'the empty chair' by Maarten Baas

for Amnesty International

On invitation of Amnesty International, and in honor of the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, Maarten Baas has designed The Empty Chair.

Amnesty International invited Maarten Baas to design a piece to support their campaign against the increased suppression of writers, journalists, artists and activists.

In 2010 Liu Xiaobo was awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful battle for fundamental human rights. Liu Xiaobo could not accept the prize in person, because he was in jail serving a 11 year imprisonment for ‘undermining of the state’.

Therefore, The Empty Chair of Liu Xiaobo became a symbol for repression.

The Empty Chair, designed by Maarten Baas is about five meters tall and will be presented during the 50th anniversary of Amnesty International on May 28, 2011 in Pakhuis De Zwijger in Amsterdam.

The design of "The Empty Chair" will soon be available in the form of an exclusive pin.