한풀이: Liberating Herstories

Over the years we have noticed that a number of our visitors have documented their experience of visiting the House of Sharing through such mediums as photography, painting, poetry, essays, stories and music to reflect their emotions and their respect for the survivors. 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. We believe that art, in all its myriad forms, can provide multiple channels through which to express not only the personal narratives of the survivors and emotional responses of those hearing these, but also form expressions of protest against these horrific crimes. We hope that art can be a vehicle that will inform and educate as well as stimulate people into taking action in support of this cause. If you would like to show your support for the House of Sharing, please join us Dec. 10-16 at Cafe Anthracite for an art exhibition, featuring works made by the halmonis themselves as well as by artists from around the world. Follow the blog for more information and updates or visit our Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=258509807520922.

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The House of Sharing's International Outreach Team is organizing a multi-media art exhibition dealing with issues of sexual slavery, human trafficking, and violence and oppression against women. The exhibition will take place from December 10th (Sat) to the 16th (Fri) at Cafe Anthracite (near Sangsu station, line 6). 나눔의 집 국제활동팀은 12월 10일 (토) ~ 16일 (금) 까지 갤러리카페 앤트러사이트 (지하철 6호선 상수역)에서 성 노예, 인신 매매 그리고 여성을 향한 폭력과 억압에 관한 이슈들을 주제로 한 멀티미디어 예술작품 전시회를 개최합니다. We will be exhibiting works made by the grandmothers themselves as well as works from artists around the world. We have acoustic performances at opening/closing night and after 1,000th Wednesday Protest. We also have a film screening and workshops throughout the week as well. (Please refer to the attached poster and program schedule) 본 전시회에서는 "위안부" 생존자 할머니들께서 직접 그리신 작품들 뿐만 아니라 전 세계 각지에서 온 다양한 작가들의 작품들이 전시되고 개막행사, 12월 14일 1,000번째 수요시위 후, 폐막행사에는 어쿠스틱 공연들도 있습니다. 전시회 주간 내내 다큐멘터리 영화 상영과 워크샵도 진행됩니다. (첨부된 포스터와 프로그램 스케줄 참조) 60년이 넘도록 멈추지 않는 생존자 할머니들의 정의를 위한 투쟁에 함께할 수 있도록 많은 관심과 참여바랍니다.

*Cafe Anthracite opening hours: 11am-12am *카페 앤트러사이트 운영시간: 11am-12am

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/181888128565648/

Email: [email protected]

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Why 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence?

According to the Rutgers Center for Women's Global Leadership,

"The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates November 25- International Day Against Violence Against Women- and December 10- International Human Rights Day- in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre."

This year's theme, "From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!", is particularly relevant to the work of the House of Sharing. The Rape of Nanking, a six-week period in which hundreds of thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians alike were tortured, raped, and brutally murdered by the invading Japanese army, led to the creation of the "comfort women" stations in which hundreds of thousands more women from throughout Asia would be forced into sexual slavery during WWII. Despite layers of international law created in subsequent years, designed to ensure justice and protection of victims of war crimes, including women and children, neither victims or survivors of the "comfort women" system have received any form of justice, let alone recognition, by Japan of the atrocities committed against them.

 For the past twenty years, the halmonis brave enough to come forward as survivors have been testifying against Japan, protesting their blatant refusal to right the wrongs they committed. Wednesday, December 14th marks their 1000th and last protest. If you are living in Korea, please visit Rutger's Campaign Calender page for ways that you can stand in solidarity with these brave women. Even if you do not live in Korea, the Korean Council for the Women Drafted for the Military Sexual Slavery by Japan has created a kit that can be utilized for holding solidarity protests. 

We hope you will join us, the halmonis, and the countless women around the world standing up against violence. 

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Check out the campaign calender for ways that you can get involved where you live.

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Join us this Sunday, December 4th at 2 pm at the Cultural Center of Jogeysa Temple for a free screening of "63 Years On". There will be a Q&A to follow.

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Steven Cavallo

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Greg Laychak, a documentary photographer originally from Canada, will be displaying Fading Voices, "a photographic project exploring the present day lives of former sex slaves living in Daegu area", at Liberating Herstories. Visit Greg's website and join us as we support the women for whom this exhibition has been dedicated.

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The House of Sharing International Outreach Team will be featuring a multimedia art exhibition, showcasing pieces created by the halmonis as well as other international artists at Cafe Anthracite from December 10-16. Home to amazing coffee, and an equally amazing interior, Cafe Anthracite is located near Sangsu Station, in Seoul (see map for directions).

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Seo Hyun-ju's opinion article in The Korea Times briefly outlines the unresolved issues between the Japanese government and the former "comfort women". Namely, the article describes Japan's silence in recording the system in its history books and its refusal to offer an official apology or compensation. These are three of the seven demands (see below) that has brought the survivors before the Japanese Embassy every Wednesday for the last 20 years. Their 1000th protest will be on Wednesday, December 14th. Please come out to support these brave women and don't forget to swing by Cafe Anthracite where the House of Sharing International Outreach Team will be hosting a week-long multimedia art exhibition.

Seven Demands:

1. That the Japanese government admits to the compulsory drafting of Korean women as military sexual slavery by Japan. 

2. That an official apology be made for this. 

3. That all the atrocities be fully disclosed.

4. That a memorial be built for the victims.

5. That the survivors or their bereaved families be compensated.

6. That the facts and truths about Japan's military sexual slavery be taught in their history classes so that such inhumanities are not repeated.

7. Punish the responsible.

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Bae Choonhui Halmoni. DOB 1923. Resident at the House of Sharing. 

Bio

by Clare Michelle Photography. 

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What is the House of Sharing?

During the Asian-Pacific War (1932-1945), the Japanese government forcibly "recruited" between 50,000-200,000 women throughout Asia into a form of sexual slavery, known as the "comfort women" system. About 80-90% of those taken were Korean.

Far from comfortable, the women were forced to live in anything from trucks stationed along the front lines to nondescript buildings in occupied cities. Raped by about ten to thirty men a day, the women also endured beatings and torture, starvation, forced abortions, and inhumane treatment for infections. They were forced to change their names, often to the names of Japanese flowers and punished if caught speaking their native languages. 

A large percentage did not survive to the end of the war, many executed in an attempt to cover the atrocities committed against them. Of those who did, few were able to return to their homes, many were ostracized by their communities, and all have had to live with the intense shame of what was forced upon them. In the time since, the survivors of the comfort women system have received no official apology from the Japanese government and no compensation or retribution. Furthermore, there has been little mention in the history books of the crimes committed against them, much less any attempt made to punish those responsible.

The House of Sharing was opened in 1992 by the Buddhist Human Rights Commission. Functioning as both a museum and a home to former "comfort women" (known respectfully as "halmoni", the Korean word for "grandmother), the house serves as a center for education and restoration. For more information on the House of Sharing, please visit www.houseofsharing.org or www.nanum.org. For visitors and residents of Korea, you can find out about tours to the House of Sharing as well as other events hosted by the International Outreach Team by joining the House of Sharing Facebook group. 

The halmonis have used art, such as the paintings featured, as a medium to describe their experiences. Their work now hangs in the museum and will be displayed at the House of Sharing's Art Exhibition, along with the work of other international artists. If you would like to submit a piece centering around the theme of sexual slavery, human trafficking, rape and war, the comfort women, or any other related issue, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Continue following for more information on the House of Sharing, the upcoming 1000th protest, and the art exhibit. 

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Steven Cavallo to be featured at Liberating Herstories

Steven Cavallo, the artist behind the comfort women memorial at Palisades Park, NJ will be featuring his pieces at the House of Sharing's Art Exhibition, Liberating Herstories. Check out Cavallo's site and learn more about how he is using his watercolors and the subject of "playing war" to depict the experiences of the "comfort women". 

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"Punish the Responsible" by 강덕경 (Kang Duk-Gyeong) Halmoni.

Since the end of the Asian-Pacific War, the Japanese government has refused to take responsibility for creating the "comfort women" system, which enslaved, murdered, raped, and abused hundreds of thousands of women from Korea and other Asian countries. Kang Duk-Gyeong's painting reflects the survivors' wish for the Japanese government to not only extend an apology, but to pay retribution and be held responsible for its crimes. Despite the grim execution scene, the dove's nest, with its six eggs, is offered as a symbol of hope.

This painting is one of many examples of art that has been produced by the halmonis, reflecting on the haunted memories of their pasts. Using art to retell their stories and describe their feelings has served as a means of educating visitors as well as, and most importantly, finding a sense of inner healing. 

If you have been inspired to use art as a medium to share your thoughts on the "comfort women" issue, human trafficking, sexual slavery, gender violence, rape, war or peace, and would like to have your work featured in our upcoming art exhibition, please contact [email protected] or visit our Facebook event page.

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Article in the Korea Herald about our upcoming multimedia art exhibition. We are still seeking artists to feature! Check out the article and our FB invite page for more information on how you can get involved! 

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An article in the Korea Herald, outlining the experiences of the halmonis, their fight for justice, and how you can join them in solidarity as they prepare for their 1000th and last protest. 

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