An artist on the run, an exhibition censored: How China tried to silence a Thai art show

In Bangkok, Thailand, an art exhibition became the center of a major controversy after several of its pieces were censored due to pressure from the Chinese government. The exhibition was curated by Burmese artist Sai and his wife, who wanted to highlight how authoritarian governments work together to suppress freedom of expression. The show featured works from exiled artists from countries like China, Russia, and Iran, and opened at the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre in late July. Shortly after the opening, representatives from the Chinese embassy, along with Bangkok city officials, visited the exhibition and expressed strong objections to certain artworks, especially those created by Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong artists. The Chinese officials initially demanded that the entire exhibition be shut down, but the art center negotiated a compromise that allowed the show to continue after removing the most sensitive pieces and altering some displays.

The censorship included covering up the names of artists and their countries of origin with black paint, removing flags representing Tibet and Uyghur, and turning off television screens that were supposed to show films by Tibetan artist Tenzin Mingyur Paldron. A novel about a Tibetan family in exile and a postcard referencing China, Israel, and Xinjiang were also taken out. The art center explained that these changes were made because they were warned the exhibition could create diplomatic tensions between Thailand and China. The Chinese embassy accused the show of promoting independence for Tibet, Uyghur, and Hong Kong, and said Thailand's actions proved that such ideas were not popular internationally.

Sai and his wife became worried for their safety after learning that Thai police might be looking for them. They received messages from gallery staff warning them about police visits and decided to leave Thailand immediately, fearing they could be deported back to Myanmar, where Sai believes he would be persecuted for his activism. The couple quickly packed and flew to the UK, where they plan to seek asylum. Sai's family has faced political persecution before, with his father jailed and his mother under house arrest in Myanmar. Human rights advocates and politicians have condemned the censorship, calling it an example of China's transnational repression and a violation of freedom of expression. Sai hopes to show the uncensored exhibition in other countries and believes the censorship has ironically made more people interested in their art and the issues it raises.