Sculptor cries shame amid claims movers refuse to transport Pillar

The Danish sculptor of the Pillar of Shame says logistics companies have refused to ship the artwork out of the city after it was dismantled and removed from the University of Hong Kong last year.

Jens Galschiot said Denmark's foreign ministry, two shipping companies and lawyers have been ready to transport the eight-meter, two-tonne copper sculpture commemorating the 1989 June 4 incident.

But after reaching out to at least 12 logistics companies, Galschiot said, all refused to transport the sculpture to the pier amid fears of retaliation from the Chinese authorities.

His team is figuring out a way to do so, adding it would not be easy.

"I believe I will eventually ship the sculpture out of Hong Kong, but it is just full of uncertainties with regard to the time needed to do so," he said.

Galschiot said the sculpture has been kept in a container since it was dismantled by HKU.

Galschiot said he earlier proposed to come to Hong Kong in person with a team of workers but he believed he would be prosecuted under the national security law and that it was not realistic under pandemic restrictions.

He said a one-to-one scale of the Pillar of Shame is being made in Taiwan and he might go there on June 4 to see its erection.

His workshop in Denmark is also making six to seven scaled-down versions of the Pillar of Shame, around three to four meters high.

He said they will be displayed in European countries before finding permanent homes at world-renowned universities around the globe.

Galschiot is also planning to convert car trailers into mobile versions of the Pillar of Shame to be displayed in different places.

HKU said last December that its council believed the sculpture was aging and posed legal risks.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com