Many of us are strangers to the true extents of these women's lives, with only a vague understanding of the hardships they faced. "In the images of these grandmothers, we hope to see not just the remnants of painful histories but also the familiar-neighbors, family, or even reflections of ourselves."

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During the WWII, when Japan evoked the wars everywhere in the Asia-Pacific coasts, many women were abused for sexual slavery and violence by Japanese military. In 1996, I took my journey in Korea, China, the Philippines, Indonesia and East-Timor and met 140 survivors who were still present. From the remote areas of inland China to Indonesia, and up-country in the frontier of East-Timor, I could witness at glance the truth in living histories through my journey by airs, trains and walks. Survivors openly welcomed me as a stranger visited their villages, and expressed to me their tears and moans hidden in their minds for a long time.

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This painting is part of a series depicting the victims known as "comfort women," who suffered under the Japanese military. Created for the 2018 Gwangju Biennale, the work was expedited into the exhibition. The painting features women from 13 countries, each with her own ethnic and religious background.

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