Memories of War

The Memories of War: Photography Exhibition / Listening Stations is based on an undergraduate research seminar entitled, “Memories of War” taught by Dr. Ji-Yeon Yuh in the Department of History at Northwestern University and curated by Patricia Nguyen. An artistic collaboration between photographer, Ethan Caldwell, and designer, John Lee resulted in a series of portraits of members in Chicago's Korean American and Vietnamese American communities. Quotes were pulled from the oral history interviews conducted by students in the research seminar to complement the photography.

Photography:
Ethan Caldwell

Graphic Design:
John Lee

 
 
Featured
Ki Pun Song
Ki Pun Song

“I remember that, even then, my mom worried that I looked too much like a girl. So, she would smear my face with dirt and dress me in clothes that she had torn. She would never give me new clothes and ripped everything… And after I grew a little older, I asked her why she did this, and she told me that soldiers would take girls like us to work and kill.”

Tuyet Le
Tuyet Le

“I don’t feel like my gratitude [to the U.S. government] means I should not speak up about the United States living up to its ideals.“

Tam Van Nguyen
Tam Van Nguyen

“It is important to remember the war, so the younger generation can build a better community and nation.” 

Shin Kim
Shin Kim

“Remembering the Korean War, I am really the last of the age group.”

Ngoan Le
Ngoan Le

“It was the backdrop to everything and our lives were intertwined with the daily events of the war, whether you liked it or not.”

Giau Truong
Giau Truong

“I believe war is easy. You can come in and destroy anything… but how do you fix it?”