Essay Sample about Badiucao, the Chinese Banksy

You may have, or not, heard of Badiucao, China's most well-known political artivist. Born in 1986 in Shanghai, the human rights activist who takes the pseudonym Badiucao, is an eminent artist and caricaturist in China. Nicknamed «the Chinese Banksy», the said artist uses pop culture to convey his anti-government messages, making him an engaged artist similarly to his peer Banksy and also a black sheep to the eyes of the Chinese government. Consequently, the controversial artist was forced to leave the country for Australia, where he is currently living for the sake of his security. However, this does not prevent the artist, who is less known internationally, from denouncing the despotic political system in China. Ordinarily, Badiucao uses cartoon art as well as graffiti art to express his creativity. Furthermore, he displays his art online or on the streets in hopes of making it visible.

The piece above is a caricatural portrait of Xi Jinping, the current president of China. It depicts the president oppressing a famous cartoon character, Winnie the Pooh. Incensed by the fact that Chinese citizens were amused by his resemblance with Winnie the Pooh, Beijing's president banned the cartoon in the country. We almost instantly notice how the artist used red for the background of his art. Indeed, it is a very bright and eye-catching color, moreover, it symbolizes blood and is reminiscent of the Chinese red flag.

Badiucao denounces the absurdity of the Chinese censorship policy and simultaneously sheds light on how it is a common weapon used by the authoritarian Chinese government to oppress its people. Being among the few people who dare to confront the country's government, Badiucao's work is often a big deal in China where the artist risks his life displaying these caricatures notwithstanding numerous threats the Chinese authorities uttered towards him. 

In my opinion, what he does is an act of heroism, especially if we consider China's extreme political views. The addition of satirical imagery in his art makes it special in reason of the apparent boldness that exudes from them. This freedom of speech we may take for granted in the rest of the globe is only a distant echo for the Chinese population. Therefore, it is why I consider his work to be important. It is a personal conviction of mine that Badiucao’s art will be, in the future, an impactful legacy. For now, it is the proof that freedom and hope may never really be taken from a population.