East Sea (of Japan)

digital - 7.5"X13" - 2008

The intent of this piece was to depict South Korea and Japan's naming dispute over the Sea of Japan. While this issue is the cornerstone of the concept here, I also wanted to allude to an older and far more complex tension between the two countries.

"The sea became widely known as the Sea of Japan during Japan's colonisation of the Korean peninsula between 1910 and its defeat in World War II in 1945.
South Korea says it has been called the East Sea for centuries.
The two nations also lay claim to islands in the sea - called Dokdo in South Korea and Takeshima in pan - which sit in rich fishing grounds.
Mr Roh [former Prime Minister of South Korea] has been a frequent critic of Japan over its wartime past, accusing Tokyo of failing to repent fully for its colonial conduct. "
-BBC

I was immediately struck by the dynamic physical relationship between the two land masses. I also wanted to culturally separate the two by showing Roh and Abe (former Prime Minister of Japan - in office at time of documented dispute) in their respective traditional costume. This heightens the old feudal, territorial aspect that is underlying the issue.