---
author: Jan Brennenstuhl
categories:
- Graffiti, Marker & Spray Cans
cover:
  alt: 'Art Censorship - China Censors Heart Noose'
  height: 1556
  src: https://www.urbanartcore.com/art-censorship-china-censors-heart-noose/Shock1-China-Heart-Noose.jpg
  width: 1840
credit: ''
date: '2012-03-18T13:00:14Z'
description: China Censors Heart Noose! If you don’t believe in censorship please spread the message in whatever way you can and fight art censorship!
tags:
- Mural Art
- Censorship
- Shok-1
- Asian Street Art
title: 'Art Censorship - China Censors Heart Noose'
url: https://www.urbanartcore.com/art-censorship-china-censors-heart-noose/
---

# Art Censorship - China Censors Heart Noose

[Art censorship](/urban-art-censorship/) is not new, nevertheless it’s a problem everyone should care about. Paintings, images, murals, posters, stickers, and photos are transporting subtexts and opinions which is why certain governments, lobbies and other powerful people try to control those message by the use of extensive censorship...

The latest popular example of art censorship is the story of British graffiti artist **Shok-1** and his *Heart Noose* mural in China: Invited by the Chinese government to paint a huge mural back in 2011, Shok-1 painted a somehow controversial piece showing nothing more than a heart-shaped noose. I for one don’t know the deeper meaning of this symbol, nevertheless Chinese politicians decided to censor the mural by reinterpreting the entire image. Now, several weeks later, Shok-1 had the chance to revive his mural in London - far away from the Chinese governments reach...

This story is a educational example for the disgusting use of censorship and backward thinking. A liberal society needs controversial and critical artists, so keep up and fight art censorship!

Via [modart.com](http://www.modart.com/2011/07/29/china-censors-heart-noose/), [molotow.com](http://www.molotow.com/magazine/blog/blog/2012/02/15/shok-1-china-heart-noose-revived/), [12ozprophet.com](http://12ozprophet.com/news/shok1-china-heart-noose-revived/).