Synopsis
Bit by bit, critical art is being eliminated in Hong Kong. How do creatives deal with censorship and arrest? Are they giving in or fighting back? This film shows how, despite everything, artists continue to protest.Hong Kong has gone quiet since the violent protests in 2019. The National Security Law is restricting democratic rights. And the Chinese government's increasing encroachment has driven hundreds of thousands into exile, including artist Kacey Wong, who fled to Taiwan to continue his protest actions from there. But many people have made the conscious decision to stay put. They're finding different ways to escape censorship or arrest. Internationally renowned multimedia artist Samson Young, for example, plays with codes and hidden references. Not everyone understands the critical statements he makes in his complex installations. Film-maker Kiwi Chow risks arrest with his documentary Revolution of Our Times. Using a special trick, he manages to remain a free man and continues to make films in Hong Kong. The new multimedia museum M+ is emblematic of the balancing act between artistic freedom and censorship. The 60,000² museum for contemporary art is Hong Kong city government's new prestige building. But the shiny façade is marred by accusations of censorship, and it's not just about Ai Weiwei's middle finger.