Umbrella thumbnail 1
Umbrella thumbnail 2
Not on display

Umbrella

2014 (designed)
Place of origin
Hong Kong (silk screening)

Umbrella Movement protest umbrella, black umbrella painted in yellow with Chinese characters spelling out 'backing up' or 'Support' the umbrella has a large curved handle.

Object details

Categories
Rapid Response Collecting
Accessories
Politics
Object type
Umbrella
Materials and techniques
Nylon, aluminium frame, plastic
Polyester (Textile)
Aluminium Frame
Plastic
Brief description
Umbrella Movement protest umbrella, Hong Kong, 2014
Physical description
Umbrella Movement protest umbrella, black umbrella painted in yellow with Chinese characters spelling out 'backing up' or 'Support' the umbrella has a large curved handle.
Dimensions
  • Length: 845mm (Note: Closed)
  • Width: 392mm (Note: Closed)
  • Height: 69mm (Note: Closed)
  • Height: 725mm (Note: Open)
  • Width: 700mm (Note: Open)
  • Depth: 982mm (Note: Open)
Gallery label
Umbrella
2014

Made in China
Textile, metal and plastic
Museum no. CD.60-2014

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Painted Umbrella

This umbrella is painted with the Chinese character 撐 (caang) meaning ‘to support’ and ‘to endure/persevere’. It was painted by members of a pro-democracy group days after police fired tear gas at protesters in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014.

In late September tens of thousands of people occupied key areas of Hong Kong’s financial district to demand free and fair elections for the city’s chief executive in 2017. The Chinese government has declared the protests illegal stating that law and order must be maintained in the former British colony.

The protests have become known as ‘the umbrella revolution’ as those taking part have used umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain and tear gas. An online video made under the name ‘Hong Kong Umbrella Revolution’ has called on protesters to ‘hold an umbrella to support Hong Kong, support democracy, support freedom, support ourselves’.

Collection
Design, Architecture and Digital Department
Accession number
CD.61-2014

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Record createdJune 18, 2015
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1316232/umbrella/
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