Artist Jaffe. T attaches ‘Mind the Mind’ sign plates to existing installation at arts venue
When a Hong Kong arts centre decided to cancel talks by a Chinese dissident author, a local artist warned it to mind its actions in protest at the decision.
Six sign plates, bearing the message “Mind the Mind”, were found attached to the steps of a spiral staircase in an exhibition hall of Tai Kwun, a revitalised historic police compound turned culture hub.
In a play on words, they partially mimicked and covered an existing installation with similar signs on which were written “Mind the step”.
The F Hall, where Ma gave two talks on Saturday afternoon, is next to JC Contemporary, an exhibition gallery where Jaffe. T planted his protest signs.
“The message I would like to deliver is literally what my signs say,” Jaffe. T said. “Tai Kwun used to be a prison, where thoughts were under surveillance.”
The 35-year-old artist said he came up with the idea before Ma’s talks were initially called off.
“I have been thinking for a long time about what sort of space Tai Kwun is actually providing,” he said.
“When Ma Jian’s case came to light, I thought it was time to speak out and raise concerns.”
Jaffe. T declined to disclose when he put up the signs. “I believe by the time I published the post on Facebook, Tai Kwun had started to clear away my signs,” he said.
