THE EIGHTH ISSUE OF FIHRM-AP - The 2023 Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize: Art and Human Rights Advocacy across Borders
About the Author: Alric Lee
Alric Lee is the co-founder of Lady Liberty Hong Kong (LLHK) and the Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance (JHKDA). Born in Hong Kong, Lee studied abroad in the UK and the US. He later obtained a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Tokyo in 2017 and worked as an architectural designer locally following graduation. During the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition movement, Lee founded the LLHK team and together created Lady Liberty Hong Kong, a statue based on a frontline protester in Hong Kong. The statue quickly became a main visual symbol of the Hong Kong democracy movement.
After the passing of the Hong Kong National Security Law in 2020, Lee moved to Japan to operate the LLHK team. He has since then organized advocacy events in the forms of art exhibitions and seminars in Tokyo, Taipei, and Canada, continuing to promote democratic issues faced by Hong Kong to civil society through the medium of art. In 2023, Lee co-founded the JHKDA to bring these issues to the Japanese political arena through lobbying and public activities.
About Lady Liberty Hong Kong and Japanese Hong Kong Democratic Alliance
Both the Lady Liberty Hong Kong and the Japanese Hong Kong Democratic Alliance are grassroots organizations. The former was established during the anti-extradition movement in 2019. They were merged into one organization on April 1, 2024, and the original members will collaborate to expand the team's functions. They are committed to supporting the Hong Kong democracy movement through various forms of activities, regional advocacy, and policy research projects, establishing a foundation for the voices of Hongkongers in East Asia.
The 2023 Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize: Art and Human Rights Advocacy across Borders
I. Introduction
The Mission and Vision of Lady Liberty Hong Kong and the Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance
The Lady Liberty Hong Kong (LLHK) team was formed during the 2019 Hong Kong anti-extradition movement, and its aim is to defend and promote democracy and human rights in Hong Kong through art and culture. The group's representative work is a four-meter-high statue in the form of a frontline protester, symbolizing the pursuit and perseverance of freedom and democracy by the people of Hong Kong. This statue appeared multiple times in protest events in Hong Kong and became an important symbol of the Hong Kong democracy movement. Through the statue, the team hoped to convey the resilience and the spirit of resistance of Hongkongers and to inspire more people to keep watching and supporting the democracy movement in Hong Kong.
The Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance (JHKDA) is an organization composed of Japanese and Hong Kong residents in Japan committed to supporting the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement. It raises international awareness of the situation in Hong Kong through activities such as exhibitions, lectures, and seminars. Their mission is twofold: to promote understanding and foster support for the Hong Kong democracy movement in Japanese society and to provide a platform for communication and mutual assistance for Hongkongers in Japan. Aside from advocating Hongkongers’ human rights in Japan, the JHKDA also actively participates in international human rights activities to carry the voices in Hong Kong to a wider stage.
This article presents the collaboration between the LLHK and the JHKDA for the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize exhibition and how the two teams have linked resources in the Asia-Pacific region (including Japan and Taiwan) to promote human rights advocacy. These partnerships have not only increased the global visibility of the Hong Kong democracy movement, but also promoted cultural and human rights exchanges within the Asia-Pacific region. The article will then cover the ideals of these two organizations, the challenges they have encountered, and their future plans.
Transforming Art into Action
With its strong expressiveness and impact, art has always played a key role in social movements. To the LLHK and the JHKDA, art is a medium of communication that transcends the borders of countries, cultures, and languages. The teams hope to utilize art exhibitions to draw more attention towards the Hong Kong democracy movement and inspire worldwide support for freedom and human rights.
The Importance of Collaboration
Both the LLHK and the JHKDA are fully aware that international collaboration is the keystone to promoting human rights advocacy on an international scale. In Asia Pacific, Japan and Taiwan are not only geographically close to Hong Kong, but share close-knit cultural and political connections. As such, building connections in all three regions creates opportunities for the teams to expand the international reach of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement and promote solidarity and connections in the Asia-Pacific region.
II. Establishing an Exhibition Partnership and Its Goals
The Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize and Its Mission
The Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize was founded by the LLHK with the purpose of defending and promoting artistic freedom and human rights in Hong Kong. At the time of its founding, the political environment in Hong Kong was becoming grimmer by the day. With the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and the introduction of Article 23 after July 2020, artistic spaces in Hong Kong came under unprecedented pressure. Many Hong Kong artists such as Kacey Wong, Ah To, and Justin Wong were forced to flee overseas, while those determined to stay have been forced to face the dilemma of either self-censorship or creating art at the risk of legal consequences. This situation has resulted in declining numbers of new artwork, which has not only affected artistic freedom, but also weakened the voice of Hongkongers on the international stage as it gradually loses the attention and support of the global community. The lack of artwork also means that their opinions cannot be fully expressed to the outside world, further weakening understanding and sympathy worldwide towards their situation.
In response to such dire circumstances, the LLHK team established the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize to provide a platform for artists to bravely speak out and showcase their works to the world. The main objectives of the awards are as follows:
- Defend the freedom of artistic expression: Provide a censor-free platform for artists in Hong Kong and those exiled overseas to freely express their thoughts and opinions.
- Promote the culture and spirit of Hong Kong: Showcase the unique culture of Hong Kong and the resilience of its people to audiences worldwide through art exhibitions and cultural activities.
- Increase international attention: Utilize international exhibitions and media coverage to reframe and attract international attention to the Hong Kong democracy movement and foster support on a global scale.
A press conference for the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize was held on December 7, 2023.
From left to right: Sky Fung, Secretary-general of the Hong Kong Outlanders; Eeling Chiu, Executive Director of Amnesty International Taiwan; Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong; Taiwan legislator Freddy Lim; Sam Yip, former Hong Kong district councilor and spokesperson for the Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance; Chi-Nan Church Pastor Huang Chunsheng; Alric Lee, curator of the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize; and Patrick Poon, member of the board of the Japan Hong Kong Democracy Alliance.
Hong Kong artist Franki was interviewed by the media.
Artists Snow Wong and Franki held a conversation as part of the Art Talks lecture series during the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize exhibition.
III. Strategically Linking Resources in the Asia-Pacific Region
To fulfill these objectives, the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize has actively sought out partners in the Asia-Pacific region, especially Japan and Taiwan. With abundant resources and experiences in cultural exchange and human rights advocacy, the two countries are in an ideal position to provide firm support for the art awards.
Partnership Models
- Exhibition Partnerships: Form partnerships with local galleries, art centers, and academic institutions in Japan and Taiwan to hold art exhibitions. In December 2023, the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize executive team collaborated with Chi-Nan Church in Taipei to successfully organize a ten-day exhibition for the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize, showcasing the works of the award-winning Hong Kong artists. The exhibition attracted more than a thousand visitors and the attention of eight media outlets. In late June 2024, the executive team worked with Hokkaido University to hold the first Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize exhibition in Japan in the city center of Sapporo.
- Cultural Exchange: Organize in-venue lectures, workshops, and exchange activities throughout the exhibition period to promote dialogue and interaction between artists, scholars, and the general public in Japan and Taiwan and Hong Kong artists. These activities not only foster mutual understanding and solidarity, but also provide a platform for artists to showcase and develop their work.
- Resource Sharing: Collaborate with local human rights organizations and NGOs to share funds, skills, and human resources, ensuring the smooth progress and continuous development of the art exhibition and related activities.
The partnerships in Japan and Taiwan are crucial to the teams’ strategizing. The geographical proximity of the two countries to Hong Kong allows for convenient communication and collaboration within the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of culture, Japan and Taiwan share similarities with Hong Kong in values and social ideologies, especially in their emphasis on freedom, human rights, and democracy. These shared beliefs lay a solid foundation for collaborative efforts and enable the art and voices calling for human rights in Hong Kong to resonate and receive support from these areas.
The Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize ceremony and exhibition were held in Taipei in December 2023. Here, Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong introduced his work to Taiwan legislator Freddy Lim.
The Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize ceremony and exhibition were held in Taipei in December 2023. Here, Hong Kong artist Kacey Wong introduced his work to Taiwan legislator Freddy Lim.
IV. Obstacles and Challenges
The process of co-promoting the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize in Japan and Taiwan has involved many challenges and obstacles arising from both external political circumstances and internal resource constraints and operational difficulties.
Political pressure is the first major hurdle. In Taipei, over three renowned art galleries declined to host the exhibition for fear of retaliation from Chinese authorities. More specifically, the galleries have ongoing business dealings with Chinese art buyers, and their employees need to frequently travel to China. As such, they worried that supporting the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize would cause political problems and affect both their business and the personal safety of their traveling staff. This reflects the powerful influence of the political status quo on art and exhibitions. It also reveals the measures Chinese authorities use to suppress Hong Kong artists and their supporters.
The second main obstacle is insufficient funding. Art exhibitions generally lack financial support and must instead raise funds independently. This process is time-consuming and difficult, especially without a steady number of sponsorships. Any funding gaps must be filled by individual donations and small-scale fundraising activities. Financial difficulties often constrain the scale and frequency of exhibitions, and also pose a serious challenge to operations.
To address these issues, the executive team has adopted a series of strategies to ensure the smooth development of events. In regard to political pressure, the team looks to art institutions and partners with an open mind for supporting the Hong Kong democracy movement. These partnerships create opportunities to share resources and information to reduce the risks faced by the parties involved.
For fundraising, funds gathered by holding activities such as online fundraisers, art sales, and charity galas are supplemented by support from other sectors such as international human rights organizations and art foundations. These diversified sources of funding ensure the sustainability of the award exhibition and its events.
Despite facing numerous challenges, the exhibition of the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize has achieved outstanding results, drawing large crowds and media attention. This has raised the international profile of the Hong Kong democracy movement and promoted solidarity and cooperation within the Asia-Pacific region. The Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize executive team will continue tackle challenges and contribute to the promotion of freedom and human rights movements in Hong Kong.
V. Future Plans and Prospects
Future plans for the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize include further development and growth. To maintain attention and support for the pro-democracy and human rights movements in Hong Kong, the awards will be held either annually or biennially. There are also plans to increase the number of locations the exhibition will travel to, for reaching new audiences and expanding its international network.
Among these cities are London and New York, key centers of global art and culture that boast abundant resources and hold widespread influence. Holding exhibitions in these cities will not only raise the global presence of the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize, but also draw more international attention and support for the democracy movement in Hong Kong. This will help expand the award’s network of international support and provide Hong Kong artists with a broader platform for exhibitions.
In addition, the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize will strengthen its existing connections in Taiwan and Japan and deepen collaborative relationships with local galleries, universities, and NGOs. Aside from organizing exhibitions, lectures, and workshops to promote the exchange and discussion of cultural and human rights issues, the team hopes to inspire more people to monitor the situation in Hong Kong and promote unity and support within the Asia-Pacific region.
The core strategy of the Hong Kong Liberty Art Prize is to inspire and cultivate a new channel for advocacy based on empowerment and creativity. After all, art is powerful, expressive, and resonant. It transcends borders, unifying people of different regions and cultures around the world. From a conceptual perspective, it is sincerely hoped that the Hong Kong Freedom Art Prize will become a platform to showcase the resilience and innovative spirit of Hongkongers and to reinvigorate human rights movements worldwide.