Row rages after Ai finger art thumbed down

Discussion over the M+ Museum's collection of political artworks - particularly those of Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei - has evolved into a full-blown row.

New People's Party lawmaker Eunice Yung Hoi-yan, who said the collection could breach the national security law in the Legislative Council on Wednesday, yesterday took particular exception to Ai's Study of Perspective: Tian'anmen, which shows a person giving the finger in front of Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

And Ai hit back.

Yung said on a radio program that the action in the artwork is "vulgar" and that the government-funded museum should not display exhibits that are disrespectful to China.

The artwork is part of the 1,510 items in the "M+ Sigg Collection" - pieces of Chinese contemporary art from Uli Sigg, former Swiss ambassador to China.

It is one of the four images that are part of Ai's photography series Study of Perspective that can be found on the museum's online platform and shows Ai raising the middle finger at renowned landmarks, including the White House and Switzerland's Bundeshaus.

Yung said the artwork "donated by a Swiss" could be in violation of the security law as it could provoke hatred among Hongkongers toward Beijing.

She said M+, which will open by the end of the year, should remove the piece from its website.

In response, Ai said he found her comments "regrettable" but then added "also a bit exciting" as her criticism was a "vote of approval" for contemporary art.

Ai told local media that Yung showed her lack of understanding in art when she regarded art as political confrontation. He emphasized the core value of art is to raise questions and challenge authorities.

"Sigg and China have a good relationship, I believe this would have an immense impact to him," Ai added.

Chris Chan Kam-shing, chairman of the visual arts group of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council, said it is irrational to discuss whether an artwork could violate the national security law if the accusation is purely based on a viewer's perception toward an art piece.

"If [Yung] targeted [the Tiananmen piece] for challenging China's authority without the context that he challenged other authorities as well, then she did not fully understood Ai Weiwei's work," Chan said.

"Maybe Yung does not know a lot about art, because politics is often the theme of art works and creations. Some artists made obvious expressions about politics, while others do so in an obscure manner."

Chan said M+ has strict rules on its collections in line with international practices. "M+ can serve as an educational platform for those who don't understand culture, like Yung," he said.

maisy.mok@singtaonewscorp.com