Thai gallery removes China-focused artworks after 'pressure' from Beijing
That's according to its curator and communications seen by Reuters.
The artists say it's Beijing's latest attempt to silence critics overseas.
SAI: 'We were like quite shocked..."
Sai, a Myanmar artist and the exhibit's co-curator, said Chinese embassy staff, accompanied by Bangkok city officials, entered the exhibition three days after it opened and demanded it be shut down.
SAI: 'It is such an ironic thing because this exhibition is all about the network of authoritative regimes. And then, while it is exhibiting, the network of authoritative regimes are working together to shut this exhibition down."
When Reuters visited the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre on Thursday, some works previously advertised and photographed had been removed.
Others had been altered, with the words 'Hong Kong,' 'Tibet' and 'Uyghur' redacted, along with names of the artists.
'So we fled before midnight. And then we, and on the 27th, at 8:30 a.m., we landed in London."
Sai said he was speaking from overseas, where he fled after Thai police sought to find him.
In a July 30 email seen by Reuters, the gallery said due to pressure from the Chinese embassy, 'we have been warned that the exhibition may risk creating diplomatic tensions between Thailand and China."
The email added that the gallery had 'no choice but to make certain adjustments,' such as obscuring the names of the Hong Kong, Tibetan and Uyghur artists.
Several days later, Sai said the embassy demanded further removals.
The Chinese embassy in Bangkok, the foreign ministry in Beijing, and Thailand's foreign ministry did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration referred Reuters to the gallery, which did not respond to an email seeking comment.
An exhibit representative said the team had agreed not to comment on the issue.
Beijing has denied allegations by rights groups that China carries out a sophisticated campaign of harassment against critics overseas that has often extended into the art world.
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