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Within the bustling Prague 7 district, an artwork exhibition takes place that includes work on the life and pro-democracy wrestle of native activists and youth in Hong Kong. A white sculpture in the principle corridor, with goggles, umbrella, and a gasoline masks, catches the attention first. The apparel, blended in white clay with the remainder of the statue, is symbolic and was as soon as donned by hundreds of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong when the town was seeing waves of intense protests in 2019 and early 2020 – primarily in opposition to the then proposed extradition legislation and the better curbs and restrictions launched by mainland China, which had been geared toward curbing Hong Kong’s autonomy and its particular standing. The protests turned violent with extreme use of drive from the police and resulted in quite a few detentions.
Subsequent in line are a few canvas portraits, souvenirs, and artwork items speaking about rights violations and freedom within the metropolis. That is adopted by a unadorned sculpture of the Chinese language president on a standard dragon-tipped boat that’s full of blood as an alternative of water. CCTV cameras are fitted into the piece of artwork – depicting the better surveillance of Hong Kong and the remainder of China – whereas a placard simply on the sting reads “bare evil taking off!”
For Loretta Lau, a Hong Kong-origin trainer and activist at the moment primarily based in Prague, these artwork installations and exhibitions at her NGO DEI – that means “us” in Cantonese and the abbreviation actually standing for variety, equality, and inclusion – are a technique of maintaining her actual Hong Kong alive, forming a mini world neighborhood, and, most significantly, educating individuals about the place she comes from and what goes on there. Discovering Hong Kongers in Czechia is a rarity; in accordance with Lau, there are only a handful of them within the nation. The work she does and promotes is, due to this fact, thus far essentially the most instrumental illustration of Hong Kong and from Hong Kongers right here.
“I got here right here for my Grasp’s diploma for 2 years and had promised my household to return to Hong Kong however [our] world was altering crazily,” Lau says, on pursuing arts after which doing performances and political artwork and ultimately turning into an activist amidst instability again house. She then based a neighborhood area with a Czech companion, Jakub Zajicek, within the coronary heart of Prague to carry significant panel discussions, exhibitions, and different occasions catering to completely different communities and to voice assist for Hong Kong activists and individuals who had been intimidated and silenced again house. At present, her NGO has suspended routine operations quickly resulting from a scarcity of funding.
“I began to consider gathering Hong Kongers from Central Europe and… very fortunately, acquired a spot to carry these sorts of occasions. Our aim is to combine and be open to all communities,” she provides.
Most lately, Lau and different Hong Kong activists right here assisted Ukrainian refugees. They hosted two profit live shows, a profit neighborhood public sale, 20 social occasions, and academic packages for the Ukrainian neighborhood. Over 100 individuals had been supplied assist.
Lau says she feels a sure reference to the Ukrainians, because the struggles of each these communities, although in numerous magnitudes, cope with standing up for his or her rights regardless of being in a powerless scenario; Ukrainians having their land invaded and Hong Kongers being managed by an oppressive, totalitarian regime in violation of their distinctive standing and structure.
A sculpture at NGO DEI’s artwork exhibit in Prague, Czechia.
She additional shares that folks in Ukraine actually spoke concerning the Hong Kong scenario in 2014 in the course of the Umbrella motion and 2019.
Simon Cheng, a pro-democracy activist and founding father of Hongkongers in Britain (HKB) – an affiliation primarily based in Britain based to unite expatriates from Hong Kong – shares comparable sentiments.
“Hong Kongers and Ukrainians share the identical future in our frequent wrestle to defend the frontline of democracy and freedom in Asia and Europe respectively. To this finish, many make grave sacrifices and lose their homeland. By this disaster, we will unite as world residents for a fundamental worth of humanity and mercy,” says Cheng.
HKB, in accordance with Cheng, advocates a life-boat scheme for the Ukrainians in the UK, by means of which the Hong Kong individuals be a part of the British authorities’s marketing campaign to host Ukrainian refugees.
“We maintain a number of joint rallies with Ukraine diaspora teams for our frequent trigger within the U.Ok., even our Hong Kong Prague-based artist group, NGO Dei, obtained many asylum seekers from Ukraine for emergency lodging at their gallery,” he provides.
“Exhibiting the World What I Noticed”
Roland Au, 33, is a theater artist from Hong Kong and has been utilizing his artwork to unfold a message of peace, fairness, and freedom in Europe. He says his homeland has modified so much previously few years and his work, kind of, speaks concerning the scenario there.
“I at all times query myself about what artwork can do for a motion, particularly when it’s altering so quick. I do performing arts and attempt to present moments associated to the Hong Kong motion,” he shares, including that in his work, he tries to embrace their fading language in addition to different elements of the Hong Kong tradition.
“We create reveals for individuals right here [in the West] to tell and educate them concerning the scenario in Hong Kong. We use the inventive area to jot down stuff associated to democracy and freedom. The work is thought-provoking and on the strains of not taking democracy without any consideration,” he maintains.
Certainly one of Au’s outstanding works is “The Protester,” a cardboard sculpture made to mark the 2 12 months anniversary of the two million individuals march in Hong Kong. The scenario is drastically completely different now in comparison with 2019, Au explains, as anti-government protests are banned and chanting slogans is a criminal offense.
“Posting posters is a criminal offense. Carrying black is a criminal offense. No extra freedom and no extra rights! Always remember and by no means hand over! Wherever we’re, our soul and spirit are collectively. Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution of our instances,” learn a caption beneath one in all his artworks. “Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of our instances” is a slogan that was extensively utilized by protesters again in 2019; beneath Hong Kong’s Nationwide Safety Legislation, handed in 2020, the phrase is now outlawed beneath penalty of jail time.
Au says, by means of artwork, he’s simply opening the door for the viewers and attempting to point out them what he witnessed in Hong Kong – intimidation and threats to freedom and free speech.
The pandemic and imposition of the Nationwide Safety Legislation thwarted the motion. Many activists have since fled the town or have been arrested and are going through authorized repercussions. These deemed essential of the federal government are subjected to arbitrary detentions and trials, and over 10,000 individuals have been apprehended on protest-related expenses. The crackdown categorically rejects the “One Nation, Two Techniques” precept, promised to Hong Kong by the Sino-British Joint Declaration which ensures fundamental freedoms and civil liberties within the metropolis.
Sparked Curiosity for Hong Kong
Twenty-eight-year-old Ingrid, who didn’t share her surname, got here from Hong Kong to Prague for instructional functions and at the moment helps humanitarian and cultural work with Lau. She did a Grasp’s in Arts and is a sculpture artist.
“I do the exhibitions and take care of the cafe… after my commencement in 2020 I couldn’t return to Hong Kong regardless of eager to,” she shares, with a pang of guilt about being removed from house. However Ingrid’s work retains her going.
“Loretta, Jakub (the Czech companion), and I got here up with this concept of opening a middle to assemble individuals right here to advertise completely different cultures and create a complete neighborhood. We welcome everybody,” she states, including that the exhibitions associated to Hong Kong have certainly sparked curiosity among the many neighborhood members. She meets tons of of people that wish to know the reality and extra about her homeland and tradition.
Furthermore, Lau underscores that she undoubtedly considers herself and her individuals as “Hong Kongers” given their distinctive id and historical past. One of many targets of her neighborhood area has been to point out Hong Kong from their perspective.
“The British authorities had Hong Kong for over 150 years after which it was handed over to Communist China in a blow to our sovereignty. Totally different individuals have completely different views on the id difficulty, however after the 2019 motion, lots of us locals began to see the distinction between Hong Kongers and mainland Chinese language individuals, clearly. We communicate a unique language, to start with, and need extra sovereignty,” she concludes.
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