Unchained Oslo Freedom Forum: How NFTs Helped Chinese Dissident Artist Badiucao Evade Censorship - Ep. 369
Jul 1, 2022
Badiucao, a Chinese artist and activist, uses NFTs to combat censorship and promote political change through his art, satirizing the Chinese government. He discusses his journey from teaching preschool in Australia to becoming a prominent dissident artist after learning about Tiananmen Square. The conversation reveals how NFTs allow artists to preserve protest messages permanently on the blockchain. Niki Selkin, Director of Creative Development at Gray Area, joins Badiucao to explore the transformative potential of blockchain technologies for human rights activism.
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The Mask
- Anonymity is crucial for Chinese dissident artists to protect their families from the regime.
- Unlike Banksy, Badiucao used anonymity for safety, not commercial gain.
Art as a Weapon
- Art is a language, and Badiucao uses it to communicate and circumvent Chinese censorship.
- Images offer a unique advantage over written language, which is easily filtered by the Great Firewall.
Unmasking
- After his family was threatened in 2018, Badiucao chose to reveal his identity.
- He prioritized freedom of speech and artistic integrity over personal safety.