by Enid Tsui
Wen Yau, a performance artist who joined an Occupy Central protest wearing a blindfold designed like the Chinese flag, is determined to foster more rational, calm discussion within the arts community for this year’s handover anniversary.
“There are so many divisions and not enough talking. It’s true even within the arts community,” she says.
“Talkover/ Handover 2.0” at 1a Space is a revival of a 2007 AAA project that got artists of different generations to collaborate and discuss a number of issues. This year, the main topics are localism, art in politically sensitive times, art labour, and sustainable development of independent, artist-run spaces.
“These are issues that affect a lot of us. The Beijing regime is not changing, but things may not get worse. We are more wary of the risks of doing certain things now and we are frightened. But what we need to do is come together and reach a consensus, and get stronger together,” she says.
full story:
Tsui, Enid. ‘Brushes with Authority.’ South China Morning Post. C10. 22 June 2017 (appeared in the South China Morning Post online edition as: ‘How has art fared in Hong Kong under China’s rule? The scene is thriving, but some artists see – or fear – censorship‘ 20 June 2017)