above Ai Weiwei’s “Forever”
sculpture. The artwork refers
to a brand of bicycles mass-
manufactured in Shanghai
since 1940 that are now
scarce
In an era of fake news,
vilification of the press and
the polarisation of intellectual
debate, satirical art has become
an important tool to question
politics. Despite crackdowns,
some artists will not be silenced
They have been harassed, threatened, publicly
scorned and surrounded by large, aggressive mobs.
They have been held behind bars, and faced the wrath
of furious governments. Yet, they appear not to have
lost their moral compass, their passion, or their hearts.
Their “crime”? Art.
Despite government pressure, Malaysia’s Zunar
and South Korea’s Hong Sung-dam continue with their
“crimes”. In fact, both consider it a moral imperative
to do so. Zunar, whose cartoons often flag corruption
and censorship issues, says talent comes with
responsibility. “It’s my duty as a cartoonist,” he says
emphatically. This month, he is scheduled to face trial
for sedition charges, which could land him in prison
for 43 years. He remains undeterred. “The risk is very
high, but I have to keep doing this.”
Satirical artist Hong likens the role of artists to
rabbits in submarines. Sensitive to oxygen, rabbits
were taken on submarines to monitor oxygen levels.IMAGE © SHUTTERSTOCK