THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT SUPPORTED AHN'S EXHIBITION!
Thanks to your support and encouragement, we have successfully concluded our two-week exhibition. Despite Nikon’s endless interference, over 7,900 people have visited the gallery. Many from around the globe showed their interest in this problem and gave constant encouragement. Although the exhibition is over, the current situation at hand will not conclude until we receive a formal apology from Nikon, and until Nikon acts responsibly. The following is the Statement of Protest that we have read aloud on the last day of the exhibition and sent to Nikon’s president.
Ahn Sehong
株式会社ニコン
取締役社長兼社長執行役員 木村眞琴 様
Nikon Corporation
Kimura Makoto / President Kimura Makoto
Statement of Protest
Layer by layer – Korean ‘Comfort Women’ left behind in China by the Japanese Military
This is an official protest of Nikon’s unethical, abrupt cancellation and interference with Ahn Sehong’s photography exhibition.
In regards to the preparation and the overall progress of the exhibition, Nikon committed actions that deliberately went against its ideology of “enhancing photography culture”, of which disappointed photographers and enthusiasts everywhere. Although obeying the court’s temporary injunction, Nikon threatened to shut down the exhibition again citing that Nikon Salon belongs to Nikon and it can do whatever it wants with the property. Nikon left a negative mark on the history of photography by defaming the very exhibition that was approved by the company’s photography review board; an act that has never been heard of.
In complying with the temporary injunction and the duration of the exhibition, Nikon hired unethical lawyers to interfere with the event and violated the rights of not only the exhibitor, but of the visitors as well. Nikon stationed their lawyers inside the gallery as we prepared for the exhibition, and conducted constant surveillance on Ahn Sehong. They also recorded most, if not all of Ahn’s conversations, and kept records of people who conversed with him. Shockingly, Nikon’s lawyers followed Ahn outside to the gallery and eavesdropped on private conversations, thereby violating the privacy of both Ahn and the visitors. Nikon employees also searched through visitors’ bags and belongings, violating the rights of photo enthusiasts.
From the first day of the exhibition until now, Nikon has impeded press activity inside the gallery, prohibiting picture taking and video recordings as well as interviews. Nikon has deprived the public of the right to know about the comfort women by blocking press coverage from the start. Nikon has also forbid Ahn, the exhibitor himself, from taking photographs inside the gallery.
As for the exhibition itself, Nikon did not advertise the event internally as well. Nikon refused to post the exhibition’s information on its website, confusing prospective visitors. Nikon also limited the amount and the variety of pamphlets and went as far as banning the sale and distribution of Ahn’s materials, thus caused great damage to the exhibitor.
Nikon’s one-sided actions and refusal to negotiate further worsened the abovementioned problems and caused confusion to Ahn and his supporters. Nikon’s actions are causing great emotional and monetary damage to Ahn, his family, and other staff. Nikon must take responsibility and agree to the following conditions.
1. Nikon must acknowledge its faults, explain its actions, and formally apologize to Ahn and photography enthusiasts in public.
2. Nikon must stop oppressing the “freedom of expression”, and must publicly announce its measures to stop something like this from happening ever again.
3. Nikon must fully cooperate with and facilitate Ahn Sehong’s Osaka Encore Exhibition (13-19 September).
4. Nikon must make reparations on damages caused by its one-sided cancellation of the exhibition, and the monetary and emotional damages caused by its interference and violation of privacy.
We demand that Nikon act properly upon this issue and work to enhance the culture of photography. We expect a prompt and concise response in writing.
2012. 7. 9
안세홍 Ahn Sehong
LATEST NEWS AT 5TH JULY 2012 - NIKON AND THEIR LAWYERS STILL HARASSING AHN SEHONG
The Japanese court decided the photographic exhibition must be held in Nikon Salon as originally planned, pointing out it's unparalleled importance in pursuit of freedom of speech and freedom of publication.
However, as of July 4th, Nikon continues to appeal the injunction issued by the court.
In addition, six lawyers hired by Nikon have been unduly disrupting this exhibition by unnecessary and excessive body searches for every visitor, banning sales of photographic prints, tape-recording of comments, and prohibiting press access to the exhibition.
This series of actions is designed to put off visitors, and makes life difficult for Ahn Sehong.
Ahn makes the following request to Nikon;
1) Unobstructed, unimpeded conversations and discussion with the administrators of the Nikon Salon regarding their continued obstructions of the exihibition.
2) The announcement of the photo exhibition on the webpage of Nikon as well as on the site for the Elle building in Tokyo.
3) The withdrawal of Nikon lawyers from the gallery, and only a limited number of security guards to be stationed outside of the gallery.
4) The removal of the metal detector gate.
5) To allow sales of photographic prints on site, including, but not limited to; ‘Comfort Women during WWII’ (Haemu, Honmu) and others.
6) The advertisement of “Juju Project” on site, as it was already permitted by the Nikon Salon in April 2012.
7) That visitors may be allowed to view the photographs in the gallery with obstruction..
8) A genuine apology from the Nikon Salon to Ahn Sehong and visitors, as well as The Photographer Society for limiting their freedom of publication.
Latest: The exhibition is open, but we still need your support.
Nikon have complied with the judgement and allowed Ahn to show his images, but he is being harassed by Nikon's lawyers who are planning to appeal the ruling. We need to send a message directly to the Nikon Salon, to make sure that they know we are still watching. Below is a letter in both English & Japanese. Please copy it and send it to nikon.salon@nikon.co.jp with the heading -
NIKON! STOP HARASSING AHN SEHONG. ニコン！ AHN SEHONGに嫌がらせを停止します。
Dear Sir or Madam
On the 22nd of June the court ordered that you hold Ahn Sehong's exhibition at the Nikon Salon. On the opening day of the exhibition Ahn has reported that lawyers and workers at the Salon are harassing him, and preventing press and visitors from taking pictures. This is contrary to the spirit of the court ruling and an attempt at censorship.
Please remember that this is now an international story and that the eyes of the world are watching with disapproval at Nikons behaviour.
I urge you most strongly to behave democratically and allow the exhibition to proceed without further interference.
Yours sincerely
YOUR NAME
株式会社ニコン御中
6月22日に裁判所は、ニコンサロンでの安世鴻氏写真展を開催することを命じま
した。同写真展の開催前日に同サロンでは貴社の弁護士やスタッフが彼に嫌がら
せをしたと報告されています。これは裁判所の判決の趣旨や検閲の精神に反して
います。
本件は今や国際的な出来事であり、世界の人々の目が、本件に関する貴社の行動
が表現と取材の自由という原則にのっとることに期待しながら注目しています。
貴社が民主的に行動して、展覧会がさらなる干渉を受けずに続行できるようにす
ることを、私は強くお勧めします。
敬具
YOUR NAME
LATEST NEWS: COURT ORDERS NIKON TO SHOW AHN SEHONG'S WORK!
GREAT NEWS! ON THE 22ND OF JUNE A COURT ORDERED NIKON TO SHOW AHN'S WORK. BELOW IS HIS STATEMENT -
"The court released a provisional disposition today and we held a press conference.
The court ruled that I am fully allowed to utilize the Nikon Salon facilities.
Nikon has made an objection.
However, I will carry the photo show on the June 25th as planned!
Right now, the Japanese right-wing/uyoku groups are beginning to strike back. Their threats are getting much more serious".
WHILST THIS IS GOOD NEWS IT IS STILL SUBJECT TO APPEAL AND AS YOU CAN SEE AHN SAYS HE IS RECEIVING MORE THREATS.
PLEASE KEEP PLEDGING YOUR SUPPORT TO HIM BY ADDING YOUR NAME
THE BACKGROUND TO AHN'S SITUATION
Korean Photographer Ahn Sehong has been documenting the lives of former 'Comfort Women' - women who were forced to work as sex-slaves during World War 2. It is a sensitive issue even in modern Japan as it concerns war crimes committed by the Imperial Japanese Army and the establishment would prefer it was not discussed.
He was being sponsored by Nikon & due to have the work shown at the prestigious Nikon Salon in Tokyo, whose mission statement is - "To pursue the meaning of photography: the expression of ideas".
However after protests from certain extremist political groups within Japan the exhibition has been cancelled and funding ceased.
Ahn Sehong is also said to have been subject to personal abuse, harassment and threats according to Japan Daily & CNN.
Nikon UK wont comment on the issue except to say that their corporate support has been withdrawn for "various reasons". We say that's not good enough and they should actively support not supress such important, albeit difficult work - and that the removal of funding is eqivalent to censorship.
The Japan Visual Journalist Association has also condemned Nikon's behaviour for violating freedom of expression.
We're gathering signatures to send an open letter to Nikon, UK & Japan in the hope of making them see sense and show Anh Se-Hong's photographs. The letter will also be sent to the national and international press.
We've already got a Magnum member and a number of well known veteran photographers on our side.
But we need to add plenty of signatures from photographers, professional or enthusiast.
NB only your name will be added. Your email address or other details will not be retained or passed onto anyone.
The draft text is below.
Thank you & keep on shooting! .
An Open Letter to Nikon
To Mr. Yojiro Yamaguchi, Managing Director of Nikon UK
Dear Mr Yamaguchi
We are writing to you concerning Nikon's withdrawal of sponsorship from the photographer Ahn Sehong, and his important work with the 'Comfort Women' of Korea.
It has been reported that the Nikon Salon has cancelled his exhibition due to nature of the subject matter and because of political pressure from within Japan. This is effectively censorship.
You will of course be aware of the power of the photographic image to reveal the world, witness history and speak truth to power.
Images taken using Nikon equipment have often shone light into dark corners and improved the human condition.
The photograph is a crucial part of the matrix in free and fair societies and it is essential that photographers who are undertaking important and difficult work such as Ahn Sehong should be allowed to work without the interference of narrow political interests.
In the past your company has provided a great deal of financial and practical support to photographers who otherwise would not have had
their work seen, and in return we have helped to make Nikon a premier
brand, by supporting your products in a competitive market.
The mission of the Nikon Salon is, as I am sure you are aware, "to pursue the true meaning of photography: the expression of ideas". We, the undersigned, as professional and enthusiast photographers, believe that the withdrawal of sponsorship of Ahn Sehong's work is contrary to the spirit and stated aims of the Nikon Salon and we urge you show his work.
Yours faithfully
Signatories
Michael Preston, Pam Milo, Patrick Eden, Rob Funcken, Mal Case-Green, Andy Buchanan, Hannah J Taylor, Matt Cant, Margaret Yescombe, Tom Meerman, Jeremy Hilder Andrew Farrell
, Peter Bowater
, Georgina Bowater
, Glyn Davies,
Ken Crook,
Jon Ryan,
Andrew Gordon
, Chris Townsend,
David Levene
, Magnus Andersson
, David Preutz
, Mark Pinder
, Doug Williams
, Yee Ling
, Terry Carole,
Tim Allen
, Tim Mitchell,
Henry Boogert,
Graham Mitchell
, Richard Hanson
, Andy Butler
, Asha Asha
, Jim Barber
, Andi Sapey
, David White
, Joost DeRaeymaeker
, Woong-Jae Shin
, Miquel Gonzalez
, Conor Greenan
, Andre Malerba,
Mark Bullimore
, Andre Regini
, Sean Johnson
, John Robb
, Lee JuYeun
, Charlie Varley,
Wendy Carrig
, Martin Lesanto-Smith
, Allan Johnston
, Omer Babadag
, Celia Smith
, Si-Nae Jang
, Haesung Choi
, Kwangsu Lee
, Rina Yoon
, Byoung Woo Kim,
Popho E.S. Bark-Yi,
Jong Myong-Park,
Kyuman Sim
, Hokyeong Jung,
Julie Shin,
David Gregory
, V.P. Miyu
, Holger Grafen,
Ian Shipley,
Matthias Ley
, Michael Wilkinson,
Hyonin Hany Lee
, Timo Vogt
, Richard Brown,
John Fowler
, Conor Masterson
, Barry Cronin
, Jonathan Keenan
, Soody Ahmad
, Iris Moon
, Tim Motion
, Theo Moye
, Ben Huang
, Kenichi Shindo
, David Finch
, Antonia Reeve
, Laurence Underhill
, David Firn,
Indra Moonen
, Lesley Sparks
, Kenny Brown
, Rita Leistner
, Simon P Barlow,
Watai Takeharu,
Barry Keaveny,
Mari Motomura
, Kar Cheung,
Paolo Patrizi
, Asumi Nakashima
, Johan Hallberg Campbell
, Dr.Donald H Gutteridge, Jeremy Nicholl, Tony Smyth, Julian de Lorenzo, Ciara Leeming, Maxim Batsyn, Ruben Neugebauer, Kenny Brown, Shantelle Blackman, Bas de Meijer, Gemma Thorpe, Peter Dixie, Delmi Avarez, Charmain Lee, Karolyne Kerr, Shazade Jameson, Claire Taylor, Gabriel Huppmann, Tormod Carstens, Ewa Hermanowicz, John Lambrichts, Hae-in Hong, Andrew Conroy, Kim JongSuk, Takashi Morizumi, Prof. Chong-Rak Kim, Jiyoung Park, Manu Palomeque,Sunkyoung Yun, Jennifer Turner, Chae No,Hyekyung Jin, Jihoon Lee, Stella Sunwoo, Joanne Yu, Lee Ki-Tae, YJ Kim, Simon de Trey-White, Eunju Hong,Bruno Schroder, Sebastian Evans, Taegyung Kang, Garry Platt, Damen Stephens, Adrian Storey,Alex Rumford, Steve Merrick, Abeera Kamran, Jason Weddington, Giovanni Grandi ,Thomas Hammerlund, Alfie Goodrich, Seolhyang Keum, Jason Arney, Hyungsun W. Tchoe, James Brunker, Henry Arvidsson, Christopher Livsey, Gregory Morton, Jay Dee, Peter Evans, Michael Carrithers, Joël I. Malala, Mike Cannone, Debbe Cannone, Park SeungHwa, Erwin Tan, Eo Hyosun, Andreas Braem, Michael J. Amphlett, Wolfgang Bechstein, Jong Kyun, Tomoki Kubota, Hyeonho Lee, Terry Andrews, Kim Soo Ja,Stephen Ashton, Andy Thorne, Seunghee Hong, Mark Bourdillon,Andy Crouch, Paul Nybo Andersen, Leon Neal,
Warrick Page, Leon Neal, Peter Conzelman, Raymond Gao, Stefanie Le, David Bivins, Travis Thang Hoang Le Do, Kate McCutchen, Gianmarco Mongardi, Ales Litomisky, Sven Ratzel, Nick Boon,Ginny Singh, Nina Bindra, Jossi "Boyz" Bieber,Daniel Richards, Sadiq Majid, Jean Harrington, Don SMith, Tomoco Smith,
Andy Barton, Helmut Gruenbichler, Robert Koak, Jeannine Brewer, Dan Power, Alec Murrell, Diana Khor, Jenny Chen, Adam Fondren, C.W. Hayes, M.D. FACS, Mark Woodward, Kaitlin Bledsoe, Timo Ryttäri, Martijn Vlug-Mahabali, Richard Baker, Kim Yun Suk, Ricky Lai, Roger Hur, Rafael Morales, Jin Kim, Grant Dixon, James Cooke, Barbara Cooke, Kaitlin Bledsoe, CheeWai Lum, Mahn England, John Amiet, Soichi Hayashi, CD Puech, Philip Batey, David R. Hufford, Joost de Wert, Brian Parkes, Andy Whiteman, Martijn Vlug-Mahabali, Izumi Tanaka, Mike Brownlow, Larry A. Fiebert,Richard Kang, Hooman Fasihi, Chris Moorhouse, David Nicholson, Dayeon Lee, Alessio Baronetto, Mark Johnson, Ross Cormack, Mr Robert Weil, Mrs Caren Weil, Martin Bruntnell, Malcolm Cartledge, Mariano Gali, Gonzalo Martinez, Paul Martin-Matthews, Dei Arroyo Sanchis, Bernard Bowles, David J. Acocks, John Radburn, James McCulloch, Jim McDonald, Paul D Moore, Fred Aquilino, Rob O'Callaghan, Muhammad Hanif Bay, Martin Plomer, Dr Patrick Green, Jo Oppenheimer, Col Walder, Diego Maciel, Frank Gresham, Fenneke Gonggrijp, Shane McMahon, Carlos E. Ortega, Eduardo Molina, Stephen Connolly, Phil Grant, Kev Panton, Allan Boult, Chung-Joon Hwang, Albert Park, Juanjo Gutiérrez, Kyu Kim, Sara Lee, Hojoon Lee, Lee Min, Jean Chung, Ian Kydd'Miller, Matthew Lamb, Laurence Peters, Sophie Bonifaz, Minho Park, Ken McCarthy, Sophie Sim, Leo Rumley, Natasha Brown, Steve Haigh, Kukmin Daily, Les Evans, Elaine H. Park, Min Ho Ki, Hong Yeji, Su Jin Hong, Hyun-Ju Jung, Elly Kim, Kim Tae-Soo, Hannah Hwang, Grace Choi, Tom Won, Woomi Han, Eduardo Sanz Nieto, Roberto Cislagh, Gabriel Bonino, Hwang Yoon Young, Anthony G Milner, Agnes Lisik, Marioli Donoso, Javier Chicon, Justin P Brown, Iris O Wong, John Vea Speer, Matthew Nam, Hija Yu, Joann Sorra, Leung Chiu, John Cross, Aram Eshelix Lee, John Paul Adams, Daniel Buttrey, Marcin R. Szulżycki, Roberto Rizzo Louzán. Nick Elliott, John McKie, Peter Morenus, HJ Alicia Nam, James Lee, Soonbin An, Carlos Juárez, Luis Arturo García Llampallas, Arkadiusz Gmurczyk, Andrew L. Schirmer, Kim Dae Hun, Boguslaw Koseda, Warwick de Winter, Henrik Muskos, John Umney, Jin Cho, Gene Glover, William Cumming, Gwilym Thear, Sachiko Otsuka, Kevin Chan, Gerald Chew, Peter Woodham, Peter Hainzl, Rob Thom, Noh Suntag, Chunsoo Lee, Raquel Lopez-Chicheri Garcia, Russ Comack, Doug Harding, Malcolm Andrew, Marcos Cabadas Avión, Hae-Young Kim, Jon Barber, Julie Grahame, Lawrence Oluyede, Stella Kramer, Marina Imperi, Eunyoung Kim, Chris Demott, Bethany Ann Khan, Andrzej Grudzień, Ed Agter, James Davies, Sara T'Rula, Keith Flett, Rania Khan, Jenny Wicks, M. v. Aufschnaiter, Philip Brittan, David Levene, Matthew Lloyd, Suzanne Chater, Lia Zaal, Ilja Franke, Claire Gaul. Paul Trevor, Tomoharu Sugiyama, Neil Holmes, Gabi Helfert, Nao Ishiyama, Gina Kim, Stephen Moss, Adam Hill, Fanny Tan, Anna Chen, Katsura Nakano, Daniel Hernandez-Salazar, Lisa-Marie Taylor, Ray Barkley, Dajo Brinkman, Niels Davidse, Jack Barron, Dennis M. Castanares, Morgan Fisher,
Stalingrad O’Neill, Daniel Núñez, Phoenix Dark-Knight, Gary Folz,Bjorn Kiro, Eric G. E. Nilsen, Tom Jarane, Rolf Arne Helås, Gisle Haavvaag, Martin Waage, John Philips Nufable, Kay Sutherland, Birger Mulvik, Stefano Buonamici, Totto Privat, Kari Bernardini, Jim Hansen, Alexander Kleppesto, Sture Wikestad, Audun Nygaard, Ole-Christian Bjarkøy, Suzanne van Leendert, Juan Fernando, Robert Aarts, Wilma van der Veen, Paul Hogenboom, Wiebke Wilting, Kees Maaswinkel,Han Van Veelen, Sandra de la Combe, Henri Blommers, Wil Kokelaar, Frans Strous, René van Bakel, Bart Uijterlinde, Ekko ten Cate, Leo Roos,Katja Effting, Lein Kaland, Gon Buurman, Lideke Detmers,Piet de Winter, Gudule Martens, Willem Kuijpers, Anya Van Lit, Nico van der Lem, Henk P. Tulp, Chris Pennarts,Wim Kuitems, Ruud van der Lubben, Anton van Dunnen, Gerlinde Schrijver, Ruud van der Lubben, Dida Mulder, Nico Zwaneveld, Rob Huibers, Wilma van der Veen, Bernard De Ruyck, Karel Hermans, Herman H. van Doorn, Ruud van der Lubben, Harro Bannink, Tara Richmond, Roger Hawkins, Gerard Verschooten, Fred Morten Ervik, Jannice Baartvedt, Torbjørn Helgesen, Paul van Riel, Cora Unk, Rene Landzaat, Kenneth Rivenes, Irén T. A. Færevaag, Halvor Larsen, Terje Kolbeinsen, Marc Janssen, Gudule Martens, René Abrahams, Fred Willen, Marja van Galen, Puck Bramlage, John Prins, Jaap van Duyvendijk, Monday Agbonzee Jr, Rob Martens, Will Hoekstra, Benedetta Arlunno,Wim de Winter, Kato Tan, Tae-Hoon Lim, Sim Eunsik, Sun Joo Park, Greg Strachey, Grant Dixon, Andres Lesauvage, Han Geumsun, Tom Jarane, Jae-Kak Lee, Roberto Single, Sachiko Otsuka, KyuHwan Lee,Jinhee Ahn, Dongseop Kim, Eb Just, Chung Taekyong, Jinyoung Hwang, Peter Webb, Björn Steinz, Andrew Crawford, Jaap Stil, Maertin Holtkamp, Soo-Hyun Cho, Zekta Chan, Alex Grace, Luke Olsen, Ollie Gapper, Sora Bang, Maciek Wojciechowski, Maria Pino, Grzegorz Jaworski, Joe Weydt, Laura Blight, Tim Darach, Su-hyun Yu, Till Kreutzkamp, Miwha Par, Hemant Jariwala,Rodrigo Cid,Simon Richardson,Roy Helge Hundere,Kenny Wood, Roger Ward, Sascha Rheker, Hyokyung Son, Marc Schlueter, Stephen Powers, Wim L.M. Geeraets,Anthony Coysh, Neil Harman, Han Eun-hye, Lee Yu Kyung, Craig Clarke, Taka Ono, Margaret Mitsutani, Robert Ashby, Victoria Holt, Dan Stainberg, Rik Austin, John Kennerdell, Glenn W. Bassett, Haeng-ja Chung, M Henri Day, Alexander Pastoors, Ken Straiton, Michael McGettigan,Peter Klezok,