Protest Art and Public Space in the Hong Kong Anti-Extradition Bill Protests

In the summer of 2019, all eyes were on Hong Kong. Drawing publicity from international media outlets, Hong Kongers took the square countless times to protest the passing of an extradition bill. Central to political movements, art and iconography played a key role in the Anti-Extradition Bill Protests, also known as #antielab protests. The necessity of not just engaging or recognizable imagery, the Anti-Extradition Bill Protests required a visual narrative and identity that could draw significant and consistent empathy from local and global audiences. Throughout the demonstrations guerilla protest art, performative protest gestures, and visual culture were created, playing a key role in the dissemination of ideological ideals for the protestors. The circulation of information and ideology locally was key to organizing efforts and local politics, while social media, media perception and visual mythology were essential to attracting and maintaining the international gaze, leading to the generation and implementation of diplomatic pressures. This paper addresses the creation, political functionality, and symbolism of public protest art and iconography, and the performativity of collective direct action, as a means of redetermining the utilization of public space and role of the government.