'Comfort women' stories through pencil arts are on display
- 6 years ago
This year, South Korea designated August 14th as a memorial day for the victims of Japan's horrific wartime system of sex slavery.
For the month of October, a powerful art exhibition is being held in Seoul.
Our Lee Min-sun went to check it out and filed this report.
A local artist put together over 100 pencil drawings which resulted from the stories told by four victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery, also known as comfort women.
The Seoul government and the Northeast Asian History Foundation jointly opened an art drawing exhibition titled ‘Comfort Women Stories Through Arts’ in the basement of Seoul's Citizens Hall in the center of the capital city.
“Because they haven’t spoken or expressed their pain publicly, they had difficulties trying to express themselves through drawing. But soon after, they initiated talks and drew what they experienced without my instructions.”
Through these one hundred and thirty pieces of drawings, the artist hopes that viewers will come to understand comfort women's courage in trying to heal from the war atrocities.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said that these efforts to remember tragic history are important as they help to prevent the same pain from happening ever again.
Some of the drawings depict the moment the victims were taken away from their families as teenagers, and how they were violated by Japanese soldiers.
“My parents taught me a lot about comfort women but seeing the drawings myself gives me more to think about. I hope Japan apologizes before all the comfort women pass away."
After looking at the art, visitors can write messages of hope and support for the victims and hang them on a tree to make it seem like it is blossoming.
This pencil drawing arts portraying stories of comfort women will be on display till end of October and is open to the public for free.
Lee Min Sun, Arirang News.
For the month of October, a powerful art exhibition is being held in Seoul.
Our Lee Min-sun went to check it out and filed this report.
A local artist put together over 100 pencil drawings which resulted from the stories told by four victims of Japan's wartime sex slavery, also known as comfort women.
The Seoul government and the Northeast Asian History Foundation jointly opened an art drawing exhibition titled ‘Comfort Women Stories Through Arts’ in the basement of Seoul's Citizens Hall in the center of the capital city.
“Because they haven’t spoken or expressed their pain publicly, they had difficulties trying to express themselves through drawing. But soon after, they initiated talks and drew what they experienced without my instructions.”
Through these one hundred and thirty pieces of drawings, the artist hopes that viewers will come to understand comfort women's courage in trying to heal from the war atrocities.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said that these efforts to remember tragic history are important as they help to prevent the same pain from happening ever again.
Some of the drawings depict the moment the victims were taken away from their families as teenagers, and how they were violated by Japanese soldiers.
“My parents taught me a lot about comfort women but seeing the drawings myself gives me more to think about. I hope Japan apologizes before all the comfort women pass away."
After looking at the art, visitors can write messages of hope and support for the victims and hang them on a tree to make it seem like it is blossoming.
This pencil drawing arts portraying stories of comfort women will be on display till end of October and is open to the public for free.
Lee Min Sun, Arirang News.