【Simon Cheng's Keynote Speech: Imagination, Exile, and Home: Merging Art and Activism in The Hague】

[emily]

【Simon Cheng's Speech: Imagination, Exile, and Home: Merging Art and Activism in The Hague】
Ladies and gentlemen,

Today marks a profoundly symbolic moment as we gather to celebrate "The Art in Hague" – an event that merges art and activism, organised by 'Art & Culture Hong Kong', and serves as the inauguration of the exiled pro-democracy gallery 'Ngo Dei' here in The Hague, a city renowned for its international courts. This convergence of art and law signifies a powerful statement about our collective aspirations for justice and freedom.

Our main theme, "imagination," captures the essence of this event. When we break it down – "imagine" the "nation" – we discover a shared vision that this event vividly showcases. This vision unites art and law, reflecting Benedict Anderson's concept of the "Imagined Community" from his 1983 book. Anderson posits that a nation is imagined through common arts and cultures, rather than through science, biology, or "pure-blooded" ethnicity. Governing a nation, therefore, should be rooted in laws that reflect these shared human values.

Yet, while art and law find commonality in this event and our society, they inherently embody tension. Art is not merely a conduit or tool; it encapsulates the spirit of humanity, challenging the status quo and serving as a cradle for societal progression. Artists stand with activists, advocating for social justice and the oppressed. Art is natural, spontaneous, and autonomous.

Conversely, law represents the rigidity and formality of the status quo that art often challenges. Law maintains social order, unity, and security, often lagging behind the progressive visions art strives to achieve. It is a product of political dynamics and historical struggles, reflecting conservative views on "what should be now" rather than envisioning the future. Law often needs amendment to symbolise new eras.

I deeply appreciate the robust debates and detailed discussions on social justice during the mock trial against the CCP dictators, who abuse citizens' rights, including those of Chinese, Tibetan, Uyghur, and HongKonger dissidents. Law students, trainees, and lawyers have rightly noted that law is a double-edged sword: domestic law can be corrupted and oppressive, while international law often lacks the strength to hold power abusers accountable effectively.

This oppressive environment has led many of us to imprisonment. Activists in jail are also artists, performing a powerful form of resistance. Their bodies may be confined, but their spirits remain unbroken. A totalitarian regime can only control physical bodies, but it cannot touch the resilient human spirit and intellectual mind-power if we remain unyielding in our hearts. Our greatest enemy is not the regime, but the fear within ourselves. Mental resilience is key.

To Loretta Lau, our courageous organiser and artist-advocate: your achievements, even under threat from Hong Kong and China's secret police, are commendable. As I once suggested, "Being hunted by secret police, under a one-million-dollar bounty, is a life-long honour. If the government deems the quest for democracy and freedom a crime, we embrace the charges to reveal the genuine face of social justice, unyielding to authority." Law must go beyond mere due process; it must embody legitimacy and justice, much like art does.

Our second theme, "HOME: Hong Kong in Exile," resonates deeply. We call it "house" because of its physical structure, but "home" because of the emotions and memories it holds. Although we are distanced from our physical homes, we remain spiritually close when in exile. As Thomas Mann, exiled from Nazi Germany, declared, "Where I am, there is Germany." Similarly, Yu Ying-shih said, "Where I am, there is China." Home is where we uphold our values, even in adversity, standing with the vulnerable and dissenting voices. We embody the engine of change, leaving a legacy for future generations.

In exile, welcome home.

Simon Cheng
British Hong Kong exiled pro-democracy activist,
Founder of Hongkongers in Britain,
Advisor to NGO DEI.