Artists confronted by thugs over demolition

• Source: Global Times
• [05:01 February 08 2010]
• Comments

An artist being threatened by a thug at the Zhengyang Creative Art District. Photo: Zhou Xiaodong

By Xuyang Jingjing

Artists protesting the demolition of the Zhengyang Creative Art District have been threatened by dozens of thugs over the past few days and they have still not received any compensation.

Chinese and foreign artists in the area were told to move out within a week in late November, as the place would be demolished. The artists refused because their contracts had not expired and sued the developer in January.

For three consecutive days from last Wednesday, dozens of thugs wearing military-green overcoats and carrying clubs appeared at the Zhengyang Creative Art District in Jinzhan Township, Chaoyang district.

"They said that the company hired them to demolish our houses," said Yu Tao, whose wife has a studio in the art district. Around 50 thugs went to the district on the first two days. There were standoffs, verbal abuse and some physical confrontations, though no one was hurt, according to artists present at the scene.

Yu said the police were called and tried to mediate. "But it didn't seem like the police were really helping," he said. Thursday, the Chaoyang district police were called in and a police chief promised them that the thugs would not come back to demolish their houses, but still a dozen came the next day.

In late January, the local media reported that the demolition case in Zhengyang had been resolved, as the artists would receive five million yuan ($732,225) in compensation. However, the artists told the Global Times that it was not true and they have not received any compensation.

Gao Qiang, a designer, was one of the artists negotiating with the Jinzhan township demolition office. He said in late January officials initiated the negotiations and the two parties reached an agreement.

"We've already worked out the details for compensation, but then somehow somebody leaked the news and it seemed that the officials were having second thoughts," Gao told the Global Times. "The point is, we never received the compensation."

He added that they have not been able to reach the township officials since the news about the artist's receiving compensation of five million yuan came out.

Most of the artists will have to spend the Chinese New Year in the studios with no power, heat or water. Gao said they will stick with the lawsuit and maybe ask for more compensation "because of the mental strain, and the harassment has disturbed our normal work and life."