My grandfather, a Maoist fighter, was betrayed and persecuted by other Maoists for his alleged involvement in anti-leftwing activities. He was captured alongside his comrades and pardoned the death sentence when his professor shouldered the blame to save his students. He was imprisoned and severely tortured and suffered post-torture pains till his death in 2002. Since his death 5 years ago, I have been working through his letters and documentations about his underground activities during Mao’s reign. The blinded trust, faith and betrayal of many like my grandfather have driven me towards the path of uncovering the hidden truths.
Mao‘s Propaganda machine built his fame and success and in the same manner, shall unravel his myth and legend. The twisted lies depicted by Mao‘s posters and slogans had hidden for decades his true intentions. I have taken the same powerful tool during the reign of Mao today to cast the truth against the lies, presented in oil on canvas, magnified to glorify the tens of millions perished in the darkest years of China in the 20th Century.
MAOLYMPICS
Learn in combat
Oil on Canvas, 200 x 120 cm
42°27‘40.35“N, 94°14‘34.72“E
Serve the people
Oil on Canvas, 180 x 130 cm
42°32‘32.50“N, 94°19‘32.72“E
Seize the Day
Oil on Canvas, 180 x 130 cm
42°39‘33.98“N, 94°16‘00.45“E
Surmount every difficulty to win victory
Oil on Canvas, 130 x 200 cm
42°27‘11.95“N, 94°08‘48.20“E
MAOlympics
Oil on Canvas, 200 x 130 cm
39°59‘30“N, 116°23‘26“E
Long Live Mao!
Oil on Canvas, 200 x 135 cm
42°39‘18.35“N, 94°10‘01.01“E
Explanation
CHINA in 2088
丿一一乚-二0八八
China in 2088
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
What shall we witness for the people of the land and the rest of the world?
反右派运动
Anti-Rightist Movement
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
The „hunt“ for intellects and an independent legal system
百花齐放,百家争鸣
Hundred Flowers Campaign
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
„The government needs criticism from its people,“ Zhou said in one of his 1956 speeches, „Without this criticism the government will not be able to function as the People‘s Democratic Dictatorship. Thus the basis of a healthy government lost… We must learn from old mistakes, take all forms of healthy criticism, and do what we can to answer these criticisms. Our society cannot back down, it could only progress… criticism of the bureaucracy is pushing the government towards the better.“ – Mao
破四旧
Destruction of the Four Olds
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
old ideas of ?
old culture of ?
old customs of ?
old habits of ?
三反五反
anti-3, anti-5 campaigns
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
Against the following:
corruption, waste, bureaucracy, bribery, theft of state property, tax evasioncheating on government contracts, stealing state economic information
大跃进
The great Leap Forward
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
„Struggle hard for three years. Change the face of China. Catch up with Britain and catch up with America „ – Mao
Modernise, Industrialise, Agriculturise, Intellectualise, Equalise Women Workforce.
整风运动
Rectification Campaign
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
„It is essential to advocate the attitude of saying all you know and saying it without reserve to one‘s comrades and superiors, and to oneself. If you have something to say about the Northern Bureau, the sub-bureaus or the Party committees at the district level, you should say it frankly. Although in our work we are divided into higher and lower positions, you do not need to worry about this difference. People holding higher posts should be frank and outspoken with those holding lower ones, and vice versa; they should also help each other.‘‘ – Extract from the speech carried in Rectification Weekly No. 2, published on December 4, 1943 by the study committee of the departments directly under the Northern Bureau and the General Headquarters of the Eighteenth Group Army
四清运动
Four Cleanups Movement
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
Cleanse ideology, politics, organization and economy
文革
The cultural Revolution
Oil on Canvas, 120 X 120 cm
It is to the advantage of despots to keep people ignorant; it is to our advantage to make them intelligent. We must lead all of them gradually away from ignorance. – Mao (11-2-1966)
Let people speak up. The sky will not fall and you yourself will not be deposed as a result of it. [What if you] do not let people speak up? You may be deposed one day. – Mao (21-6-67)
To realize [the goals of] this revolution, [we must] resort to peaceful, not violent, struggles.
