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| China tries to shut down Australian artist’s show promoted by image of cannibalistic Xi | China tries to shut down Australian artist’s show promoted by image of cannibalistic Xi |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Badiucao calls for Australian support after Chinese government asked Poland to close Warsaw exhibition | Badiucao calls for Australian support after Chinese government asked Poland to close Warsaw exhibition |
| A Chinese-Australian artist has called for more support from the Australian government after Chinese officials tried to shut down his latest show in Poland. | A Chinese-Australian artist has called for more support from the Australian government after Chinese officials tried to shut down his latest show in Poland. |
| The artist, who goes by the name Badiucao, is due to launch his latest exhibition at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw on Friday. | The artist, who goes by the name Badiucao, is due to launch his latest exhibition at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art in Warsaw on Friday. |
| #Breaking 🇵🇱 @u_jazdowski art center ‘s website is briefly down for unknown reason.The art center is hosting my new exhibition #TellChinasStoryWell on June 16.Yesterday Chinese embassy visited venue again to express complain against the show. pic.twitter.com/iREmf1E1aC | #Breaking 🇵🇱 @u_jazdowski art center ‘s website is briefly down for unknown reason.The art center is hosting my new exhibition #TellChinasStoryWell on June 16.Yesterday Chinese embassy visited venue again to express complain against the show. pic.twitter.com/iREmf1E1aC |
| The show is titled Tell China’s Story Well, and the promotional image is a painting of the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, eating human flesh, referencing Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son. | The show is titled Tell China’s Story Well, and the promotional image is a painting of the Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, eating human flesh, referencing Goya’s Saturn Devouring His Son. |
| The Chinese diplomat Yao Dongye has twice visited the museum and the embassy has also written to the Polish government to have the exhibition shut down, the artist told AAP. | The Chinese diplomat Yao Dongye has twice visited the museum and the embassy has also written to the Polish government to have the exhibition shut down, the artist told AAP. |
| Badiucao’s artworks critique China’s internment camps in Xinjiang, its Hong Kong crackdown, Covid-19 measures, aggression in the South China Sea and threats against Taiwan. | Badiucao’s artworks critique China’s internment camps in Xinjiang, its Hong Kong crackdown, Covid-19 measures, aggression in the South China Sea and threats against Taiwan. |
| “These are the facts that are making the Chinese government so discredited, my art is simply exposing their crimes,” the artist said. | “These are the facts that are making the Chinese government so discredited, my art is simply exposing their crimes,” the artist said. |
| Badiucao, who is an Australian citizen, said he had contacted the Australian embassy with concerns about his safety but has yet to speak with them. | Badiucao, who is an Australian citizen, said he had contacted the Australian embassy with concerns about his safety but has yet to speak with them. |
| He said he had hoped for more support. | He said he had hoped for more support. |
| “I am alone doing an exhibition in a foreign country, everything is quite unpredictable,” he said. | “I am alone doing an exhibition in a foreign country, everything is quite unpredictable,” he said. |
| “If they fail to silence my show, they will move on to more personal threats and attacks.” | “If they fail to silence my show, they will move on to more personal threats and attacks.” |
| A previous exhibition in Hong Kong in 2018 was shut down after threats to the artist’s family, while his shows in Italy and the Czech Republic have also faced pressure. | A previous exhibition in Hong Kong in 2018 was shut down after threats to the artist’s family, while his shows in Italy and the Czech Republic have also faced pressure. |
| The exhibition also draws links between Xi and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. | The exhibition also draws links between Xi and Vladimir Putin’s invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. |
| “We all know that China is siding with Putin and supporting his invasion in different ways,” Badiucao said. | “We all know that China is siding with Putin and supporting his invasion in different ways,” Badiucao said. |
| A spokesperson for the department of foreign affairs and trade said Australia was committed to supporting freedom of expression. | |
| “Artists should be able to carry out their work consistent with the right to freedom of expression under international human rights law.Our ambassador in Poland has reached out to Badiucao and offered our support and a meeting. Where it is within our jurisdiction, Australian Government agencies will continue to take action to deter acts of foreign interference.” |