A legal proceeding concerning an artist’s past work concluded this week in northern China, according to sources close to the case. The individual, a sculptor in his late sixties who resides abroad, was tried on a single day in a provincial court. The charges relate to artistic pieces created over a decade ago that depict a former national figure.
The court session was conducted without public access, and no judgment was announced at its conclusion. Family members and foreign observers were reportedly not permitted to attend the hearing. The artist had been in custody since last year after traveling to the country for personal reasons.
The sculptures in question, produced years before the enactment of the relevant legislation, offer a critical perspective on a turbulent period in the nation’s 20th-century history. The works have been displayed internationally.
Concerns have been raised regarding the artist’s health, with reports indicating he suffers from several chronic medical conditions. His immediate family, including a young child, remain in the country and are subject to travel restrictions, preventing them from departing. They have reportedly had no direct contact with him for an extended period.
Legal experts note that the statutes under which the artist is being prosecuted were passed significantly after the artworks were made. If convicted, he could face a prison sentence of up to three years.
