COMFORT WOMEN: During 1932-1945, the Japanese Imperial Army kidnapped or coerced close to 200,000 East-Asian women to be used as sex slaves for Japanese soldiers. Approximately 80% were Korean, ages ranging from 10 to mid 30's. Along with military equipment, these women were listed as supplies and shipped to various military camps and other locations where Japan occupied. The "Comfort Stations" confined each woman into a small room to be raped by up to 30 soldiers a day. The conditions during their captivity are indescribable. Many died from disease, botched abortions, beatings and executions. At the time of ceasefire, many were executed or forced to commit suicide by the soldiers. Furthermore, surviving victims were ostracized from their homes and villages by shame and humiliation. Although the long process for retributions and apologies for the survivors have commenced, each day fewer survivors of the "Comfort Women" remain. My paintings are limited to my research and imagination. By sharing this dark moment in history, we remember these women.              - L. Joo