauraCastelletti responded, “None of us in Brescia, neither in the city council nor among the citizens, had the slightest doubt about this exhibition going ahead.”

"Brescia, known for its Roman ruins, has a long tradition of welcoming dissidents, painters and writers, in defence of artistic freedom”, she added.

In an interview, Badiucao, who is nicknamed the Chinese #Banksy said he is “very happy and proud” that the city “had the courage to say ‘no’ to China to defend fundamental rights.”

Source: Radio Free Asia; #Nov13
https://www.rfa.org/mandarin/Xinwen/11-11132021172450.html/ampRFA

#ProtestArt #WolfWarrior #FreedomofExpression #Creativity #Italy #NoToChina #Culture #Exhibition

#FirstHand
Pro-democracy Café in Hong Kong Unveils Mural to Encourage Citizens’ Fight for Freedom

Located in Mong Kok, Hong Kong, Hop Fat Café is a popular local restaurant in support of pro-democracy values.

During the 2019 Anti-ELAB Movement, the café owner displayed a 10-feet wall painting featuring protest symbols such as the LiHKG pig, pepe, and a masked protester couple holding each other amidst the heavy smog of tear gas.

18 months later, the café was closed in August 2021 for renovation. When it re-opens in early November 2021, the newly refurbished café featured a mural depicting a group of people climbing a hill while helping each other.

The mural made reference to one of the oft-used protest slogans, 兄弟爬山 各自努力, literally meaning brothers climbing mountains together by their own efforts.

Protest icons like gas masks, yellow hamlets, yellow hearts and black umbrellas continued to be seen on the wall.

A famous line from Les Miserable was qouted and prominently highlighted: "Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise." Seemingly, Hongkongers are encouraging one another to hang on and resist during difficult times.

Source: First Hand #Nov8

#YellowEconomyCircle #Art #ProtestArt #Mural #HopFatRestaurant #LesMiserables #Solidarity #NeverGiveUp