As reported by the Shanghaiist, Chinese supporters of dissident artist Ai Weiwei have been posting naked pictures of themselves online after learning police are investigating Weiwei's assistant Zhao Zhao for allegedly spreading pornography online. Zhao photographed Ai and four women nude last year in “One Tiger, Eight Breasts”
Ai said the nude photographs had no deeper political meaning and were not meant to criticise the government, but he added that the government could perceive the photos as a "rebellious act".
"We did it because it was a way to remove fear and the feeling of isolation," Ai told Reuters. "Because fear and the feeling of isolation are defining characteristics in certain societies.
"Today, in reality, these (actions) are inappropriate for the time being. So when I see everyone like this, I feel young people still have some conscience."
Ai's supporters, 30,000 of whom have already raised over 8 million yuan to help him contest a massive tax bill, have now started posting naked self-portraits to the Listen, Chinese Government: Nudity is not Pornography website.
The government's campaign against Ai has already seen him detained in a secret location for nearly three months and questioned about subversion. He has been accused of tax evasion and fined 15 million yuan (US$2.4 million). His assistants have also been subjected to lengthy detention and interrogations about Ai's political beliefs, business and personal life.
Ai's lawyers claim these are politically motivated investigations intended to silence Ai, who has used his high profile to attack China's human rights abuses, corruption and police brutality.
No comments:
Post a Comment