hankyoreh

June 26. (by Jang Joon-hee)

By Jung Nam-ku, Tokyo correspondent

Japanese-Korean photographer Ahn Se-hong’s exhibition “Layer upon Layer: Comfort Women in China” opened at Shinjuku Nikon Salon in Tokyo on June 26, after a series of ups and downs. The exhibition has emerged in too battered a form, however, to achieve its original aim of providing “a space for serious reflection on the comfort women issue.” Tightened security at the gallery meant that visitors’ bags were searched before entrance, while Japanese right-wingers held a demonstration outside.

For some time, the exhibition had appeared doomed after Nikon suddenly cancelled it on May 22. Japanese civic groups had pressured the company to pull their support for an exhibition of material that many Japanese are uncomfortable with. Ahn, however, refused to give up and filed an injunction with the Tokyo District Court in which he demanded to be allowed to use the exhibition space as planned.

The claim was successful and Ahn is now presenting the first exhibition of photographs of elderly former comfort women by a Korean artist in Tokyo. The exhibit‘s title, “Layer upon Layer,” refers both to the physical wrinkles on the faces of the elderly women and the sorrow they carry inside.

Nikon Salon, which originally provided the space to Ahn following a public contest, hasn’t been cooperative, emphasizing that it is holding the exhibition against its wishes. It has put up no introduction to Ahn or his photographs on its website, instead only posting a message that it has “Merely allowed private use [of the gallery].”

The company has prohibited the taking of photographs and interviews with Ahn in the exhibition space, and banned the distribution of pamphlets. One Japanese visitor hurried out of the exhibition, saying, “I feel too uncomfortable to stay here any longer.”

Around 10 people, presumably right-wingers, held a protest against the exhibition from 10am for around two hours on June 26 outside Tokyo Eru Tower in Shinjuku, where the gallery is located. They held placards and Japanese flags and shouting slogans and speeches through megaphones. The protesters insisted that the former Japanese military comfort women were not forcibly abducted, but were prostitutes who acted voluntarily.

“I hope that lots of people will see the photos, whatever their views may be,” said Ahn. “The situation is a bad one in various ways, but I hope the exhibition goes well.”