Artificial intelligence bots. 3-D printed human organs. Genomic sequencing.
These
might seem to be natural topics of interest in a country determined to
be the world’s leader in science and technology. But in China, where
censors are known to take a heavy hand, several artworks that look
closely at these breakthroughs have been deemed taboo by local cultural
officials.
The works, which raise
questions about the social and ethical implications of artificial
intelligence and biotechnology, were abruptly pulled last weekend from
the coming Guangzhou Triennial on the orders of cultural authorities in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong...
“Isn’t contemporary art meant to raise questions, and start discussions
about important subjects in actuality and those of our near future?” he
wrote. “What are China’s reasons for organizing all these big expensive
‘contemporary art’ manifestations if these questions, the core of
contemporary art, freedom of speech, freedom of mind, are ignored and
undermined?”"
