Picture this: you stroll into your hotel lobby, knackered from your carefree frolicking and the bustling Bali traffic, a noticeably full day of sun and fun. Then suddenly find yourself gazing at two striking yet toy-like militant figures that seemingly commanded attention, sculpted with open mouths as if to whisper tales of revolution and resilience. The sign read “Red Guard Series by Jiang Shuo”

Who Were The Red Guards

The Red Guards were predominantly young students of a mass student-led paramilitary social movement mobilized in 1966 -1976 by Mao Zedong. They aimed to enforce communist ideology by targeting perceived enemies of the state, including intellectuals, traditional cultural elements and political dissidents. The movement lead to wide scale chaos, destruction of cultural heritage and significant social disruption before eventually being disbanded by the Chinese government.

The Sculptor

Jiang Shuo is a famous Chinese sculptor, now 66 years old. She is renowned for her ability to blend history, emotion and art into powerful pieces that speak volumes without saying a word. Her sculptures capture the spirit of the Red Guard movement during China’s Cultural Revolution.

Encounters with these guards will truly leave the viewer pondering on the complexities of ideology and identity through the lens of the artist as she was also a Red Guard.