After discovering that the concept of all oppressive regimes was an open-ended and overly broad theme, I decided to focus on the period between 1951-1976 in China, during which Mao implemented a regime known as the ‘thought reform’. During this period, artists, writers and all forms of intellectuals were repressed, justified by the phrase of ‘re-education’, which resulted in indoctrination, propaganda, and other coercive techniques. Old and new generations were to be remoulded according to the communist ideology. Through this, my previous idea of a skewing of the personal narrative can be seen, with artist expression and freedom of speech being extremely censored and limited.

For a final piece and response to this theme, I intend to delve into the artwork which was born as a response to Mao’s dictatorial regime, for example Ai Wei Wei and Wang Guangyi, whose political art resembles the propaganda seen during the cultural revolution.

I am intrigued by the idea of political art and propaganda, and therefore intend to create a similar outcome, potentially using the mediums of collage, photography etc.