B O O K E R R O R 4 0 4
Both the ‘Umbrella Revolution’ and ‘Anti-Extradition Bill’ protests have been making headline news recently and are the frontline of a battle to preserve freedom and basic law in Hong Kong.
While the protestors are fighting to express their political stance, pro-democratic news articles were censored, posts and comments got taken down, journalists were attacked by the police, protestors were arrested and booksellers have been abducted.
Hong Kong protestors’ voices were bluntly ignored by the government despite nearly two million citizens marching on the streets, with only repeated talking points and accusations of fake news thrown back at them. This is referred to as ‘post-truth’ politics, where leaders frame their expression to appeal to the public by lying, repeating empty statements and ignoring factual information, however this often results in the reality of the situation becoming ever more clear.
This book ‘BOOK ERROR 404’ highlights the truth of what was actually happening in the perspective of a Hong Kong citizen and contrasts the disheartened speech given by the Hong Kong Chief Executive.
With the detachable bookbinder, readers are given the freedom to puzzle together the redacted images and reassemble the book. This aims to raise awareness of political censorship. ‘BOOK ERROR 404’ would vanish once disassemble, just as the once freewheeling art and culture of Hong Kong may soon vanish with it.
Un-censor the censored and preserve the city’s transparency and openness.
Basic Law: Article 27 “Hong Kong residents shall have freedom of speech, of the press and of publication; freedom of association, of assembly, of procession and of demonstration; and the right and freedom to form and join trade unions, and to strike”.
