The violations could have led to a three-year prison term. Instead, Ms. Lo was ordered to perform 240 hours of community service and attend counseling. She describes what she believes is her right to express her artistry.
“Back then, even when I first started doing the stickers, I knew that it was illegal. But, I didn’t let that limit my freedom in that sense. I still wanted to do it and I still did it. That is freedom, the freedom to express. That is what art should be, isn’t it?”
In a nation where rules are firmly enforced, Samantha Lo’s street art has led to discussions on the limits of free speech. And she is not the only Singaporean pushing the limits. Officials are investigating 37-year old Leslie Chew. He published a drawing online that has been described as being a racial insult.
Mr. Chew publishes a comic strip on Facebook that has more than 24,000 followers. If found guilty, he could be fined and jailed for three years. M. Ravi, the lawyer defending Leslie Chew, says artists and government critics are using the Internet to get their messages out. But some politicians are trying to suppress such actions.
Terence Chong is a sociologist at the Institute for South East Asian Studies in Singapore. He recently helped produce a document calling for more artistic freedom. The “Arts Manifesto” has been presented to the government. Mister Chong says Singapore is facing a problem. On one side, it wants to market itself as a world-class city for the arts. On the other, issues like race, religion and homosexuality are restricted.
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2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25