two new sculptures commemorating Tian’anmen withdrawn from universities

The erasure of sculptures in tribute to the victims of the Tian’anmen repression continues in Hong Kong. Works from two Hong Kong universities commemorating the pro-democracy movement of June 4, 1989 were debunked on Friday, December 24. It is a statue of the “Goddess of Democracy”, withdrawn from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a relief commemorating the events of Tian’anmen removed from Lingnan University. The day before, Le “Pillar of shame” performed by the Dane Jens Galschiot, had been withdrawn from the university of Hong Kong.

Lingnan University justified this removal of a relief commemorating the events of Tian’anmen made by sculptor Chen Weiming by claiming to have “reviewed and assessed items on campus that may present legal and security risks to the university community”. Chinese University of Hong Kong for his part explained that the withdrawal of the “unauthorized statue” came after an internal evaluation, adding that the groups responsible for installing the work on campus in 2010 were no longer active.

The “Goddess of Democracy”, a six-meter-high replica of the one erected by students demonstrating in Tian’anmen Square in 1989, was also a symbol of the pro-democracy movement and a work of Chen Weiming. The artist, based in the United States, expressed his “regrets” and his “anger”, explaining that the university had acted “illegal and unreasonable”. “They act like a thief in the night”, he reacted, while the campuses are deserted during the Christmas holidays.

“It’s the opposite of being clean and honest … They were afraid of being exposed and of receiving backlash from students and alumni.”

Chen Weiming, sculptor

to AFP

The sculptor assured that his work was on loan, and that he would take legal action if it was damaged. He said he was considering seeking his removal to California, where he runs Liberty Sculpture Park.