Chinese-Australian satirical cartoonist Badiucao has won the 2020 Havel Prize for his creative artwork. His work – often featured by HKFP – takes aim at the Chinese Communist Party and often expresses support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement.
In the official announcement last week, organisers – the Human Rights Foundation – praised Badiucao for creating the Lennon Flag, which became a protest symbol to mobilise the 2019 protest movement and the global community to stand in solidarity.
“This prize is an honour shared with all human rights defenders and protesters in Hong Kong,” Badiucao told HKFP. “Art can be such a powerful expression of our values. Creativity can make the freedom fight strong from the ground to the clouds.”
Named after the human rights activist who later became president of Czechoslovakia, the Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent celebrates activists who exhibit bravery, creativity, and artistic innovation in standing up against dictatorships.
Past prize winners include Saudi Arabian satirist Omar Abdulaziz and Rwandan gospel musician Kizito Mihigo, who was the first recipient to be honoured posthumously.
