2021 “Embodying Justice” Exhibition at Awakenings
KAN-WIN is collaborating with Awakenings to organize an exhibit for summer 2021 featuring reproductions of “comfort women” survivor artwork and the resin replica of the Sonyeosang. Awakenings is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a physical and virtual artistic space in which to engage in an open dialogue that furthers awareness and understanding of sexual violence and promotes healing of survivors through the arts.
Embodying Justice’s mission is to showcase the power of survivors’ storytelling through art to instigate social and political change. We seek to promote awareness of the ongoing activism of survivors of Japanese military sexual slavery, who were euphemistically called “comfort women,” before and during WWII. Through art, we seek to spark discussion about connections to contemporary sexual violence in relation to state violence. Inspired by the women using art as a living testimony, we envision creating a local movement in solidarity with global activism.
2021 Art of remembrance
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On July 24, 2021, KAN-WIN, Professor Elizabeth Son of Northwestern University, Awakenings and HANA Center organized The Art of Remembrance, a mixed media event featuring Asian American dance, storytelling, drumming, and visual art honoring the “comfort women” survivors. Inspired by the women, this event was part of the legacy of art for remembrance and justice. It honored the memory of survivors and celebrated the power of art to instigate social and political change. Thus, it extended the vision of the art exhibit Embodying Justice. This event presented the artistic work by visual artist Raeleen Kao, dancer and choreographer Peggy Choy, storyteller Ada Cheng, and Woori Sori (Our Voice). |
2020 Awakenings Magazine
2018 "Truth, Justice, and Remembering 'Comfort Women'" Exhibition
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On September 10-11, 2018, KAN-WIN, the Korean Student Association at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan jointly organized an exhibition of photographs and videos of “comfort women” survivors’ stories and their fight for justice. In addition, a workshop was held with a lecture by Yoon Mee-Hyang, the then-Representative of the Korean Council and performance art by Lariel Joy. |
2000 “Quest for Justice: The Story of Korean ‘Comfort Women’ As Told Through Their Art”
KAN-WIN organized the art exhibition “Quest for Justice: The Story of Korean ‘Comfort Women’ As Told Through Their Art” on September 22, 2000 at the Daley Center. The artwork was created by Grandmother Kim Soon Duk during art therapy sessions at the House of Sharing in Korea. Kim and the founder of the House of Sharing, Buddhist monk Hyejin, brought the art to Chicago to share the stories of “comfort women” survivors and educate others about the history of Japanese military sexual slavery. The opening ceremony for the exhibition included Grandma Kim’s testimony of her experience and explanation of the significance and meaning behind her paintings. Monk Hyejin also discussed the lawsuit filed by 11 “comfort women” survivors against the Japanese government.
