Artist receives death threats for his subversive political artworks aimed at Chinese government

His identity was a secret, but now “Chinese Banksy” has opened up about how his political artwork has seen him receive daily death threats.

His artworks are powerful, political and subversive. They adorn the laneways of Melbourne and the placards of protesters in Hong Kong but despite receiving daily deaths threats, the man described as the Chinese Banksy says there are much bigger fears out there.

Baduciao, who was born in China but is an Australian citizen, has until now kept his identity secret. But in a segment on The Sunday Project, he revealed to host Hamish Macdonald the extent of the threats against him — all because of his art.

Chinese-Australian artist Baduciao has received death threats as a result of his subversive art. Picture: Channel 10

When asked whether his art, which includes a painting of Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam with an eye falling out and the slogan “an eye for an eye”, was “deliberately provocative”, Baduciao replied, “It is.

“Sometimes with art you have a way to express your emotion and opinion a step further from the reality.”

One artwork was based on real-life footage of teenagers on a train in Hong Kong cowering from police, while Baduciao said he was stunned by the level of violence being played out on the streets on a daily basis.

One of Baduciao's political artworks depicting Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam. Picture: Channel 10

His subversive artwork has seen him receive death threats on social media.

Baduciao drew inspiration from footage of attacks on ordinary Hong Kong citizens. Picture: Channel 10

“Sometimes when you do art, it’s beyond the reality. But when that kind of violence happens in the real world in Hong Kong, for an artist I feel quite speechless at the moment. I don’t think I need to exaggerate any of that,” he told The Sunday Project.

The political situation in Hong Kong is clearly something that concerns Baduciao, who depicts images from the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in his art, and believes the Chinese government has not changed much in the last three decades.

His art is critical of the governments of both China and Hong Kong.

“I’d say the Hong Kong government is the puppet of Beijing,” he said. “Whatever decision will be made, it will depend on Beijing. For Beijing, I don’t think it is a different government from 30 years ago. When they were sending tanks on the streets in 1989.”

Baduciao said he had received daily death threats on social media, cyber attacks, a possible home invasion, had been followed by people who he believed were agents of China and seen strange cars parked outside his home as a direct result of his artwork.

“The Chinese Government is quite fragile in a way. They’re afraid of any different voices. But apparently my work has been stepping on the nerves of the Communist Party — they see my work advocating for human rights is something they don’t like,” he told Macdonald.

Baduciao's artwork has featured on placards in Hong Kong protests. Picture: Channel 10

Baduciao's says Australia should be concerned about China's influence. Picture: Channel 10

AUSTRALIANS SHOULD BE CONCERNED

“This happens a lot to artists like me. I’ve been experiencing all sorts of intimidation, even when I’m in Australia — a free country.”

When asked whether Aussies should be worried about China’s influence here, Baduciao replied, “I think definitely yes.

“We’re talking about the threat as if it has been coming but I’d say it’s much more than a threat. It’s already damage being done to our society, to our rights to express freely.”

Many of Baduciao's artworks, such as this one, carry political messages and are deliberately provocative. Picture: Channel 10

Here he depicted Tank Man, a Chinese man who stood in front of a column of tanks at Tiananmen Square. Picture Channel 10

While he asked whether he believed Beijing was attempting to silence him, Baduciao said, “Definitely they’re trying.

“But here I’ve been providing an alternative to express myself in front of the whole population in Australia. I don’t think they’ll succeed but it’s definitely a lot of challenges for people like me to overcome.”