KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The University of Missouri-Kansas City says the removal of a controversial work of art from the school’s fine arts building display was long planned and not a response to complaints.
The work is a statement on the current unrest in Hong Kong and features a depiction of an altered, torn Chinese flag, with yellow stars arranged to form a swastika. On the image is written “#CHINAZI.”
The other half of the image depicts a yellow raincoat and gas mask with the words “FREE HONG KONG.”
Chinese students complained Thursday to the art department and asked that the piece be removed.
It was removed, but the university said Friday in a statement that student artwork is displayed on three-week cycles, and the piece had already been set for removal on Thursday.