Hong Kong artists: "Art becomes a form of news distribution"

On Wednesday, it was clear that the Hong Kong government was formally withdrawing the bill that would make it easier for Hong Kong to extradite suspected criminals into mainland China.

The criticized bill has sparked major protests and gathered thousands of people, including Hong Kong artists who participate in the demonstrations with street art, music and satire.

One of them is illustrator Joanne Liu.

- It started with drawing a picture, but then it happened so much that I had to draw every day, says Joanne Liu to the Culture News.

Every day since the protests started, Joanne Liu has drawn a picture that she shares on social media. The image depicts what happens in Hong Kong in a way that people understand, regardless of language and geography.

- We describe everything that happens in pictures so people can understand. It's like some sort of news outlet. We are also trying to get the art out of Hong Kong to get international support. That's what we're trying to do.

Joanne Liu does not want to be seen in the picture, she feels that a lot is at stake. So does the Chinese artist Badiucao, who for several years has criticized the Chinese regime, and has felt both threatened and persecuted, he says.

But despite this, Badiucao continues to comment on what is going on in Hong Kong through his art, and he knows it makes a difference.

- Art has a magical ability to give comfort. Many have said to me: "We haven't laughed for several days, but your drawing made my day". That's how I understand how important the art is to Hong Kong residents now, Badiucao tells Culture News.

Lars Nittve, former director of the Modern Museum in Stockholm and for the construction of the M + Art Museum in Hong Kong, believes that the activist art movement in Hong Kong is a relatively new phenomenon.

The so-called Umbrella Revolution of 2014, when thousands of people occupied streets in central Hong Kong, gave way to a type of art that until then had been underground - and which is now coming again.

- Everyone was struck with astonishment five years ago when Occupy Central occurred and these artistic manifestations suddenly came into being. There is some joy and a damn embrace in these works of art that get people gathered around them despite everything. So they have a symbolic meaning, I think, says Lars Nittve to the Culture News.

What will happen in the future is unclear, but for Badicucao there is only one way forward.

- I must not be intimidated by the Chinese regime. It would be a betrayal of myself and what I believe in. It wouldn't be good for my audience either, I would take away their courage, says Badiucao.