11 November 2017

"Passage to Pusan" tells heartwarming post-war tale, on display at ANU

| Ruwendi Wakwella
"Passage to Pusan" exhibition will be on display from 9 - 17 November at Hedley Bull atrium, ANU

“Passage to Pusan” exhibition will be on display from 9 – 17 November at Hedley Bull atrium, ANU.

In the midst of war, we hear incredible stories of personal loss, resilience, and the enduring human spirit. The exhibition at the Hedley Bull building of the Australian National University tells us of one such story.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Korean Cultural Centre and the Korea Institute of the Australian National University will be co-hosting the specially-curated exhibition “Passage to Pusan: the journey bridging the relationship between two families” at Hedley Bull Atrium of the ANU from the 9 November to 17 November 2017.

The exhibition “Passage to Pusan” is based on a book of the same name by Australian journalist Louise Evans.

The book tells the story of bereaved Australian mother Thelma Healy who makes an epic 15,000km sole journey to Korea in 1961 to find the grave of her son, Vincent Healy, who died fighting in the Korean War.

The exhibition is the third one in Australia following the previously successful exhibitions in Sydney and Sandgate.

The exhibition transfers Thelma’s travel diary, family photographs, and intimate letters onto six installations, revealing her pilgrimage and an enduring friendship forged by mutual loss, grief, and gratitude with a Korean War widow Kim Chang Keun and her family.

The exhibition will also feature specially created ceramic boats showcasing the connection between people, time and place. The diverse visual layers of the story will be displayed here, which allow us to take a deep look into emotional ties such as family love, motherhood and friendship.

From 1950 to 1953, 340 Australian soldiers sacrificed their noble lives in the Korean War. Providing a glimpse into one family’s story, this exhibition will be an opportunity to look back and appreciate their sacrifices.

The documentary film “Passage to Pusan” was released at the Korean Film Festival in Australia from August to September this year and will also be screened at the Australian National University on two days: the first screening on 9 November from 3.30 – 5 pm at the Coombs Theatre ANU, and the second screening on 13 November from 4 – 5.30 pm at the Coombs Extension, ANU (near Coombs Theatre). The first screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Author Louise Evans.

See the trailer for the documentary:

See an audience review of the documentary:

“Passage to Pusan” is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia-Korea Foundation, which is part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Admission to the exhibition is free.

For more information, please visit their Facebook event page.

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