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Email PageHalmuhnee: Portraits of Korean "Comfort Women"
April 21, 2007- May 26, 2007
Reception: April 21, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Jesse Chun
Heidi Cho Gallery
522 W 23rd StHeidi Cho Gallery is pleased to announce an exhibition of photography by Jesse Chun from April 21 - May 26, 2007. This collection of portraits offers the public an intimate view of eight of the euphemistically-named "Comfort Women" who live at the House of Sharing in Kyungkido, South Korea. In a series of intimate and abstract photographs Chun takes these women beyond the label of "victim" and successfully celebrates their beauty and strength.
"Halmuhnee," the Korean word for "grandmother," is a sadly ironic name for this exhibit, given that many of the surviving former sex slaves could not have children, but it was a personal choice for the photographer. After spending time at the House of Sharing with these women, apart from photography, they all became her grandmothers and she became the granddaughter many of them could never have.
In light of the recent reignited controversy of the women's testimonies and Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe's denial of any "forced" sexual slavery, Chun stresses the importance of noting that her photographs are not tools to be used place blame, but rather to educate those who were formerly unaware of the sexual enslavement these women endured.
Each photograph emanates wisdom, joy, friendship and absolutely lively essences that are rare in photos of these Comfort Women. Chun gives a moving portrayal of their wisdom and liveliness, characteristics atypical to usual historical photos of these women. If you look closely enough, she can bring out even the slightest smile from the seemingly grumpiest grandmother. Every wrinkle tells a different story.
Jesse Chun earned a BFA in Photography at Parsons School of Design. For more information about the artist, contact Esther Kim at 212.255.6783.
Books and DVDs related to artists in this show
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Heidi Cho Gallery was last updated: 2008-10-12
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