This print of "Silence" by Wang Keping is an evocative wood sculpture depicting a larger-than-life man's head, prominently featuring a gaping mouth filled with a plug, a blinded eye, no ears and a head chopped at the top. It implies the lack of freedoms in society at a time where speaking out, seeing, hearing and thinking were censored. This powerful piece serves as a poignant critique of censorship in post-Cultural Revolution China and has become a notable example of Chinese protest art from over 40 years ago. Initially unveiled during a brief artistic renaissance in Beijing in 1979 and 1980, the sculpture was quickly suppressed and removed from public view.

Even today, Wang Keping, who now resides in exile in France, describes "Silence" as still too provocative for the contemporary art scene. Its striking imagery and underlying message highlight the ongoing sensitivities surrounding freedom of expression in the region.
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