Sharing through art

Artists from here and abroad are to display works inspired by the House of Sharing in December.

The Multi-Media Art Exhibition will center on themes of sexual slavery, human trafficking, and violence towards women.

The “Liberating Herstories” exhibition will also feature paintings by former “comfort women,” who have used art as a form of therapy to exorcise the pain of their past experiences, such as a painting entitled “Punish the Responsible” by survivor Kang Duk-gyeong, which calls for vindication for crimes committed by the Japanese military.

Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to attend film screenings and workshops addressing the issues of sexual slavery, human trafficking, rape, warfare and violence toward women.

“This is an opportunity for both the Korean and international communities to further engage with the ‘comfort women’ issue and to support the continuing fight for justice,” Fielding Hong, a member of The House of Sharing International Outreach Team, said.

“The gravity of the survivors’ experiences as well as their continued fight for justice are not often easy to capture and respond to in simple words. Art can provide multiple channels through which to express not only the personal narratives of the survivors and emotional responses of those hearing them, but also form expressions of protest against these horrific crimes.”

He said the exhibition would spread awareness and give new audiences the chance to learn about the grandmothers’ struggle for justice, as well as allow artists to connect with the issue in creative new ways.

The exhibition will also raise money directly for the grandmothers living at the House of Sharing and funds for the HOS International Outreach Team’s tours and events.

The team is still seeking submissions from artists and performers to take part in the exhibition, and will lead a special tour to the House of Sharing for artists interested in participating.

The exhibition will open at 7 p.m. on Saturday Dec. 10 at Cafe Anthracite near Sangsu Subway Station Exit 4 and will run until Dec. 16.

For more information contact sharinghouse.art@gmail.com