Aichi Triennale 2019 Reopens Censored Section After 60,000 Signatures

The Aichi Triennale 2019, themed 'Jō no jidai: Taming Y/Our Passion,' included a part called 'After Freedom of Expression?' Unfortunately, this section had to close after only three days in August 2019 due to threats from far-right groups against the display of the 'Statue of Peace' by Kim Seo-kyung and Kim Eun-sung, which depicts comfort women. In a show of solidarity, 87 out of 90 participating artists condemned this political interference. On September 30, 2019, it was announced that the section would reopen after a petition received over 60,000 signatures in under a day. Despite the Japanese government withdrawing state funds on September 26, the section is set to run from October 8 to 14, 2019. Artistic director Daisuke Tsuda emphasized the value of 'jō' (emotion, information, empathy), and the artists expressed their aim to foster solidarity through art.