Democracy!

“This large mural broadly reflects the histories of democratic movements in East Asia in general, and the 2019 Hong Kong protests in particular. These histories remind us that democracy, however universal it ought to be, is far from a given. It is a value that must be fought for, although its success does not always seem within reach. The ballot-like design of the piece speaks to the people’s right to choose, as opposed to making the “right choice,” as fundamental to democracy. The wordplay between “suffrage” and “suffering,” delivered in playful letterforms, illustrates the sometimes difficult and complex nature of democracy, and poses an uneasy question to the viewers: would you be willing to cheerfully choose to suffer?”