According to reports from Weiquanwang, the Sanhe City Court in Hebei Province, China, sentenced artist Gao Yin to three years in prison on Tuesday for the crime of "infringing on the reputation of heroes and martyrs." One of Gao Yin's most famous works is the bronze statue of Mao Zedong titled "Repentance," which depicts Mao Zedong kneeling in contemplation.
Gao Yin, 70, and his brother Gao Qiang, known as the Gao Brothers, are pioneers in the art world and hail from Shandong province.
Gao Yin relocated to the United States in 2022, but in August 2024, while returning to China with his family to visit relatives, he was taken away by police at his studio on the outskirts of Beijing. His wife and 7-year-old son were prohibited from leaving the country. Gao Yin's sentence is estimated to last until August 25, 2027.
It is noted that the involved works are Mao Zedong sculptures created by the Gao Brothers many years ago, including "Crucifixion of Christ by Firing Squad," the "Miss Mao" series, and "Repentance," among others.