Semiotics of Protest: A Burmese Inspired Protest Exhibition 2021

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Badiucao to open new Burmese Inspired Protest Art Exhibition. 'The message from me is always about promoting freedom of speech, advocating for human rights.' - Badiucao

The Democracy for Burma (#D4B) campaign group is holding an international protest art exhibition in Sydney. The month-long exhibit will be held at new Art Syndicate gallery in Surry Hills and will be opened by controversial Chinese political cartoonist, artist and rights activist Badiucao; the 2020 Human Rights Foundation Vaclav Havel Laureate Prize winner. 

Gallerist Saxon Strauss says, 'Reaching out to Badiucao to launch this Burmese inspired protest art exhibition was an easy decision. He understands the plight of the Burmese people.' Strauss is one of five co-founders of the Democracy for Burma campaign group formed in late February 2021.

Since the February 1st failed coup, the people of Burma have suffered greatly. The brutal military crackdown in Burma has seen more than 800 people killed, freedom of speech quashed and countless documented cases of human rights abuses, including torture and rape. Artists and poets have also been actively targeted. 

From day 1 of the coup, artists the world over have brought this political crisis to our attention, frequently through sharing their works via creative posts on social media. Their defiance and daringly is now the stuff of legend. Pro-democracy martyrs are a common theme, as is the international three finger salute.

Strauss added that, 'International artists have been uniformly supporting the pro-democracy and civil disobedience movements. We recognise and respect the bravery of these artists, particularly those who are still producing underground art in Burma.' Expect art brut works to appear alongside classically inspired works.

This hard-hitting exhibition aims to amplify artists' voices of protest in order to engage Australian audiences and encourage all governments to support and act on the people's call for democracy. A full range of limited prints will be sold during the exhibition. Cleverly, select works will be printed on-demand to keep wastage and costs down. Money raised from art sales will go to D4B approved fundraisers.

All audiences will understand the exhibition message: get behind the Burmese people and their call for democracy.