“It Aways Fits. Eventually.” - a #HongKong protest art thread

HKer's masks & respirators for braving teargas hv become synonymous with our pro-democracy mvmt. We trace the art to see how the masks hv evolved in use, & w/ them how new heroes hv arisen from an ordinary ppl.
1/15

On 16 Jun, 2 mln HKers made a choice. Many put on their masks, and marched.

Most were your ordinary 'peaceful' protestor type, their masks the badly-fitting disposable variety - a legacy of SARS & later the Mvmt; flimsy protection against both virus and Big Brother.

2/15

Since then, HKers have continued choosing to don their masks. There're 2 main types used: 1st is disposable masks, usu. white/blue/black. 2nd is respirators (‘pig-snouts’) that tend to be depicted in bright pink. (Colors vary IRL by functionality, but let's not go there.)

3/15

Disposable masks are associated w/ peaceful 'woleifei's, the ppl who don't expect to get gassed. Their use is mostly to hide identities - we may not be able to enjoy our rights of assembly & speech w/out fear, but we'll still brave what we have to to exercise them.

4/15

The respirators are associated w/ those at the teargas buffets. The distinctive pink you see in photos & art are particulate filters, for those in heavy industry in danger from ammonia & chlorine... not made for young ppl fighting for freedom, in danger from their own govt.
5/15

Even for frontliners the current setup wasn't a necessity at first. Early pamphlet from Jun rec-ed disposable respirators gd enough for mild teargas. By Jul, materials hd bn thoroughly updated; we knew the fog & hellfire we're up against. And still we chose to walk into it.
6/15

We still chose to walk into it, bcos the fog & hellfire was spreading, into our streets & homes. The respirators - & sometimes the face masks - are what allow us to get close enough to the gas & douse it out, to *literally* save our neighborhoods from pain & tears. 7/15

Gas masks hv bn vital to safety of journalists too. They didn't start out in full gear, but as HKPF grew to greet them w/ teargas salutes, respirators became a necessity. For journos to uncover truth thru fog of war, they must be able to walk thru it first- and so, masks on. 8/15

The masks are HKers' hard choices. The choice to fight for our freedoms of speech & assembly. The choice to protect our neighborhoods & homes. The choice to live in fear, but still, to live!... Choices which we only have to make because of the govt's wilful incompetence. 9/15

So when the Anti-Mask Law came into effect on 5 Oct, HKers were livid. Our art rebelled and revelled in the farcical nature of our new reality - HKers sport ludicrous masks & makeup, mocking Lam's govt. 'Is this what you're scared of? Me in my little hair mask? Well, good.' 10/15

From this pt, masks became less abt stripping of identity as declaration of one. Masks are displays of HKers' defiance of unjust laws- frontliner w/ 'pig snout' or woleifei w/ Pooh mask- we're in the same boat now. In our art, we are many, but we are also as one, resisting. 11/15

If this sounds a bit like the end of 'V for Vendetta'... yes. The Guy Fawkes mask exploded in our protest art late Sep & never left, largely bcos HKers are sympathetic to the idea that a mask holds power. The power to defy, to unite... to become anonymous & unsung heroes. 12/15

But HKers are just an ordinary people. No one asked for this. No one enjoys the teargas buffets, and no one likes being behind a mask - they're hot, sticky & uncomfortable...

We just happen to be born into a time of chaos. Which means we have certain responsibilities. 13/15

HKers are an ordinary ppl, disenfranchised yet still empowered. Turns out we've bn heroes all along, choosing from the start to put on our ill-fitting masks to bear our responsibilities to this age. And as mths wore on & we grew, we chose to do it, again & again & again. 14/15

HKers are an ordinary ppl who'll resist w/ heroic courage, as regular ppl do in tough times. No matter what govt does, our defiant masks stay on- they allow us to heal, put out fires, shed light on the truth... & go on living our regular lives, as heroes do in tough times. 15/15

UPDATE: At the start of the mvt there were a lot of pamphlets on various respirator combos one can get for withstanding teargas, like the one below from Aug. We've seen these reappear in recent days, a sign that HKers are prepared to walk into the fire & smoke once again.