Art exhibition marks 70 year since Korean war began, and aims to foster hope, humanity and understanding
- Exhibition showcases works by Korean and international artists in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Korean war
- Titled ‘Unflattening’, it features art by China’s Ai Weiwei among others, and will run until September 20 in Seoul
By Kwon Mee-yoo
While the propaganda leaflets flying across the border between North and South Korea have sparked unexpected tensions between the two countries, a handful of blue leaflets appeared at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) in Seoul as part of the “Unflattening” exhibition in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean war.
The postcard-sized leaflet is titled “Safe Conduct Pass” and says “War is not over just yet. Keep yourself safe with this document and follow the instructions. See, read, keep this document and show this to as many people as possible.”
Also written is “Do the following to anyone in possession of this document: Make them breathe, do not discriminate against them, maintain a social distance from them, and respect them.”
Safe Conduct Pass by Documents Inc. is an artistic rendition of the ideological promotional leaflets sent between the two Koreas during the Korean war and until now. Curator Yi Soo-jung says the phrases on the card are inspired by actual leaflets distributed during the Korean war.