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Pillar of Shame

Pillar of Shame is a series of sculptures by Danish artist Jens Galschiot commemorating deaths from specific events in history. Each sculpture is a statue made of bronze, copper, or concrete. The first was unveiled at the NGO Forum of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization summit in Rome in 1996. Three more pillars were later erected in Hong Kong, Mexico, and Brazil. The Hong Kong sculpture was first installed in Victoria Park in 1997 to mark the eighth anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, then moved to Hong Kong City University in 1998. Its symbolism displeased the Chinese government, and the sculpture was later destroyed.

Pillar of Shame sculpture with writhing human figures on a tall dark pillar and plaque at the base.
The Pillar of Shame monument stands outdoors at Acteal, with a dark sculpted pillar covered in intertwined figures.
May 2008 © · CC BY 2.0
Pillar of Shame sculpture with white roses at its base, flanked by two men observing it
The Pillar of Shame sculpture stands with white roses placed at its base during a commemorative event in Oslo.
June 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pillar of Shame sculpture with white roses as a woman places another rose on it
A woman places a white rose on the Pillar of Shame during a commemoration event in Oslo.
June 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Pillar of Shame base with white roses and candles arranged around the memorial inscription.
White roses and candles surround the base of Pillar of Shame in a memorial tribute.
June 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitlePillar of Shame
Other namesPilier de la honte; Colonne de l'infamie; Pilar de la vergüenza; A Coluna da Infâmia; Säule der Schande; Schandmal
TypeSeries of sculptures

Creator

ArtistJens Galschiøt
Artist nationalityDanish

Historical context

SubjectVictims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre
PurposeMemorial to deaths during the Tiananmen Square massacre and a reminder that the event must never happen again
Event commemorated1989 Tiananmen Square massacre
Location of commemorated eventBeijing, China
Responsible party mentionedThe Chinese Communist Party

Physical characteristics

FormTall statue in the shape of an obelisk made of twisted human bodies
Depicted figures50 torn, twisted or writhing bodies
Height8 meters each
Weight2 tonnes

Materials

MaterialBronze, copper, and concrete
Surface decorationBronze plaques

Appearance

ColorBlack
Additional elementsFragments of organic roots and reptiles intertwined with the human bodies

Iconography and meaning

RepresentationThe victims of the crackdown, expressing pain and despair
Symbolism of bodiesDegradation, devaluation, and lack of respect for the individual
Symbolism of roots and reptilesDestruction, devaluation, and lack of respect for the individual
Symbolism of colorMourning and loss
Artist’s interpretationA reminder of a shameful event that must not recur
Use in conflict situationsCan be used by either side in complicated conflict situations where it is difficult to identify the guilty party

Discovery and provenance

Small-scale modelsSeveral smaller-scale models made in the 1990s were exhibited outside the European Parliament in March 2024
Mexico versionInstalled in Acteal, Mexico, in 1999 to commemorate the Acteal massacre
Replica displayA replica was publicly displayed at the University of Oslo in May 2022 for about a month
Berlin planA pillar planned for Berlin in 2002 was not realized because of funding and other problems
Brazil versionInstalled in Brasília, Brazil, in 2001
Number planned10
Hong Kong later locationsUniversity of Hong Kong; Chinese University of Hong Kong; Lingnan College; Hong Kong Baptist University; Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; Hong Kong Polytechnic University; City University of Hong Kong
First installation in Hong KongVictoria Park, Hong Kong, 1997
Other locationsHong Kong; Mexico; Brazil; Berlin (planned)
Number erected4 so far
First unveiled1996 at the NGO Forum of the FAO summit in Rome, Italy
Hong Kong purposeTo mark the eighth anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests

Location and ownership

Hong Kong initial locationVictoria Park
Hong Kong temporary relocationHaking Wong Building podium, University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong permanent locationHaking Wong Podium, University of Hong Kong

History and restoration

1999 commemoration displayDisplayed again at Victoria Park for the 10th anniversary vigil
2021 ownership disputeGalschiøt claimed the sculpture as his property; the university’s lawyers treated the Alliance as presumed owner and threatened to treat the memorial as ownerless property if not removed
2021 removalDismantled and removed in the night of 22–23 December 2021; disappeared by daylight on 23 December 2021 and was reportedly put into storage in Kadoorie Centre
2021 removal requestRequested by the University of Hong Kong in October 2021 on legal-risk grounds under the Hong Kong national security law
2008 repaintingPainted orange on 30 April 2008 as part of The Color Orange project to raise awareness of human rights violations in China during the 2008 Olympic Games
Hong Kong temporary moveMoved to the University of Hong Kong around 3:00 a.m. after the 1997 vigil; parts were not assembled at first because the floor was considered too weak
Hong Kong permanent relocation date3 December 1998
Hong Kong student vote24–25 September 1998; 1,629 of 2,190 votes in favor of keeping it at the University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong vandalismTwo buckets of red paint were thrown on it before the 31 May 1998 vigil
Hong Kong returned to Victoria Park31 May 1998 for the ninth anniversary vigil
Hong Kong installation date3 June 1997
2023 seizureSeized from storage in May 2023 by Hong Kong's National Security Department, reportedly as evidence in a subversion case