Rachael Choi

Rachael Choi

'Hwang So-gun Comfort Woman b.1918'

Textiles and Fibre Machine Embroidery

14 Pieces

For my work, I chose to utilise machine embroidery as a drawing medium on calico fabric for its aesthetic and its significance as comfort women were forced to do house chores during the day, including sewing and doing laundry with no compensation. I have chosen to alter images, taking inspiration from photographs that were taken during 1932-1945 and Hwang So-gun’s testimony and other comfort women’s in my artworks to ensure I authentically convey the dehumanising experiences of sexual slavery in the Imperial Japanese Army. By having a large array of text pieces and imagery, I hope to convey the story of one comfort woman (Hwang So-gun) and therefore, bring awareness to the horrifying history of comfort women as her story represents the thousands of women who suffered from this regime.

Through my artworks, I wish to portray the notion of the comfort women’s mental, physical and emotional oppression experienced during World War II, highlighting their isolating and traumatic experiences through Hwang So-gun. Through the use of the contrasting colours of black and red, I wish to portray her overwhelming loneliness and isolation experienced, even in large groups by highlighting her character and text in red thread. Another major theme throughout my artwork is the loss of identity, in the literal, emotional and mental sense, representing the metaphorical unravelling of identity through some abstract works and loose threads to symbolise their “unravelling.” Hence, the continuous thread throughout the series ultimately connects the artworks, signifying the women’s shared experience, allowing flow and connection throughout the pieces.

My influencing artists are: Adam Riches, Lauren Dicioccio, Raija Jokinen