Art in Defence of Humanism

 NA01143A.gif (987 bytes) Pictures of the Pillar of Shame in Hong Kong no-frames.JPG (4677 bytes)
Updated: 20-06-00


In his horne country Jens Galschiot is generally regarded as a left-wing artist. His sculptures and happenings, e.g. My Inner Beast, have predominantly been aggressed by the extrerne right-wing in Europe. But now he is facing a new situation in connection with the mounting of the Pillar of Shame in Hong Kong in support of the democracy movement and the human rights issue in China. Some declared "leftists" still view the Beijing regime as communist and left wing. So according to a banal logic, they regard the artist's overt attack of the Chinese regime as a "right wing" act.

Against the Jungle Law
However, the art of Galschiot cannot be placed within the traditional framework of right and left. It is aiming at the promotion of a humane ethics that should be shared by all civilized people. On the other hand the artist does support ideals that are traditionally ranged as left-wing. He supports the struggle for a just social distribution of the resources of the society and a social structure aiming at the care for the underprivileged. He opposes the neoliberalistic trends propagating the savage Jungle Law as the basis of our societies locally as well as globally.

A Piea for a Humane Ethics
Galschiot's artistic expression is a plea for the classic humanistic ideals of Liberty, Equality and Brotherhood.
He dedares:
"These ideals are the very source of propulsion for my artistic activities. Without the liberty to criticize, equality before the law and brotherhood to care for each other, the society will slide into a sink of corruption, abuse of power and cruel oppression of the individual."
"This is why I'm setting up the Pillar of Shame in Hong Kong, as a gift to the Chinese people. with the aim of perpetuating the remembrance of the Beijing massacre."
- so the final remark of the artist.

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1997: The Pillar of Shame in Hong Kong
Additional Information:
Categories: 1997: The Pillar of Shame in Hong Kong | Happenings and Art Installations | 1996-?: The Pillar of Shame | Activities related to China
Themes: Criticism of governments | Free speech | Massacres | Schools involved
Sculptures: Pillar of Shame
Type: Press releases
Dates: 1997 | 4th June 1997
Locations: Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China | Baptist University, Hong Kong, China | Chinese University, Hong Kong, China | Haking Wong podium at the Hong Kong University, Hong Kong, China | Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong, China | Lingnan College, Hong Kong, China | Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China | University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong, China | Victoria Park, Hong Kong, China
Co-operators and Helpers: Anne Lund | Art critics association, Mr Lau Kin Wai | Blue Water, forwarding agent | Cheung Man-kwong, a core member of the Hong Kong Democracy Movement | Chui Way-hang, student leader | Emely Lau, Urban Council | Erling Hoh | Georg Zoega | Hong Kong Christian Institute | Ip Kwok-chung, councillor | Jun Feng | Lasse Markus | Lene Jelling | Linda Wong Shui Hung, Students’ union, HK University | Martin Lee, MP Hong Kong | Niller Madsen | Patrick Wong Chun Sing, Students’ union, HK University | Robert Etches | Stanley Wing-Fai Ng | Students’ union, Hong Kong University
Partners: Albert Ho | Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Democracy in China | Ocean Fung | Szeto Wah
Related Persons and Entities: Chinese Government | Chris Patten, last British governor of Hong Kong | HK police | Hong Kong Arts Centre, Oscar Ho | Hong Kong University Social Science Institute | M+R (Metzger + Richner), forwarding agent | Recreation Committee in Hong Kong | Regional Council (in the New Territories) | SAR government | Tung Chee-hwa, HK head of government after 1st July 1997 | Urban Council Hong Kong | Urban Council, Select Committee | Xinhua (New China News Agency)
Sponsors: BUPL | DeTrey Dentsply AG, Schweiz | Fredsfonden | Funch Fonden | Gelsted/Kirk/Scherfig fonden | Kultursekretariatet i Odense Kommune | Lysgaard Fonden | Socialpædagogernes Landsforbund / National Federation of Social Educators | Socialpædagogernes Landsforbund i Vejle | Vedstaarup Lerfabrik A/S