Symbolic Gesture: Pillar of Shame Memorialized Outside European Parliament

A model of the controversial "Pillar of Shame" memorial, originally removed from a Hong Kong university in 2021, is now on display in front of the European Parliament in Brussels. This statue depicts a pile of twisted bodies and faces screaming in agony.

The unveiling of the statue took place on Tuesday as part of an exhibition showcasing "forbidden art." According to organizers, the artworks featured in the exhibition have been censored or labeled as "subversive" by authorities in Hong Kong and mainland China.

The exhibition was organized by Jens Galschiøt, the renowned Danish artist known for the famous sculpture, and Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, a member of the European Parliament (MEP). Additionally, six other MEPs, representing the parliament's major political coalitions, were also involved as co-hosts.

On his website, Galschiøt expressed that placing the artwork outside the European Union's primary legislative building was a powerful message to China, emphasizing that censorship from China does not extend to Europe.

Speaking to CNN from Brussels on Tuesday, Galschiøt urged Western galleries and auction houses in Hong Kong to address threats to freedom of expression in the territory. He believes they do not support censorship but may tacitly do so to continue doing business.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Galschiøt created multiple versions of the "Pillar of Shame." The one at Hong Kong University, installed in 1997, gained the most recognition. This sculpture was significant in Hong Kong as it was the only place in China where memorials to the 1989 student protests were tolerated, symbolizing free speech in the city.

Jens Galschiøt's "Pillar of Shame" statue on display at Hong Kong University in October 2021, shortly before it was taken down.

Jens Galschiøt's "Pillar of Shame" statue on display at Hong Kong University in October 2021, shortly before it was taken down.

In 2021, Beijing imposed a National Security Law on Hong Kong, banning sedition, secession, and subversion. As a result, the university removed a statue under the cover of darkness and placed it in storage. Last May, the city's police seized the statue as part of an investigation into "incitement to subversion," as reported by Reuters.

The symbolic power of the sculpture is becoming stronger. In the Belgian capital, there is a sculpture that stands at approximately eight feet seven inches tall, which is about a third of the height of the Hong Kong version. This sculpture is not a replica, but one of several smaller models created by Galschiøt in the 1990s. It is displayed on a plinth that includes the artwork's history and a message that says, "The old cannot kill the young forever."

Tuesday's grand opening included a rendition of the protest song "Glory to Hong Kong," which officials in China are trying to outlaw. The event was followed by discussions with politicians and advocates for human rights.

According to a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to CNN, the government has firmly established its stance on the political unrest of the late 1980s. It was emphasized that any efforts to undermine China's reputation will not succeed.

The 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre is a highly sensitive political topic in mainland China. Any discussion or attempt to remember the event can result in imprisonment, as the Chinese government strictly censors such conversations. The official death toll has not been released by authorities, but estimates range from several hundred to thousands.

Galschiøt recently shared a letter on his website that he and Peter-Hansen received from the Chinese Embassy in Brussels. The letter criticized their exhibition and debates, calling them a political maneuver to interfere in China's domestic affairs under the guise of democracy and human rights. CNN was unable to verify the contents of the letter independently, as the embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

"La ciudad amurallada era una especie de piedra de toque arquitectónico en términos de lo que una ciudad puede ser, no planificada, autogenerada, no regulada", dice el fotógrafo Greg Girard.

"The walled city was a sort of architectural touchstone in terms of what a city can be, unplanned, self-generated, unregulated," says photographer Greg Girard.

Greg Girard

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In the Brussels exhibition, works by self-exiled Chinese artists are showcased. Alongside these artworks is a photo of Lady Liberty, depicting a masked demonstrator that symbolized the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in 2019. The exhibition was organized in collaboration with the Czech Republic-based non-profit NGO Dei.

The unveiling coincided with the passing of a second national security law in Hong Kong, granting police increased authority to suppress dissent. Critics and experts caution that this new law, set to be enforced on Saturday, brings the city's national security regulations more in line with those of mainland China, creating uncertainty for artists and galleries regarding what is permissible under the law.

Leaders in China and Hong Kong argue that these new laws are necessary to close legal gaps and restore stability in response to the large-scale and at times violent pro-democracy demonstrations that took place in 2019.

Next week, Art Basel Hong Kong, Asia's largest art fair, will be welcoming gallerists, dealers, and collectors from all over the world.

After the removal of Hong Kong's "Pillar of Shame," Galschiøt has been trying to get it back from the city's authorities without success. In the meantime, replicas and other versions of the artwork have been showcased in cities like Oslo, Taipei, and Berlin.

The artist mentioned that trying to censor the sculpture actually made its message more powerful.

He stated, "I believe its significance as a symbol has increased a lot. I wouldn't necessarily credit China for this, but I do think they made a major error. If they had simply returned the sculpture to me and said, 'Sorry, it's not permitted,' then nothing extraordinary would have occurred."

CNN’s Beijing bureau contributed to the report.

Editor's P/S:

The removal of the "Pillar of Shame" memorial from Hong Kong University in 2021 was a stark reminder of the erosion of freedom of expression in the city. The statue