Inverness artist Frank To looks to draw on a global following to combat racism during the coronavirus pandemic
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Frank To, a resident art lecturer at Inverness College UHI with a worldwide reputation, is calling out racism seemingly fuelled by the coronavius pandemic.
Known for creating imaginative, abstract works Mr To's fans include Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart and earlier this year the 38-year-old became the first Scottish artist to be inducted into all five UK royal academies in one year.
Since Covid-19 forced dramatic lockdown measures, however, he has grown increasingly angry about an upswell in anti-Chinese sentiment, the virus having seemingly originated in that country.
There have been increases in verbal and physical abuse aimed at people of Oriental appearance, manifesting in assaults, bullying and a downturn in trade for businesses.
Mr To believes it is his duty to speak out against misinformation and abuse.
A social media post in which he attacked the UK Government for failing to condemn those incidents was shared more than 20,000 times and viewed tens of thousands of times more.
But while it drew huge positive backing, there was also a backlash from a vocal minority – including racist insults and a jibe about dropping a nuclear bomb on China.
“Even though I do class myself as Scottish, my ethnic heritage is Hong Kong Chinese,” Mr To explained. “I’d been hearing stories online, especially in America and Australia, where anyone who looks remotely Oriental was getting severe abuse. It really hit home when I heard there had been all these attacks on people in England. I felt I had to do something about it.
“I experienced some racism and bullying as a child growing up in Glasgow in the 1980s and 1990s. I feel very strongly about it.
“Coronavirus is a major issue, and I understand misgivings about some elements of Chinese culture, but people are not a virus. It is no excuse for a lack of human decency.”
Mr To contrasts the UK Government’s lack of response with the Scottish Government’s early statement on zero-tolerance for racist incidents.
Mr To said friends in London had suffered taunts, while he himself was called “Corona” by one Glaswegian. His mother’s takeaway business in Glasgow has been hit by a sharp downturn.
“I’m trying to get the British government to address it and I’ve asked all my followers and their friends to speak out,” he added.
