Hong Kong Umbrella Movement: Art as Political Protest

Introduction: The Umbrella Movement and Its Origins

The Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong is directed at the Hong Kong government and the police force deployed on its behalf. It is a movement that was unofficially recognized in 2014, started spontaneously, and had a practical inspiration: the umbrellas of protesters were used as protection against tear gas fired by police. The protesters were defending themselves from aggressive assault by Hong Kong police while demonstrating against what they viewed as unfair elections. They identified with earlier protesters in China, such as those at Tiananmen Square in 1989, where the Chinese government ruthlessly cracked down on demonstrators.

In Hong Kong — which holds a special autonomy within China as a Special Administrative Region — the fear among protesters was that government corruption would result in unfair elections. Thousands took to the streets to voice their opposition. The visual spectacle of so many people carrying umbrellas while facing off against police led to the coining of the term "Umbrella Movement," and the movement began to express itself in increasingly visual ways, following this theme of political action and distinctive imagery. The umbrella became a symbol incorporated by artists in Hong Kong into politically themed works of art. This paper will focus on the Umbrella Movement and show how artistic representations of the movement have helped raise political awareness about the underlying issues faced by concerned Hong Kong citizens.

The Iconic Umbrella Man Photograph

One of the most iconic images of the Umbrella Movement is one of the first images to be spread around the world via social media. The photograph was taken in September 2014 in the midst of the Occupy Central protests in Hong Kong, when demonstrators squared off against police who were using tear gas on the crowd. The photo depicts an unknown man with an umbrella in each hand, arms open wide in a stance of defiance against Hong Kong authorities. Surrounding him is a swirl of smoke and gas; from the torso up he stands unscathed, arms raised, resisting the oppressive forces arrayed against him. He is the center of the photo but not in the foreground — rather, he stands at a distance, while in the foreground people are running and trying to escape the assault. The "Umbrella Man," as he came to be called, became a symbol of strength and determination in response to the authoritarian and oppressive practices of the government.

The image has certainly become iconic. AFP reports that "history will remember it as the 'umbrella revolution'" precisely because of the striking contrast between a man with umbrellas facing off against police armed with tear gas, helmets, and shields.¹ On the social level, the Umbrella Movement achieved some success, as riot police eventually withdrew from the scene, leaving protesters to rejoice and celebrate. For this reason, the umbrella became a sign of defiance, strength, and courage — a kind of artistic shield that served both a practical purpose of blocking tear gas and a symbolic purpose of unity and collective will. The umbrella also came to represent the people's desire for political protection from the corruption associated with greater integration into the Chinese government, something the people did not want. They sought to retain their autonomy as a Special Administrative Region with a free-market economy more aligned with Western models than with China's centrally planned system.

Censorship, Iconography, and the Tiananmen Connection

The powerful impact of the Umbrella Man image and other Umbrella Movement photographs was so compelling to the Chinese government that it moved to block the images from spreading via social media and the internet.² This was a clear sign that the artistic power of the Umbrella Man image and its associated photographs was effective in conveying a sense of unity and inspiration: the Chinese authorities were fearful of these images and sought to remove them from public discourse. Some people took the image and created new artistic works from it. For instance, one artist produced a picture in which the Umbrella Man stood in the middle of a street blocking oncoming tanks — an obvious reference to the Tank Man image from the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The two protest moments were thus connected through this visual artistic medium, and it is little wonder that the Chinese government moved to censor these images. It has always been reluctant to allow Tiananmen Square to be politicized and used by dissenters as a vehicle for challenging governmental authoritarianism.

In the image of the Umbrella Man blocking oncoming tanks, the iconography of the Umbrella Movement was being employed by new artists to convey an attitude of defiance that would surely unsettle the Chinese authorities and remind them of their history of brutality against defenseless people.³

Conclusion: Art, Unity, and the Struggle for Democracy

The Umbrella Movement is a significant chapter in Hong Kong's modern history, and the artwork that has emerged from it represents a major cultural achievement for Hong Kong's community. It has symbolized the people's courage and assertiveness, and the iconic image of the Umbrella Man will always stand as a reminder of what people can accomplish when they unite behind a shared desire for freedom and democracy and resolve to challenge the forces that seek to suppress them. This is why the Umbrella Man is a special artistic image that has inspired people around the world.

Bibliography

AFP. "How umbrellas have become the symbol of Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests." Herald Sun, 2014. Accessed 6 May 2016.

Chow, Vivienne, and Phila Siu. "Creative awakening sparked by Occupy Central as sit-ins reclaim streets." South China Morning Post. Accessed 6 May 2016.

Dastagir, Alia, and Brett Molina. "Key social moments of Hong Kong protests." USA Today, 2014. Accessed 6 May 2016.

Sataline, Suzanne. "Will Hong Kong's protest art be saved?" Boston Globe, 2014. Accessed 6 May 2016.

Wiesenthal, Joe. "This is the Iconic Hong Kong Photo the World Will Never Forget." Business Insider, 2014. Accessed 6 May 2016.