Untitled

This photograph is of a silk tapestry that the artist has painted his name onto. Zhao Shao-Ruo is known for interjecting his own presence or image into his artwork. In Communist China, silk banners are awarded by the government to subordinates representing model citizens. Since the artist had recently been imprisoned, he had no chance of receiving a silk banner. By making a banner with his name on it, the artist is both criticizing the hypocrisy of the government and commending himself for being an active participant in the democratic movement -- the reason he was arrested. The banner contains text on the side that says "1994-1995 posthumous congratulations" which further confirms the artist's self-praise. (Nicole Wang '26).