Art Sonje Center presents, as its second Lounge Project of 2014, the Therapeutic Photography Exhibition – The Recovery of Memories organized by Gwangju Trauma Center. This exhibition hosts the works of nine men that took part in the May 18 Democratic Movement of Gwangju. These men of national merit have taken on photography as a means of therapy. Photography therapy is one of Gwangju Trauma Center’s programs that seeks to help the men of national merit, deeply hurt by the May 18 Democratic Movement, to visit, face, and take pictures of the places of pain and heal their scars.

Gwangu Trauma Center
Situated in Gwangju, Gwangju Trauma Center is a healing center for survivors of state violence and torture, including those of the May 18 Democratic Movement of Gwangju. Trauma (posttraumatic stress disorder) is a mental disorder that follows a physical or psychological stress such as war, torture, state violence, or being victim of accident or crime. Founded by the government and Gwangju city as the first public institution to specialize in psychological wounds, Gwangju Trauma Center aims to heal, with its team of approximately a dozen nurses and psychotherapists, the scars of the May 18 Democratic Movement survivors and their families.

+ Artsonje Lounge Project

Meeting its sixth year since inauguration, Artsonje Lounge Project has sought communication with the public through unconventional artistic endeavors. The Lounge Project invites artists every year to intervene into the public space of the Lounge. In 2014, Artsonje Center has decided, after much contemplating on the role of museum, to expand the education and project space into the former commercial space of cafe and restaurant. It is under such context that theArtsonje Space Project was initiated to transform various architectural aspects of the museum, and Choon Choi’s Exit Strategy is currently being presented as the very first Space Project. Also, in the newly furnished education rooms, workshops, talks, and screening programs are to be held to support better communication among artists, curators, critics, and the public.