"Gwangju - City of Light" @ 5.18 Archives, Gwangju, South Korea May 17 to June 15 2018

“Gwangju – City of Light” 

@5.18 Archives

Gwangju, South Korea

May 17 to 23 – The first installation

May 24 to 30 – The second addition

May 31^st to June 15^th – The official exhibition dates *

June 7^th – The 159^th Meudonsan Sound of a Wind bell concert by the pianist Sang Rog Lee and his friends. I am doing a live painting during a part of session.

*Upon a request from 5.18 Archives that offered the space for the exhibition,

A part of works including a new video was installed for May 17^th and 18^th Gwangju uprising memorial day ahead of the actual exhibition dates. On May 24^th, a few works were added. 

June 7^th There will be a concert by the pianist Sang Rog Lee and his friends. I am doing a live painting during a part of session.

5.18.1980 is the significant number for Korean people.

May 18 1980 is the day that triggered a massive democratic uprising by students and civilians in Gwangju, which caused brutal massacre by the dictator government's army force. 

The content of the both exhibitions in Korea include a new art video 'City of Light', new and old drawings and mixed media installation works. I was fortunate to have 4 young artists to compose the video and a brilliant Korean pianist Sang Rog Lee for background music. The project started in September 2018 in Vancouver and the final recording of music composed and played by Mr.Lee was done at Bohemian Studio, Gwangju and finally edited by Myoung Jin Choi and Jung Yun Hwang one day before the partial opening of the exhibition on May 17th. 

Works that I exhibited at the exhibition in Taichung city, which reflect my learning experience about Taiwan's political social tragedies and struggle for democracy, will be on view.

It is a long story how I reached to Taiwan and Korea almost around time is a long story.  The only thing I can say is everything is a result of connections through  

empathetic contemplations on human rights, freedom and meaning of life.

Much gratitude goes to:

All dear friends in Vancouver who helped me with these projects.

Tsung Li Yang and his stuff/volunteers for bringing me to  Taichung city, Taiwan for the exhibition and a residency.

Myoung Jae Lee and his friends for their hard work to put the exhibition together in Cheonan.

AHHA Gallery director Myoung Jin Choi, and the dear AHHA Gallery family in Gwangju.

Seoul Family, Jin Yonju and Cho Yoonjoon

My travel guardian, Tanuko.

Report : "1980518 - Across the Border" in Cheonan, South Korea May 12th to May 23th 2019

“1980518 Across the Border”

@In the Gallery

Cheonan, South Korea

May 13 to May 23

Artist talk May 16 7pm

Report: "Eyes in the Sky" in Taichung City, Taiwan March 17th to April 7 2019

Taichung, Taiwan

“Eyes in the Sky”

@台中市中区再生基地DRF Goodot Village

March 17^th to April 7^th 2019

Artist talk: April 5  7:30 pm

Remember Lobsang Tsultrim March 19 2012

For Lobsang Tsultrim, 20 years old monk from Kirti Monastery, who self immolated in Ngaba, Amdo, Tibet on March 19 2012.

According to the Kirti monks in exile, he marched down the main road of the country town and shouting slogans and as he walked on from the site of his self immolation, armed police personnel came running to interrupt him.  He turned and ran back in the other direction, continuing to shout.
He was then knocked to the ground and held by police officers.
Despite, he kept raising his arms and shouting slogans.

Lobsang passed away in custody and only a portion of his ashes was returned to his family.

He was a relative of Norbu Damdrul, a former Kirti monk who died after self immolating on October 15 2011 and became the 13th current or former monk from Kirti Monastery to carry out the protest.

https://www.savetibet.org/kirti-monk-who-self-immolated-on-march-16-dies-in-custody-18-year-old-monk-dies-on-march-10-in-self-immolation-protest/

Love - Life / India - Tibet - Gwangju

It started in India, longing for Tibetan Plateau through the Himalayan mountains and Indus river.

One human's humble drawings made from her heart-wrenching reactions since 2012 have travelled afar since.

Through threads of many hands and empathetic hearts of 

then-unknown-now-close friends.

In same way,  drawings reached Gwangju, Korea in 2018.

A place that  witnessed an unforgettable moment of students and civilians arising 

for democratic freedom in 1980.

A seed in my heart was planted there during the first visit and now it has rooted, growing like a tree.

The monumental pagoda tree* and Jeonil building* in Gwangju, Korea

both are witnesses of Gwangju Uprising.

Love Life - Live 

* The pagoda tree was blown to ground by typhoon in August 2012, however, it is still remembered as a symbol of the protest by many civilians. 

*Jeonil Building has 170 bullet marks left from the military helicopter attack to civilians in May 1980 ( Information given by Myoung Jin Choi, Director of AHHA Gallery, Gwangju, Korea)

Tashi Delek 2019

この世界の片隅まで　光がそそぎますように。

May light permeate to the every dark corner of the world.

For Drugkho December 8 2018

For Drugkho, a Tibetan man in his 20s, who self immolated on December 8 2018 in Ngaba, Amdo, Tibet.

He set himself on fire while shouting slogans calling for the long life of the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.

https://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/immolation-protest-12092018132333.html ( English)

http://blog.livedoor.jp/rftibet/archives/51903694.html?fbclid=IwAR3DD9kDxvUlu7VI0zPavbSiyD9pgX03Vn63Y4xGvQaNUI4SOGysilpcko ( Japanese)

For Dhorbo November 4 2018

For Dhorbo, 23 years old, who self immolated on November 4 in Ngaba town, Amdo, Tibet.

It is reported that  he called out the slogans,  "May Gyalwa Rinpoche return to Tibet", "Freedom to Tibet", then put himself on fire.

He lived with his uncle as a nomad after his mother passed away 6 years ago.



https://www.voatibetan.com/a/4646741.html?fbclid=IwAR2aBXcKgapRlZr7Thw0wDkG47hMZil1zbIF5MKEAjZwFzDaT1YOROLbcRE
( Tibetan)
http://blog.livedoor.jp/rftibet/archives/51902641.html?fbclid=IwAR3l8TlVVdoGF5nkNnVD4BFY2wdtdDSGRJvaXLbEIQqOzdGe5v2wTsA_9DI
( Japanese)

Art For Tibet www.artfortibet.org

Remember Jamyang Palden March 14 2012

For Jamyang Palden, who self immolated on March 14, 2012 in Rongwo Town, Rebkong, Amdo,
Tibet.

Jamyang, a monk from Rongpo Monastery in his late 30s, left the morning prayer session around 10 am and headed to Dolma ( Tara) Square in front of the main temple.  He offered a prostration three times towards the direction of the main temple.  Then he raised slogans 'May Gyalwa Rinpoche come back to Phayul  and may Tibetans and our language be always protected' to set up himself on fire.

The local people who were there to prostrate tried to extinguish the flame, however, he was badly burnt. 

He was admitted to the hospital then brought back to the monastery by monks, who feared his body may be taken by the authority.  A doctor was called in to give treatments.*

Monks and local people gathered at the site of his protest to offer prayers and to show the solidarity by raising slogans. 

Jamyang's self immolation protest has also likely triggered  a peaceful protest by around 700 students in the area for protection of Tibetan language and equanimity for Tibetans.

March 14 was the four year anniversary of a major protest that happened in Lhasa in 2008.  It is said hundreds of people were killed.


* I could not find the exact date but Kusho Jamyang passed away after one year.

http://lung-ta.org/51735031-2/　（Japanese)
https://freetibet.org/news-media/na/self-immolation-sparks-protest ( English)