Remaking Mao
2009-08-13–2009-08-15The statue producing city Quyang is the production of Mao statues into high gear in for the celebration of China's 60th birthday October 1st. Plant Manager Lu Shaokai tells Canadian photographer Jackson Lowen that orders increased sharply before the anniversary. Most buyers are local government throughout China. In Mao's home Changsha in Hunan Province, a statue gilded in 24 carat gold have been set up, according to news agency Xinhua. Mao's reign of terror has been swept under the carpet along with his ideology of class hatred. After it's apex during the devastating cultural revolution (1966-1976) the Mao personality cult was dismantled together with countless of his statues and effigies. Now new ones are being put up, as the ruling communist party is strengthening it's legitimacy by promoting "red tourism" to the birthplaces of communism in China. The whitewashing strengthens the party but can also plant the seeds of extreme nationalism.
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