Unchained Oslo Freedom Forum: How NFTs Helped Chinese Dissident Artist Badiucao Evade Censorship - Ep. 369
Jul 1, 2022
Badiucao, a Chinese artist and activist, uses NFTs to combat censorship and promote political change through his art, satirizing the Chinese government. He discusses his journey from teaching preschool in Australia to becoming a prominent dissident artist after learning about Tiananmen Square. The conversation reveals how NFTs allow artists to preserve protest messages permanently on the blockchain. Niki Selkin, Director of Creative Development at Gray Area, joins Badiucao to explore the transformative potential of blockchain technologies for human rights activism.
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Hidden History
- Badiucao discovered the Tiananmen Square Massacre at 22, not through official channels, but a pirated film.
- This sparked his journey into art as a form of resistance against censorship.
Double Life
- Badiucao worked as a preschool teacher in Australia while secretly creating art.
- This allowed him to stay in the country and maintain anonymity for safety.
The Mask
- Anonymity is crucial for Chinese dissident artists to protect their families from the regime.
- Unlike Banksy, Badiucao used anonymity for safety, not commercial gain.