Visual Artist Kacey Wong on Fighting for Freedom With Art Ep1
What happened to artist and freedom fighter Kacey Wong after leaving Hong Kong? Contemporary visual artist and activist Kacey Wong engaged in civil resistance for about 10 years before leaving his hometown of Hong Kong for good. During the protests against Hong Kong’s national security law, Wong participated in activist performances, dressing up and cosplaying various characters to send a message of resistance. But after the arrest of 47 Hong Kong legislators in 2021, Wong knew it was no longer safe for him to stay. A later article in a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) newspaper called out Wong and the Art Development Council, and Wong left Hong Kong soon after. In Taiwan, Wong continues his mission of art as protest, which was the subject of his previous TED Talk held in Vienna, Austria. Since coming to the island, Wong has incorporated elements of Taiwanese culture into his art. When communicating with Taiwanese youth, he has also noticed a troubling trend: young Taiwanese lack the spirit of resistance necessary to defend their country and their freedoms. Wong urges us all that freedom of speech is something we must act on now, while we still can.
