Report Thai Art Gallery Removes China Criticism After Pressure

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of KFGO

 

A Bangkok art gallery has controversially bowed to Chinese pressure, scrubbing references to Beijing's treatment of ethnic minorities and Hong Kong from an exhibit.

 

Thailand’s top arts venue, the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Centre, has removed artworks focusing on China’s policies towards ethnic minorities and Hong Kong after a request from Chinese officials.

 

The exhibit, which addressed authoritarian regimes, had initially featured the work of exiled artists critiquing Beijing. Chinese officials significantly altered key pieces, including a Tibetan artist's multimedia installation, by erasing references to "Hong Kong", "Tibet", and "Uyghur".

 

This development unfolded just days after the exhibit, “Constellation of Complicity: Visualising the Global Machinery of Authoritarian Solidarity”, opened on 24 July. Chinese embassy staff, aided by Bangkok city officials, reportedly demanded the exhibition be curtailed, according to co-curator Sai.

 

An email seen by Reuters from the gallery indicated that the Chinese embassy, via the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, warned the exhibition could strain Sino-Thai diplomatic relations.

 

Further diplomatic manoeuvres transpired as Chinese officials called for more removals, pressuring the gallery into further compliance.

 

Neither the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, nor Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to requests for comment. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration pointed Reuters back to the gallery.

 

The situation drew sharp criticism from rights groups accusing China of harassing critics worldwide, a charge China denies. Sai, currently overseas following a Thai police pursuit, lamented the irony of authoritarian censorship at a show critiquing authoritarian collaboration. He noted Thailand’s history as a haven for dissidents, warning that such conduct sends a worrying message to exiled activists and artists.

 

In a related context, China’s increasing sway in Southeast Asia is evidenced by recent diplomatic tensions, such as Beijing’s unsuccessful bid to block a Philippine documentary screening in New Zealand, highlighting South China Sea conflicts. Reuters reported that external pressure previously led to the removal of the documentary from Philippine festivals.

 

The exhibit’s alterations became starkly apparent when video displays at the gallery ran blank, and artworks by Tibetan and Uyghur artists were visually denuded of references to their creators. Tenzin Mingyur Paldron, a Tibetan artist, denounced China's attempts to isolate Tibetans from international scrutiny by stripping his work of politically sensitive content.

 

As the exhibit continues under the watchful eye of Chinese diplomacy, questions linger over freedom of expression and the power dynamics at play. The controversy spotlights the broader theme of artistic liberties clashing with geopolitical sensitivities.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from REUTERS 2025-08-09

 

[JoePai]

warned the exhibition could strain Sino-Thai diplomatic relations

 

So what, expose them for what they are

[Felton Jarvis]

China seems not to like free speech. Thailand seems to be very much under their thumb.

[Emdog]

China says "jump" and Thailand says "How high?"

[SABloke]

40 minutes ago, webfact said:

Sai, currently overseas following a Thai police pursuit,

 

Glad to know the fugitive has morals 🤣

[topt]

3 hours ago, Emdog said:

China says "jump" and Thailand says "How high?"

Unfortunately it is looking more and more like that.

China also seems to be becoming generally more overt in it's attempts at stopping any and all criticism and not caring about any push back.

[Photoguy21]

This funny in a weird way. Thousands of years ago people from South West China came and created what is now Thailand. Obviously China wasn't suitable to meet their needs. Now the Chinese are working their way back in. Ironic.

[Will B Good]

3 hours ago, Emdog said:

China says "jump" and Thailand says "How high?"

 

 

Tricky to achieve when you sit on the fence most of the time.

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

A Bangkok art gallery has controversially bowed to Chinese pressure, scrubbing references to Beijing's treatment of ethnic minorities and Hong Kong from an exhibit.

Guess the truth hurt