Hong Ma

Born in Qingdao in 1953, Ma Jian's early life was shaped by the Cultural Revolution, leading him to self-study and artistic pursuits. He joined underground art and poetry groups in Beijing, using his art exhibitions to foster a community of dissident artists. His early literary work, "Stick Out Your Tongue," inspired by travels in Tibet, was publicly denounced and banned in China for its unflinching portrayal of Tibetan culture, which deviated from idealized depictions. This led to a government ban on his future publications.

Relocating to Hong Kong and later Germany and London, Ma Jian continued to write novels and essays that often explored sensitive political and social themes in China. Works like "Beijing Coma" offer critical perspectives on historical events such as the Tiananmen Square protests. He is a vocal critic of the Chinese Communist government, advocating for freedom of expression. His books have been translated into numerous languages, and he has been denied entry into China since 2011 due to his activism and writings.

Born in Qingdao in 1953, Ma Jian's formative years were significantly impacted by the Cultural Revolution, which interrupted his formal schooling. He pursued self-education, meticulously copying a Chinese dictionary. At fifteen, he joined a propaganda arts troupe and later worked as a watchmender's apprentice. His early career included a stint in a petrochemical plant before he moved to Beijing in 1979 to become a photojournalist. During this period, he became involved with the 'underground' No Name art group, the Yuanmingyuan poetry group, and the April photographers' group. He hosted clandestine exhibitions of his paintings in his modest Beijing dwelling, which became a hub for dissenting artists and writers.

Ma Jian's writing career gained momentum after a three-year journey across China, selling his art and stories. His novella "Stick Out Your Tongue," based on his Tibetan travels, was published in 1987 but was swiftly condemned by the government as 'bourgeois liberalism' and banned. Following this, he moved to Hong Kong, where he wrote "Bardo" and "The Nine Crossroads." He participated in the 1989 democracy protests in Beijing and subsequently wrote the political satire "The Noodle Maker." He co-founded the publishing company New Era and the journal "Trends," which featured works suppressed in mainland China. After the 1997 Handover of Hong Kong, he taught Chinese literature in Germany before settling in London, where he wrote "Red Dust" and continued work on "Beijing Coma," a novel focusing on the Tiananmen Square massacre. His later work, "The Dark Road," examined the One Child Policy.

Ma Jian is a prominent critic of China's Communist government, with his works frequently addressing taboo subjects and advocating for freedom of expression. His books have been banned in China for over two decades, and he has been denied entry since 2011. He co-founded the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, actively participating in its committees focused on freedom to write and press translation. In 2012, he staged a protest at the London Book Fair, smearing red paint on his face and a copy of his banned book. In 2018, his scheduled talks at the Hong Kong International Literary Festival were initially cancelled, sparking public outcry and concerns about China's influence on the territory's autonomy. Ma Jian's writings have been translated into 26 languages, earning him awards such as the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Index on Censorship TR Fyvel Book Award.