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Chinese dissident artist Gao Zhen, renowned for his satirical sculptures of Mao Zedong, has been tried in China on charges of 'defaming national heroes and martyrs'. His wife and a human rights group reported the trial.Gao, 69, was detained in 2024 during a visit to China from the US. He faces a maximum three-year prison sentence. The trial took place behind closed doors in Hebei province and ended without a verdict.Gao is known for his sculptures criticizing the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution, a period of social turmoil and political persecution in China. His works include 'Miss Mao', featuring Mao with a Pinocchio nose and breasts, and 'Mao's Guilt', a bronze statue of Mao kneeling remorsefully.Gao's wife, Zhao Yaliang, and their seven-year-old son, a US citizen, are under exit bans and cannot leave China. Gao suffers from malnutrition and various health conditions, including lumbar spine disease and chronic knee and eye conditions.The trial highlights China's strict control over artistic expression and its efforts to suppress dissent. EU diplomats attempted to attend the trial but were blocked from entering the court.