Kære
 
 Vi har stadig i fuldgang med at forberede EU-parlarmenets udstilling med Skamstøtten, debatter om Kina, og kunstcensur i Hongkong. Det er et ret omfattende projekt jeg har rodet mig ud i J
 
Jeg har sammen med Kira (SF-medlem af EU-parlamentet) netop bestilt nogle rimelige spændene helside annoncer i både Politikken og i Information, de kommer i til Weekenden. Jeg tænker at du ikke skal snydes for at se dem, hvis du ikke holder disse aviser.
 
Det en ret fedt at Kira som det yngste medlem af EU-parlamentet går sammen med en af de ældste kunst-aktivister i Danmark for at sætte fokus på Kinas overgreb på Hongkong.
Det er den slags der redder verden J
 
Kærlige hilsener Jens Galschiøt
 
Jeg sender annoncen til dig som foto:
 
Contact List –
 
We are available for interviews and additional information.
  • Jens Galschiøt (artist behind Pillar of Shame and this exhibition)
    aidoh@aidoh.dk - ph +45 4044 7058 /
     +45 66184058
  • MEP Kira Marie Peter-Hansen. (Member of EU Parliament, Host of the exhibition) 
    kira.peter-hansen@europarl.europa.eu ph.
    +40 2618 8749
  • Loretta Lau (Curator on exhibition. Director of NGO Dei)
    loretta.lau@ngodei.org - ph +44 7923 951278
  • Dr. Eric Wear, former HK President of Int.nat. Association of Art Critics (AICA),   ericottowear@mac.com
  • Samuel M Chu  (moderator on Censorship debate), Campaign for Hong Kong samuel@hkcampaign.org    Phone +1 626 589 1330
 
Behind this event, there is extensive groundwork and analyses concerning the art market and assessments of the possibilities to influence the art market to take responsibility.
 
 Links and info 
 
Participants in exhibition & debates
 
Portrait of sculptor Jens Galschiøt (PDF)
Contact Jens Galschiot: E-mail: aidoh@aidoh.dk, Internet: www.aidoh.dk, tel. +45 6618 4058, Banevaenget 22, DK-5270 Odense N
 
 
Here is a quick teaser
 
Here is a teaser about the groundbreaking event we are hosting in the EU Parliament between March 19th and 21st, 2024.
 
EU Parliamentarian Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Greens) is hosting this controversial China event in Brussels, supported by members from virtually all groups.  
 
What happens:
  • We display the sculpture ‘The Pillar of Shame’, China's No. 1 object of hate, in front of the parliament.
  • We display a large outdoor exhibition featuring China-critical artworks banned by China.
  • Debates inside the parliament focusing on two critical issues: (more info + registration for debates )
    • 1. China's abuses against its own population and the persecution of those who have fled to the West, including offering million-dollar bounties for selected dissidents.
    • 2. Western-owned art auction houses' responsibility in assisting China in imposing extensive art censorship in Hong Kong. We ask: Can we accept them acting as collaborators in a totalitarian Chinese assault on human rights in Hong Kong?
We have invited debaters, experts, dissidents, and artists from around the world to participate in discussions, providing unique personal insights into the situation. We have also invited China's ambassadors in Denmark and Belgium to join the debate
 
We have sent invitations  to the most powerful art houses with branches in Hong Kong, inviting them to a meeting in parliament to explain their stance on taking social responsibility in the countries where they operate (CSR).
 
With EU debates, we spark the discussion on the Western art market's complicity in undermining freedom of speech and human rights in Hong Kong. Can the auction houses withstand continuing their political art censorship in Hong Kong, or will pressure force them to adhere to Western values and refuse to participate in political art censorship in Hong Kong?
 
We demand that they actively use their economic influence in the fight against art censorship; for the sake of their artists, themselves, and to champion Hong Kong's basic right to freedom of speech.
 
What makes Hong Kong's art market unique is that the world's largest Western auction houses completely dominate and set the tone in this market. This dominance is economically advantageous, but it also has a significant downside if they acquiesce and participate in China's attempts to impose art censorship and severe restrictions on freedom of expression.
 
We hold them accountable for aiding China in imposing the rules of totalitarian rule in the city, directly contradicting the values one would expect from a Western-owned company (CSR). If the companies refuse to stand against art censorship, they will be very vulnerable to a PR disaster. A disaster that will be greatly amplified by the unique character of the art world as a conveyer of image-building products
The possibility of a Collapse in the Art Market: The Art houses face serious problems if China deploys the police and legal system to assert that Hong Kong is part of China and that Hong Kong must abide by Chinas rules. If Hong Kong ends up issuing a direct ban on selling, exhibiting, and promoting China-critical art, the conflict may escalate to the point where the international art market may have to cease all activities in the city and move the entire art market to another country. A collapse in one of the most crucial financial markets in Asia may become a reality. Part of this scenario is already a reality today, as subversive activities abroad (e.g. China critical art exhibition in Europe) can be punished in Hong Kong See elaboration Eric Wear (AICAs) explanation on this
 
Staying and imposing China's censorship cannot be an option for Western companies that thrive on providing cultural capital and image enhancement for their clients.
 
The EU event is just the starting point. We may be optimistic in believing that good will prevail, and we know it can be an uphill battle. Therefore, we will work to exert global pressure on auction houses to make them refuse to participate in censorship of speech and art in Hong Kong. There are many, dedicated people, that are concerned to see China’s totalitarian system gaining significant influence in the world. We plan to engage these good people to put spotlight on censorship of art and freedom of speech. Some of these people will also participate in the debates in the EU Parliament.
 
 
It has succeeded before in stopping and influencing the art industry. Recent examples include:
- Mayer Brown law firm faced such severe criticism that they had to withdraw from Hong Kong for assisting China in removing "The Pillar of Shame" from universities.  US Congress hearing about Mayer Brown with Samuel Chu (2021)
 
- Another example could be Nan Goldin (USA) and other artists' actions to persuade museums to reject sponsorships from the Sackler family, whose pharmaceutical companies were implicated in the opioid crisis in the USA.
 
It might be naive, and we may not stand a chance, but we are taking it.
 
Best regards,
Jens Galschiøt, the artist behind "The Pillar of Shame"
 
 
 
 
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Take a look for yourself at our interactive map.
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Take a Virtual tour around Galschiøt's Gallery with Google Street View
 
It is now possible to walk directly into Gallery Galschiøt and look around. So now the whole world can come visit, without having to travel halfway around the world. Of course, we still hope that our many thousands of annual guests will stop by and look at art and drink coffee. Click here and take a virtual tour.
 
 
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About Jens Galschiøt
 
Danish artist Jens Galschiøt has created many socio-critical sculptures and installations through the years. Most often they are placed in public spaces around the world – as needle-sticks and silent reminders of a world that, in his opinion, is out of balance, and where exploitation of the world’s resources, inequality and migration are a constant part of the picture.
 
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9 meter tall banner litographs
 
Galschiot and former prime minister and Nato General Secretary Anders Fogh
 
 
Jens Galachiøt and people from China's democracy movement
 
 
 
 

 

This mail has been sent from the sculptor Jens Galschiøt's workshhop.
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Galleri Galschiøt
Banevænget 22
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Tlf : (+45) 6618 4058

Fax:(+45) 6618 4158portrait of Jens Galschiot 2012
Portrait of a sculptor Jens Galschiøt (PDF)
 
Link to all news emails sent from Jens Galschiøt since 2014
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