In Pictures: Gender advocates urge Hong Kong art scene to tackle image-based violence
Hong Kong Free Press
A group of gender advocates have sought to raise awareness of image-based sexual violence in Hong Kong, calling on the city’s art community to improve ethical practices during a three-day campaign at a local book fair.
Around 20 members of the group moved silently around the 6th BOOKED art book fair held from Friday to Sunday at Tai Kwun, a Hong Kong Jockey Club-operated arts venue in Central.
Some wore placards saying “exploitation is not art,” “You may own the photos, but you don’t own her body,” and “Would you still buy it if you know the images are non-consensual?”
Participants included arts and culture practitioners, gender and sexuality advocates, and figures connect to the sexual violence crisis centre RainLily.
20 stalls sign up
Organiser Sonia Wong, of the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Gender Studies Programme, told HKFP that they had wanted to spark a conversation about image-based sexual violence. “Initially, we wanted it to be a protest but… we ended up having a consultation [with Tai Kwun],” she said.
In engaging Tai Kwun, Wong said she had wanted “to encourage them to implement certain protocol in asking, or demanding, artists work in much more ethical and regulated ways.”
The group also sought “to raise awareness within the artistic community as to the problem of exploitation, of the lack of acknowledgement of the importance of consent, of the failure to promote best practice that emphasises ethical art-making,” Wong said, adding there were still legal gaps over the issue.
“If animal cruelty, sweat-shops, blood diamonds can become common sense, consensual and responsible, art-making should also be,” Wong said. “Especially when such discussions already exist in other parts of the world.”
During the three-day fair, Wong said the group recruited around 20 stalls to join the campaign, display stickers and slogans, share details on social media, and host related pamphlets and materials.
The move came after RainLily wrote to Tai Kwun urging it to ensure that an artist taking part in the book fair – who HKFP learned was subject to a police complaint – did not display sexualised images that were allegedly created without the full consent of the woman depicted.
In a response to HKFP last Friday, a spokesperson for Tai Kwun said: “Tai Kwun has acknowledged and addressed the concerns raised by RainLily regarding such content. Tai Kwun has proactively contacted the exhibitor to ensure compliance and assures that no such content will be presented by the exhibitor.”
| 💡If you are suffering from sexual or domestic violence, regardless of your age or gender, contact the police, Harmony House (click for details) and/or the Social Welfare Department on 28948896. Dial 999 in emergencies. |
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