Artist: Van Thanh Rudd
Confronting Bodies: Melbourne City Council
Date of Action: May 23, 2008
Specific Location: Melbourne, Australia
Description of Artwork: The painting depicts Ronald McDonald running past a burning monk, with Olympic torch in hand.
Description of Incident: City officials banned the work from public exhibition, citing copyright concerns as the reason. The artist asserts that his painting is a comment about how the global economy interferes with human rights' initiatives.
Results of Incident: Rudd and his supporters are voicing protest. In their opinion, Australian government officials see the painting's references to China as a threat to Sino-Australian relations.
Source: The Age and ABC News
Submitted By: National Coalition Against Censorship - Lesley Clark