[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The May 18 Democratic Movement Archives announced on the 10th that it will hold an academic conference to reexamine the works of painter Tomiyama Taeko at the May 18 Archives Multipurpose Auditorium on the morning of the 13th.
Under the theme "The Painter Crossing Boundaries: The Life and Art of Tomiyama Taeko," this academic conference was planned to highlight the artist's art activism that introduced the isolated Gwangju of 1980 to the world.
At the conference, the work "Prayer for the Fallen," created in 1980, will be screened for the first time in Korea.
This work, using Tomiyama Taeko's series of prints, had only been available in slide form and could not be screened until now. This year, it was produced on DVD in Japan and will be screened at this academic conference.
Professor Manabe Yuko of the University of Tokyo will present a paper titled "Who is Tomiyama Taeko," covering the artist's life and artistic world comprehensively.
Following this, researcher Seo Yuna from Ritsumeikan University will discuss "Gwangju and Korea through the Eyes of Tomiyama Taeko," covering the evolution of the artist's works and artistic world from 1970 to 1980.
Professor Imisuk of Rikkyo University will address "Tomiyama Taeko's Art Activism and Transnational Solidarity," focusing on the artist's works that publicized the May 18 movement globally and the art activism that fostered solidarity. Professor Jeong Geunsik of Seoul National University will discuss "Visual Representation of May 18 and Historical Community," exploring the artistic spirit and hopes for a peaceful community through the works of Tomiyama Taeko, Lee Ungno, and Hong Seongdam.
This event will be broadcast live online via the May 18 Archives website due to COVID-19.
Tomiyama Taeko created a series of prints including "Gwangju's Pieta" after seeing news related to the May 18 Democratic Movement in Japan in 1980.
"Gwangju's Pieta" depicts one mother laying her dead son on her lap, shedding tears, and another mother raising both arms and wailing, with the background rendered in red to leave a strong impression of the tragedy at that time.
Boonthan T. Verawongse, Secretary-General of the Human Rights and Development Foundation in Bangkok, Thailand, who once participated in an anti-Jeon Du-hwan demonstration, wore a T-shirt printed with "Gwangju's Pieta" during the protest and described it as a "simple yet powerful image that conveys the message clearly."
The artist's works have been produced as slide videos, posters, and films, exhibited and screened worldwide including in South America, greatly helping to publicize the May 18 movement globally.
Last year, Tomiyama Taeko donated six sketchbooks and scrapbooks of her works to the May 18 Democratic Movement Archives.
Jung Yonghwa, director of the May 18 Archives, said, "Through this academic conference, we hope to introduce Tomiyama Taeko's works and artistic world and once again create a platform where the May 18 Democratic Movement can communicate artistically with people around the world."
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