The May 1991 struggle is a two-month democratization struggle that began with the death of Kang Kyung-dae, who was killed by a police iron pipe on April 26, and ended a demonstration of Myeongdong Cathedral on June 29. Thirteen lives were sacrificed during this period, and 2,361 rallies were held nationwide. After the June Uprising in 1987, Korean society was soaked in a sense of accomplishment that democracy was achieved, and wanted to return to a peaceful daily life. However, due to the division of the opposition party, military dictators took over the government again and used state violence to crush democratic forces. The students and the people resisted with their whole bodies. Suicide is the last gesture of resistance that the powerless can choose. The state’s violence and atmosphere of the times have driven them to an extreme situation of suicide.
Everyday Practice carried out the work of summoning the memories of spring 1991 with the image of “unforgetable faces,” which holds traces of hard-to-heal scars. Although it is a memory of May that left a huge scar on the individual, we expressed the memory of that day, which was the seed of democracy, in hopeful form and color.
The 7th Unforgettable Faces&will be held from February 21st to December 31st at the Lee Han-yeol Memorial Hall’s special exhibition room.