The Unfinished Path of Pursuing Democracy, Playing the Next Chapter of Human Rights | REST - Kao Chung-ming Photography Exhibition | Opening Press Release

The Unfinished Path of Pursuing Democracy, Playing the Next Chapter of Human Rights

Three years ago in 2019, the anti-extradition law amendment bill movement shocked the world by demonstrating the spirit of the Hong Kong people in pursuing democracy, but after the passage of the National Security Law, civil movements in Hong Kong gradually fell apart. Civil societies around the world once again face the dilemma of how to respond when authoritarianism rises strongly, let alone Taiwan, which is close at hand.

Hong Kong is gradually being constrained and suppressed by China, and Taiwan has also faced increasingly severe rhetorical and military threats from China in recent years. As a democratic society, while caring for and supporting Hong Kong, Taiwan must also reflect on the preciousness of freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law through Hong Kong's predicament. Therefore, in the second half of 2022, the JRF will hold the "REST - Kao Chung-ming Photography Exhibition" from September 17, 2022, to January 14, 2023.

"REST" invited film art director Li Tien-chueh, who won Best Art Direction at the 46th Golden Horse Awards and Best Art Direction at the 4th Asian Film Awards for the film *Face*, to curate the exhibition, featuring documentary photographs of the anti-extradition movement and resistance against authoritarianism by photographer Kao Chung-ming, who relocated from Hong Kong to Taiwan.

JRF Board Director, Attorney Lin Chih-chung stated, "Recently, under China's rule, the voices of the people in Hong Kong have been heavily suppressed. The issue of Hong Kong is not only in the political realm but has also aroused widespread concern in the field of human rights. The JRF has long focused on issues related to the judiciary and human rights, and has successively held multiple related exhibitions. We hope that this 'REST' exhibition can demonstrate the preciousness of freedom and democracy under totalitarian rule through Kao Chung-ming's works and Li Tien-chueh's curation."

Curator Li Tien-chueh also remarked, "Through Kao Chung-ming's works, it is easy to associate them with Taiwan before and after the lifting of martial law—the constraints where the older generation felt repressed and dared not freely express their thoughts. The same goes for this exhibition, which brings together the works of the JRF, an organization caring for human rights, and documentary photographer Kao Chung-ming. We hope to highlight the predicament faced by Hong Kong through special exhibition performances and spatial narrative traction, presenting an atypical exhibition format featuring visual fragmentation and jumps."

Kao Chung-ming, the chief planner of this photography exhibition and provider of the photographic works, further expressed, "As a former reporter and documentary photographer, although I am not well-versed in art or curation, the predicament currently faced by Hong Kong needs to be known by more people. I hope this exhibition can allow more foreigners, especially Taiwanese people, to understand the current situation of Hong Kong."

The JRF Taichung Office has thus far held special exhibitions related to the judiciary and human rights, such as "Ocean Wang Sky Light", "Missing Person", and "Ah Ma's House in Taichung". In the future, it will continue to cooperate with professionals in different fields, looking forward to combining arts and cultural performances with a series of themed lectures to build a judicial oasis in central Taiwan where students and the public can get closer to judiciary and human rights issues. People from all walks of life are welcome to make reservations to view the exhibition.

Time

1:00 PM, September 16, 2022 (Friday)

Venue

Judicial Reform Foundation Taichung Office (No. 845, Sec. 2, Taiwan Blvd., Xitun Dist., Taichung City)

Attendee List

Lin Chih-chung (Attorney, Board Director of the Judicial Reform Foundation)
Kao Chung-ming (Photographer)
Li Tien-chueh (Curator, Film Art Director)

Press Contacts

Judicial Reform Foundation Taichung Office Advocacy Specialist, Hsieh Chia-chen (04)2329-2372 #11
Judicial Reform Foundation Taichung Office Legal Specialist, Chang Hua-che (04)2329-2372 #13