Exhibition Censored in Daegu Continues in Gwangju, Commemorating October Uprising

An art exhibition in Gwangju is providing a platform for works that faced censorship in Daegu, offering a space to reflect on freedom of expression and the public role of art. The exhibition, "2026 Moonlight Solidarity Project: 80th Anniversary of the October Uprising - October is Coming," features a special section called 'Daegu Censorship, Gwangju Revival.' This section displays pieces that were removed from an exhibition at the Bongsan Culture Center in Daegu last year after authorities objected to a satirical artwork of President Yoon Suk-yeol.

The original Daegu exhibition, 'Art for Tomorrow: Daegu, Art, Responding with the Spirit of the Times,' was cut short when the Bongsan Culture Center closed one of its three exhibition halls due to the controversial artwork. Some artists then chose to remove their works in protest. The Gwangju exhibition now revives these pieces, including video art of a 50-day protest, installation works, and other visual art, allowing them to be seen by the public.

“

We are providing a space to publicly display works that were suspended due to censorship, offering a time to reconsider freedom of expression and the public role of art.

The Eunam Museum in Gwangju stated that the exhibition provides an opportunity to reconsider freedom of expression and the public role of art. It also serves as a preview for a larger '80th Anniversary of the October Uprising Commemorative Exhibition' planned for Daegu this fall, aiming to shed light on suppressed historical narratives.

The main exhibition, 'October is Coming,' includes works from over 40 artists across various South Korean cities, exploring the spirit of resistance embodied by the 1946 Daegu October Uprising. This historical event, a popular uprising against the US military government's failed rice price policy, is seen by the participating artists as a precursor to the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. The exhibition connects these historical struggles through diverse artistic interpretations, addressing themes from cobalt mine tragedies to environmental issues.

“

This also serves as a rehearsal exhibition, shedding light on hidden history, ahead of the '80th Anniversary of the October Uprising Commemorative Exhibition' to be held in Daegu this fall.