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We provide translation of news in English from local media and other sources, for academic use.
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#Solidarity #Respect
HK Documentary Director Thanks Supporters, Has No Plans to Leave HK

The surprise screening of Kiwi Chow's documentary "Revolution Of Our Times" at the 2021 #CannesFilmFestival, one of the three major film festivals worldwide, had attracted widespread attention.

The film documents Hong Kong's 2019 Anti-ELAB movement, and its trailer was posted online on July 18, 2021. Many viewers commented that they could not hold back their tears, and thanked the director for recording history.

#KiwiChow had previously directed the short "Ten Years: Self-Immolator" and feature film "Beyond the Dream".

In an interview with Stand News, he responded to the warm reception from netizens: "Some things go both ways. Some people thanked me; I also want to thank everyone."

Many had expressed concern for Chow's personal safety. He had mentioned in previous interviews that he had to "prepare to face potential consequences." He did not want to dwell on what the "consequences" may be, lest he be dominated by fear.

Chow is currently in Hong Kong, and has no plans to leave. "I don't need to, nor want to, allow the fear of what hasn't happened - and only exists in my imagination - to control my decisions."

#Cinema #Art #Documentary #RevolutionOfOurTimes #ProtestArt #ToFreedom

Source: Stand News #Jul16
https://thestandnews.page.link/aKNC8LXo3U6wdXsJ6
#ProtestArt #NeverForget #Interview
Traces of Graffiti in Hong Kong: "If we can write them easily, then we can write them more”


Source: Hong Kong Citizen News #Jul18
Image: #FirstHand

Read more
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#ProtestArt #NeverForget #Interview
Traces of Graffiti in Hong Kong: "If we can write them easily, then we can write them more”

When passing the streets of the Hong Kong, be it inside the tunnels, the flyovers, or by the roads you drive by every day, it is hard to miss the many grey cover-up patches on the pale walls and washed-out letterings.

These marks are some of the many traces left in the city, reminding Hong Kong people of what they went through two years ago.

MC Yan, the lead singer of local Hip Hop band #LMF , also known as "Asia's first graffiti artist", calls these "Cleansed Fonts” (清潔體), because they are presenting the original message in a fresh new way.

Since Beijing's implementation of #NationalSecurityLaw in Hong Kong on June 30, 2020, the words "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our Times" have since been considered taboo.

MC Yan feels that it is a foolish move on the regime, because “they have highlighted something, and given people a target to be directed against.”

In fact, he feels that it has become an opportunity to inspire people to think. This has also led to many derivative creations; people were inspired to arrange shapes like triangles and circles together to remind people of the popular “revolution” slogan.

“On the surface, it looks like the movement has become scattered, but in fact, the symbols are still there, the idea lives on,” said MC Yan.

When asked whether the change from words to symbols is a submission to the regime, MC Yan replied by saying that, “when these ideas are turned into symbols, it is being simplified but it doesn’t mean that they were faded”.

He believes that using symbols only made it faster and easier for people to write, “if we can write them out so easily now, then we can write them more.”

Source: Hong Kong Citizen News #Jul18
Image: #FirstHand
https://www.facebook.com/hkcnews/posts/1496216894055048

#Symbol #Graffiti #MCYan #LMF #Icon #Creativity #CleansedFonts
#Interview #Firsthand
Hong Kong Female Frontliner's Look Appears in Top Model UK 2020: "Every small efforts will eventually come together and make a big impact"

On June 26, 2021, the Top Model UK 2020 was staged in the Royal Horseguard Hotel in London.

A Hong Kong model, Catherine (thereafter C), took to the stage as the Lady Liberty of Hong Kong. After the contest, Catherine spoke to us in an interview.

1)What makes you show up on the stage as a female warrior, the Lady Liberty of Hong Kong?

C: When pondering for an appropriate outfit for the self-style session of the contest, I reckon any fashion piece that connects with the pro-democracy protest in 2019 would well represent Hong Kong.

I remember this common protester symbol which was well-recognized in Hong Kong and easy to execute. Under time pressure, we made this protest-inspired outfit without even seeking consent from the designer of the art piece.

We want to bring Hongkongers’ efforts in the pro-democracy movement to global attention and showcase Hong Kong local culture on international platforms. I wish to let Hong Kong people know that we can always find ways to continue our fight under escalating oppression.

2)How do other countries respond to this female warrior outfit, and what does this outfit actually embody?

C: Some contestants were able to tell the difference between Hong Kong and China. They are keen to share their opinions on the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong with me. I am grateful for their encouragement.

The master of ceremony said that they like this outfit. Some dressers showed thumbs up while some make-up artists found it a unique and stunning design.

3)What do you think this Lady Liberty design is symbolizing?

C: I found much resonance in this protest design, probably because I am a woman. Females are no longer the weaker sex nowadays. We can walk on to the front-line to battle and fight for our beliefs. A fully-geared female shows the determination to fight on, even when she realizes that the journey will be covered in sweat, blood and tears.

I think I am not slim enough to fit into the outfit and bring the best out of it. I am not the female protester on the poster in Hong Kong, but an ordinary Hongkonger. I have yet given up, and I wish other Hongkongers to continue their fight as well.

I can take this protest-inspired outfit to the stage which everyone else can also continue the protest in their own ways. The costume is heavy in its memory of the pro-democracy movement in 2019, symbolizing every unyielding Hongkonger and the memories back then.

4)What do you want to do the most when going back to Hong Kong?

C: Hum... I want to eat local dishes like barbecue pork and chicken rice with lemon tea. I want to see pop singer Hins Cheung’s concert (Cheung is always #1 for me) and see live shows of some popular local bands and movie stars. I want to show my support to Hong Kong movies too.

Hong Kong is always the best, no matter where I am. I will utter my best effort to defend and guard Hong Kong culture because “I fxxking love Hong Kong” (Catherine cited a well-known protest slogan).

5)What do you want to say to those still in Hong Kong?

C: Hang on! Hong Kong needs every one of us to continue the fight in our own ways. Every small efforts will eventually come together and make a big impact. We have to keep on fighting. I believe we can take on any roles comfortable to ourselves and fight.

Wrapping up the interview, Catherine cited lyrics of a popular canton pop, “In fact, learning to live in desperation is an unending life-long training.”

I hate losing. But until now, we have nothing else to lose, Hongkongers.

#ProtestArt #Fashion
#HKCulture #AntiELAB #TopModel #LadyLiberty #FemaleWarrior #Catherine #UK

Source: First Hand #Aug6

**Photos are provided by the interviewee
#Art #Exibition #Court
Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal Dissipating in the Water in
#HongKongArtists' #Scupture

Situated in Bilchenton-on-Sea in North-eastern #Kent in England, a place not familiar to many Hong Kong people, an exhibition is taking place in a local museum from Monday, August 23, 2021, onwards.

Exhibits include art pieces from two Hong Kong artists. Among them are #LauYatWai's ceramic sculptures titled “Mute Tumult of Memories”. The scupture portrays the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong dissipating in the water.

Graduated from the School of Visual Arts at Hong Kong Baptist University (#HKBU) in 2011, Lau specializes in ceramics.

Lau and his teacher #YiLaiKeung worked in partnership with two #UK artists specialising in sound effect to create their joint artwork during a remote residency hosted by #TheCeramicHouse.

Their work will be shown in the "No Interdependent Origins" exhibition from August to October, 2021 in the Powell-Cotton Museum in the #UnitedKingdom.

Source: Stand News; #Aug19

https://bit.ly/3j8fvWy

#ProtestArt #Installation #UK #HongKongCourt #Scupture #NoInterdependentOrigins #PowellCottonMuseum
#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
HK Documentary about #PolyUSiege Wins Grand Prize at International Documentary Festival in Japan

The documentary "Inside the Red Brick Wall", chronicling the 13-day police siege of #PolyU during the #AntiELAB movement, has won the grand prize at Japan's #Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival. This honor has never been won by a Hong Kong film in its three-decade history, until now.

The film was selected as the best Hong Kong film of 2020 by the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. However, it had been shunned by local cinemas after pro-government media labeled it anti-police and anti-government. Its premiere was cancelled only hours before its showing by the hosting cinema.

The panel of judges noted that the documentary showed citizens and students being trapped by the police inside Polytechnic University; it documented the reality of youngsters, including minors, as they faced these dire circumstances, whether or not they had food. Live footage also showed photographers being fired upon within the campus

[editor's note: according to statistics from Hong Kong Journalists Association, 3 journalists had been shot with pepper balls at close range].

The film itself carries historical significance.

The film's directors, listed as "Hong Kong Documentary Filmmakers", thanked the organizers through a pre-recorded video. They said that under Hong Kong's current oppressive environment, they must regroup and be formless like water, but believed that "we'll walk together again".

"To all who believe in freedom", they added, "The only response to oppression is resistance. We will keep moving, and keep on filming."

Source: Citizen News #Oct13
https://bit.ly/3awuc0v

#Film #Documentary #Resistance #ProtestArt #FilmFestival
#StreetPerformance #Art
London Artists: Salute to those suffered under totalitarianism

In the face of injustice, people fight back with different ways and find ways to make their voices heard. While performing in London, a group of artists said they are fortunate to live on a free land where they can still follow their hearts to pursuit justice.

On November 6, 2021, a social movement art platform #Artvocate carried out a mobile exhibition. Some artists were blind folded, representing the citizens being ripped off freedom. Without fear, they took to the street to show their defiance and strong will.

Saluting Hong Kong pro-democracy protestors, the artists showed lines of umbrella in their performance. Tribute was also paid to those fought against the authoritarian rule in Myanmar.

#Mayanmar #FightForHongKong #Authoritarianism #PerformanceArt #ProtestArt #GlobalSolidarity

Source: Fight for Hong Kong; #Nov7
https://t.me/Fight_for_HK/55
#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
Former Teacher Hosts Arts Exhibition to Recall Hongkongers' Memory on Pro-democracy Movement

#Vawongsir, a former secondary school teacher and a cartoonist, has been hosting an art exhibition for 2 months at a cafe called Retold at Tsuen Wan's The Mill in Hong Kong since December 2021.

The exhibition displayed 12 artworks by Vawongsir, including one portraying a boy hiding his face, sobbing bitterly in bed at midnight.

Vawongsir sighs that people reduce their concerns about social movement and he hopes the exhibition can recall people's memory. "Hope people will not forget about me, as well as the past incidents."

Vawongsir was accused by the authorities of "professional misconduct", due to his support of the pro-democracy movement.

Recently, he hoped to return to teach by working as a substitute teacher to support his family; however, no school is willing to employ teachers who had been issued a warning letter by the government . All applicantions he sent out had been rejected.

In midst of his hard time, his laptop, which he used to produce illustrations, have also broke down.

Source: Inmedia #Dec23
https://bit.ly/3J29FAZ

#NSL #AntiELABMovement #Teacher #Education #PoliticalSuppression #PoliceState #ProtestArt