I Am Sun
Mu
Directed by Adam Sjöberg
FULL TRANSCRIPT
00:00:05:00 --> 00:00:18:04
TITLE CARD:
Sun Mu, a former North Korean propaganda
artist, escaped the country in the 1990s.
He is one of the first North Korean artists to be able to share his art with
the world.
1
00:01:16,624
--> 00:01:28,957
A
professor told me that I look South Korean by appearance, but I was North
Korean by heart.
2
00:01:32,557
--> 00:01:36,290
I
replied, "Yeah, you are right.
3
00:01:36,790
--> 00:01:41,124
I am a
North Korean inside out,
4
00:01:41,824
--> 00:01:45,824
and I
don't want to deny it."
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00:03:05,390
--> 00:03:11,890
I want
my friends and family back in North Korea
to live
a better life.
6
00:03:14,390
--> 00:03:23,224
I long
for a world where people in North Korea and South Korea live peacefully.
7
00:03:26,124
--> 00:03:31,490
It's not
like I'm putting myself in danger on purpose.
8
00:03:31,524
--> 00:03:35,724
I've
just been doing what I have to do.
9
00:03:40,390
--> 00:03:43,124
This is
just what I'm destined for.
00:04:16:11 --> 00:04:35:23
TITLE CARD:
I AM SUN MU
00:04:38:09 --> 00:04:50:10
TITLE CARD:
Sun Mu has been offered a solo exhibition in a
Beijing gallery. It will be the first
time a North Korean has exhibited their art in China without the supervision of
the North Korean government.
00:04:50:15 --> 00:04:55:07
TITLE CARD:
4 Months until Sun Mu’s exhibit in Beijing
00:04:58:04 --> 00:05:03:02
TITLE CARD:
Yuan Art Museum
Beijing, China
10
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--> 00:05:19,124
Whenever
I come to China, the nervousness and fear that I had 10 years ago comes right
back.
11
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--> 00:05:27,490
Of
course it's less than it was 10 years ago,
but that
memory is still vivid.
12
00:05:29,424
--> 00:05:33,490
I feel
like every time I come back to China it will be like this.
13
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--> 00:06:07,490
I work
in hiding, but also publicly.
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--> 00:06:13,557
That's
what makes art so fun.
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--> 00:06:16,124
Even if
you work in the dark, it doesn't stay in the dark.
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--> 00:06:19,224
It
becomes public.
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--> 00:06:20,690
It's
fun.
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--> 00:06:21,924
I like
it.
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--> 00:06:37,224
I had my
first exhibition upon graduating college.
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It
caught the media's attention.
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--> 00:06:50,124
Then
during my first solo exhibition, the media came again and wrote about my
artwork.
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--> 00:07:09,390
I
created a piece,
23
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--> 00:07:15,724
there's
a bedridden Kim Jong Il,
and a
kid is handing him a coke bottle.
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--> 00:07:18,690
It's
called 'Take Some Medicine.’
25
00:07:18,690
--> 00:07:20,624
That was
published in Time magazine.
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--> 00:07:37,824
So far
I've had exhibits in
27
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--> 00:07:47,190
Berlin.
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--> 00:08:05,224
Interviewer:
Why don't you show your face?
29
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--> 00:08:12,990
Well, if
I showed my face in public
30
00:08:13,490
--> 00:08:18,924
it is
clear that my parents and siblings living in North Korea
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--> 00:08:21,990
will be
in danger.
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--> 00:08:27,124
This
damn world hasn't allowed me to present myself publicly,
33
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--> 00:08:31,124
That's
the only reason I can't reveal who I am.
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--> 00:08:43,375
"There
is nothing to envy in the world."
00:08:56:08 --> 00:09:01:06
TITLE CARD:
Seoul, South Korea
00:09:11:21 --> 00:09:17:23
TITLE CARD:
Angela
Sun Mu’s Wife
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--> 00:09:25,990
When I
first met him, I didn't like him that much.
36
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--> 00:09:30,024
He came
wearing socks that had holes in them
37
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--> 00:09:33,224
and it
was winter, so he wore two sets of long johns,
38
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--> 00:09:35,124
and two
sweaters,
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--> 00:09:39,857
and a jacket
that had lost all its insulating cotton.
40
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--> 00:09:45,857
We
started dating
41
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--> 00:09:47,357
and I
was so curious.
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00:09:47,357
--> 00:09:49,490
It was
my first time meeting a defector.
43
00:09:49,490
--> 00:09:52,124
I didn't
even know there was such a thing as a
North
Korean defector.
44
00:09:52,124
--> 00:09:55,690
I also
had experienced a lot of heartbreak within my family.
45
00:09:55,857
--> 00:09:58,857
But I
realized he had experienced a different kind of heartbreak.
46
00:10:06,024
--> 00:10:09,757
My kids
are so blessed to have Sun Mu as a dad.
47
00:10:10,957
--> 00:10:13,833
He's
very thoughtful, and is like a friend to them.
48
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--> 00:10:55,257
One
time, they asked where their grandma was.
49
00:10:57,690
--> 00:11:00,957
So I
wanted to express that situation.
50
00:11:01,357
--> 00:11:07,124
Grandma
is in that neighborhood up north, but we can't go because of the barbed wire.
51
00:11:12,124
--> 00:11:16,124
This is
my first daughter.
52
00:11:16,390
--> 00:11:23,824
Whenever
talk of her grandma comes up, she wants to send a letter in the mail,
53
00:11:23,824
--> 00:11:26,357
but it
can't be delivered.
54
00:11:27,490
--> 00:11:31,590
So I
expressed the reality of north and south through this.
00:12:07:03 --> 00:12:10:11
TITLE CARD:
Il Gon
Sun Mu’s Friend
55
00:12:10,457
--> 00:12:17,324
In North
Korea there's no such thing as contemporary art.
56
00:12:27,957
--> 00:12:34,224
His
experiences in North Korea are part of his style
57
00:12:34,724
--> 00:12:40,124
but what
he has felt here in the south
has also
been mixed into his style.
58
00:12:46,457
--> 00:12:52,791
If
Korean reunification were to suddenly happen, I think it would resemble Sun
Mu's paintings.
00:13:26:12 --> 00:13:31:08
TITLE CARD:
Sungkok Art Museum
Seoul, South Korea
59
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--> 00:13:46,124
My name
is Cui Xianji.
60
00:13:47,690
--> 00:13:52,124
This is
a retrospective of my artwork.
00:13:53:05 --> 00:13:56:16
TITLE CARD:
Cui Xianji
Chinese-Korean Artist
61
00:13:53,757
--> 00:13:56,824
A
retrospective of an artist in his 50s,
62
00:13:56,824
--> 00:14:06,590
and I
get to show and look back on all the artwork I have made thus far.
63
00:14:11,590
--> 00:14:17,490
Because
I'm second generation Korean-Chinese
64
00:14:18,190
--> 00:14:21,624
I know
Korea better than other Chinese people,
65
00:14:22,590
--> 00:14:27,690
and I
know China better than any other Koreans.
66
00:14:36,324
--> 00:14:40,124
It was
2008 when I originally met Sun Mu.
67
00:14:40,124
--> 00:14:44,224
I was at
the Busan Biennale in 2008
68
00:14:45,590
--> 00:14:48,124
and
there was an incident.
69
00:14:48,124
--> 00:14:54,124
The
night before the opening ceremony, Sun Mu's painting was withdrawn.
70
00:15:00,190
--> 00:15:02,957
The flag
is upside down.
71
00:15:02,957
--> 00:15:09,857
The flag
suggests the country is backwards.
72
00:15:23,490
--> 00:15:26,457
My hands
were trembling when I was painting this piece.
73
00:15:26,457
--> 00:15:32,024
I always
had a fear that someone might sneak up behind me and stab me.
74
00:15:32,457
--> 00:15:34,457
It took
a lot of courage.
75
00:15:36,757
--> 00:15:41,324
There
can be a fight between the artist and the audience.
76
00:15:41,957
--> 00:15:45,490
And in
this fight based on misunderstanding, I was in the middle.
77
00:15:45,490
--> 00:15:48,957
Only I
could understand both sides.
78
00:15:49,590
--> 00:15:56,257
People
make it all politicized whenever
there is
any image of North Korea.
79
00:15:57,224
--> 00:15:59,124
But
that's my life story.
00:16:04:06 --> 00:16:13:12
TITLE CARD:
Beijing, China
80
00:16:31,324
--> 00:16:35,990
My name
is Liang Kegang.
I am the
director of Beijing Yuan Art Museum.
81
00:16:36,824
--> 00:16:44,890
I have
worked at the Yuan Gallery for three years, and the gallery has been here for
six years.
82
00:16:45,490
--> 00:16:53,324
Last
year, artist Cui Xianji introduced me to Sun Mu.
83
00:16:53,590
--> 00:16:59,124
When I
heard that he is an artist who defected from North Korea,
I became
very interested.
00:17:00:22 --> 00:17:04:17
TITLE CARD:
Mansudae Art Museum
Official North Korean Art Gallery
84
00:17:06,589
--> 00:17:18,522
In
Beijing, there are many North Korean artists who draw their government's
propaganda.
85
00:17:19,290
--> 00:17:21,490
Those
paintings look very funny
86
00:17:21,490
--> 00:17:28,290
They are
like the Chinese propaganda of 40 years ago during the Cultural Revolution.
87
00:17:28,290
--> 00:17:36,490
I had
never met an artist who escaped North Korea and now does real contemporary art.
88
00:17:43,724
--> 00:17:52,124
89
00:17:53,690
--> 00:17:57,824
Ever
since they started the “Six Party Talks,” it's never gone right.
90
00:17:59,124
--> 00:18:04,024
But I
was thinking, what if it were little children?
91
00:18:04,024
--> 00:18:08,990
If it
were little children, wouldn't they just hold hands and play around together?
92
00:18:12,290
--> 00:18:21,124
He
didn't paint the suffering and present only the wounds,
93
00:18:21,124
--> 00:18:30,590
but he
painted hope, a beautiful thing. This is very precious.
94
00:18:36,224
--> 00:18:43,490
At the
end of 2013, I went to Seoul with Cui Xianji,
95
00:18:44,490
--> 00:18:48,958
and in
Seoul, I paid a visit to Sun Mu's studio.
96
00:18:49,624
--> 00:18:56,990
When I
entered his studio, it was very good work.
I liked
it very much.
97
00:18:56,990
--> 00:19:03,624
So I
decided to do a solo exhibition for him.
00:19:33:16 --> 00:19:40:08
TITLE CARD:
Cui Xianji has
offered to host Sun Mu in his studio in Beijing while he prepares for his
exhibit.
98
00:19:49,324
--> 00:19:55,824
North
Korea is bound to know about this exhibit, since there's a North Korean embassy
there.
99
00:19:55,824
--> 00:19:59,990
To be
honest, this exhibition worries me a lot.
100
00:19:59,990
--> 00:20:04,990
I felt I
had to give him my approval,
but we
will have to be very cautious.
00:20:33:10 --> 00:20:38:03
TITLE CARD:
9 weeks until Sun Mu’s exhibit in Beijing.
00:20:39:05 --> 00:20:46:13
TITLE CARD:
Beijing, China
101
00:20:59,124
--> 00:21:08,624
When I
first saw the gallery it seemed really big, and I had a lot of stories in my
mind.
102
00:21:11,524
--> 00:21:15,490
I
thought I want to have an exhibition in a place like this,
103
00:21:16,024
--> 00:21:22,124
I could
really go all out in a place like this, especially in Beijing.
104
00:21:25,124
--> 00:21:28,624
An
exhibition in China really means a lot to me.
105
00:21:28,624
--> 00:21:34,224
Not only
for me, but it will be the same for every defector.
106
00:21:36,524
--> 00:21:45,224
When
they heard about the exhibition, other North Korean defectors asked,
107
00:21:45,224
--> 00:21:48,590
"Won't
it be dangerous?"
108
00:21:48,590
--> 00:21:51,590
It's on
everybody's mind.
109
00:21:51,824
--> 00:21:59,324
I am
very concerned about how many risks it will bring me.
110
00:21:59,324
--> 00:22:05,824
It's
hard to know because the North Korean government is very unreasonable.
111
00:22:05,824
--> 00:22:13,790
They'd
bomb a passenger flight, or kidnap a Japanese teacher so they can teach
Japanese in North Korea.
00:22:25:17 --> 00:22:31:21
TITLE CARD:
Cui Xianji’s Stuido
Outskirts of Beijing
112
00:23:33,990
--> 00:23:36,324
This
place means a lot to me.
113
00:23:36,324
--> 00:23:44,124
On my
second day in Beijing, I wrote 'heaven' on the wall when I was drunk.
114
00:23:48,990
--> 00:23:53,124
115
00:23:55,490
--> 00:23:59,333
I wanted
to support Sun Mu in any possible way.
116
00:24:00,124
--> 00:24:12,890
We were
sharing the same space and working together,
and it
was so much fun.
117
00:24:36,990
--> 00:24:51,790
Growing
up, we were in an environment where all the learning was based on Marx, Lenin,
and Mao's ideas.
118
00:24:53,324
--> 00:24:58,290
But now
I value my ideas more than theirs.
119
00:24:59,390
--> 00:25:08,624
Sun Mu
has found freedom in this studio, and has found a person who completely
supports him.
120
00:25:09,824
--> 00:25:15,924
Without
my brother, I don't think I would have been able to have my exhibition in
Beijing.
121
00:25:16,790
--> 00:25:19,390
That's
real barbed wire.
122
00:25:19,390
--> 00:25:21,024
Did you
take them from the DMZ border?
123
00:25:21,024
--> 00:25:22,124
-Yes.
-Psh.
124
00:25:22,124
--> 00:25:25,124
It's
really from the border!
That's
why it means so much!
125
00:25:25,124
--> 00:25:27,924
Be
careful! The barbs are really sharp.
I don't
want you to get hurt.
126
00:25:38,024
--> 00:25:47,424
They had
just replaced the barbed wires
that
used to fence off the DMZ.
127
00:25:47,424
--> 00:25:53,190
Think
about it, those fences were there for decades.
128
00:25:55,290
--> 00:26:02,824
I felt
like I could say many things with these old barbed wires, so I took some.
129
00:26:04,324
--> 00:26:08,124
I made
flowers using the wires.
130
00:26:40,390
--> 00:26:44,690
Interviewer:
When you left North Korea for China
131
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--> 00:26:49,224
what was
the thing that surprised you most?
132
00:26:49,790
--> 00:26:51,690
Lights.
133
00:26:52,990
--> 00:26:55,490
The
glittering lights.
134
00:26:56,624
--> 00:26:59,990
Plastic
bags blowing in the wind.
135
00:27:03,124
--> 00:27:06,190
Is this
rotten capitalism?
136
00:27:06,590
--> 00:27:10,724
Is this
the rotten capitalism the North has been talking about?
137
00:27:11,790
--> 00:27:15,790
Why are
so many lights on?
138
00:27:18,490
--> 00:27:27,124
I
thought, "Did I make the wrong decision?
139
00:27:27,124
--> 00:27:31,790
Maybe
what I see isn't reality?"
140
00:27:31,790
--> 00:27:35,990
In my
heart I still believed Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
141
00:28:14,124
--> 00:28:23,124
Interviewer:
How long was it before you realized what you learned in North Korea was a lie?
142
00:28:27,490
--> 00:28:28,824
About 10
years.
143
00:28:28,824
--> 00:28:30,724
Still to
this day.
144
00:29:29,624
--> 00:29:33,224
This is
me when I was young.
145
00:29:33,224
--> 00:29:39,824
I used
to sing since preschool.
146
00:29:44,224
--> 00:29:50,624
I was on
a team that travels all over North Korea,
147
00:29:50,624
--> 00:29:58,024
performing
in front of whole schools, or whole villages, pretty much anywhere.
148
00:30:06,290
--> 00:30:09,624
Around
the age of 8 or 9
149
00:30:09,624
--> 00:30:13,424
I turned
on the TV and saw Kim Il Sung
150
00:30:13,424
--> 00:30:21,490
with a
bunch of kids who had excelled at singing, dancing, painting, and writing.
151
00:30:23,690
--> 00:30:27,290
Kim Il
Sung was patting them on the back.
152
00:30:27,290
--> 00:30:30,824
I thought
to myself, "I can do that too."
153
00:30:30,824
--> 00:30:32,824
"I
can do that well,
154
00:30:33,324
--> 00:30:37,824
and I
can give Kim Il Sung pleasure!"
155
00:30:37,824
--> 00:30:41,490
And
that's how I started.
156
00:30:53,024
--> 00:30:58,990
Interviewer:
Did you ever get punished for drawing something you weren't supposed to draw?
157
00:30:58,990
--> 00:31:02,624
Since I
was a good student, I didn't draw anything I wasn't supposed to.
158
00:31:02,624
--> 00:31:05,324
There
are things you can't draw.
159
00:31:05,324
--> 00:31:07,824
You
can't draw Kim Jong Il,
160
00:31:07,824
--> 00:31:11,624
and you
wouldn't even dream about drawing naked women.
161
00:31:18,324
--> 00:31:20,624
I did draw
Kim Il Sung once.
162
00:31:20,624
--> 00:31:22,624
It was
when I was in high school.
163
00:31:22,624
--> 00:31:25,124
If I got
caught, I would have been killed.
164
00:31:25,124
--> 00:31:29,924
So I
locked my door and drew Kim Il Sung.
165
00:31:32,490
--> 00:31:35,390
I
thought I could draw him well, too.
166
00:31:35,390
--> 00:31:37,324
Even my
parents didn't know.
167
00:31:37,590
--> 00:31:42,524
I proved
to myself that I have the skills to draw Kim Il Sung exactly like his portrait.
168
00:31:42,524
--> 00:31:45,690
But
before it was even dry, I burned it.
169
00:32:01,124
--> 00:32:04,124
When I
first joined the army,
170
00:32:05,590
--> 00:32:14,324
I
learned that they select the ones that are good at writing and drawing from the
new recruits.
171
00:32:15,290
--> 00:32:21,524
One day
they said, "Stand up if you are good at writing or drawing."
172
00:32:25,924
--> 00:32:28,124
He asked
if I could work on a poster for one day.
173
00:32:28,124
--> 00:32:32,590
I
answered that I could whip something like that up in an hour.
174
00:32:32,590
--> 00:32:35,190
He
didn't believe me at first.
175
00:32:36,624
--> 00:32:40,824
Anyways,
they ended up giving me one day
to work
on this small poster.
176
00:32:41,624
--> 00:32:44,024
I said
to them, "I can do this."
177
00:32:44,790
--> 00:32:46,990
So I did
it.
178
00:32:47,490
--> 00:32:50,990
They
said, "A real talent has joined the military."
00:33:49:05 --> 00:33:53:00
TITLE CARD:
3 weeks until Sun Mu’s exhibit in Beijing.
179
00:34:18,889
--> 00:34:21,989
The
blueprint hasn't been given to me yet.
180
00:34:27,024
--> 00:34:29,989
Cui: So
you are thinking about a week for the installation process?
181
00:34:30,290
--> 00:34:33,123
Sun Mu:
A week should do it.
182
00:34:33,123
--> 00:34:35,889
I'm
going to install everything first
183
00:34:35,889
--> 00:34:37,889
and have
my wife come the day before the opening.
184
00:34:37,989
--> 00:34:39,524
Another
question,
185
00:34:40,123
--> 00:34:43,123
will he
be safe if he lives in Wangjing during the days of
the exhibition?
186
00:34:44,389
--> 00:34:46,889
Well, no
one has to know who I am, right?
187
00:34:47,389
--> 00:34:49,924
I'm not
going to meet anyone.
188
00:34:51,489
--> 00:34:55,623
Ask him
if he wants to go out and take a look at my pieces
189
00:34:55,623
--> 00:34:58,890
so he
can have an idea of how we would set up.
190
00:34:59,590
--> 00:35:01,190
Okay,
let's go.
191
00:35:11,990
--> 00:35:15,590
The
wires become music scores.
-Great.
192
00:35:16,290
--> 00:35:19,590
Wow,
music comes out too?
193
00:35:20,624
--> 00:35:22,990
Yeah,
that's my theme song.
194
00:35:37,290
--> 00:35:38,990
How big
is it?
195
00:35:38,990
--> 00:35:41,124
It's 5
meters wide.
196
00:35:42,124
--> 00:35:44,590
I
thought I should try this at least once.
197
00:35:51,624
--> 00:35:59,624
I wanted
to express the North Korean situation to people as they come into the
exhibition.
198
00:35:59,624
--> 00:36:05,590
So I
intended to put these words at the entrance so the visitors have to step on the
words
199
00:36:05,590
--> 00:36:08,524
before coming
in to see my artwork.
200
00:36:08,890
--> 00:36:13,124
The
three names representing the supreme dignity of North Korea are written there
201
00:36:13,790
--> 00:36:16,690
Kim Il
Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un.
202
00:36:18,690
--> 00:36:22,390
No one
would even dream about stepping on those names.
203
00:36:22,390
--> 00:36:31,124
I'm sure
North Koreans staying in China,
like
embassy staffers will come.
204
00:36:31,124
--> 00:36:36,590
They
will have to step on it if they want to see the exhibition.
205
00:36:37,390
--> 00:36:39,124
That
might be pretty funny.
206
00:36:45,424
--> 00:36:48,990
My
exhibition won't make this art museum shut down down
permanently, right?
207
00:36:48,990
--> 00:36:50,890
I'm okay
with my exhibition being shut down...
208
00:36:50,890
--> 00:36:55,124
All this
stuff, it's not possible this would shut it down?
209
00:36:56,424
--> 00:36:58,390
He says
that's not going to happen.
210
00:37:01,224
--> 00:37:07,990
So many
spies are in the Wangjing district, where our art
museum is located.
211
00:37:10,724
--> 00:37:16,990
If they
know about the information about the exhibition
212
00:37:17,890
--> 00:37:24,224
I think
they will find the government to stop it.
00:37:29:18 --> 00:37:34:02
TITLE CARD:
Student Protests
Beijing, 1989
213
00:37:51,542
--> 00:37:53,666
Interviewer:
So what do you remember from that night?
214
00:37:57,924
--> 00:38:01,124
I don't
want to say it.
215
00:38:07,024
--> 00:38:08,124
Sorry.
216
00:38:17,590
--> 00:38:21,490
It has
had a big influence on me.
217
00:38:21,490
--> 00:38:32,490
By the
next day, we heard that many university students had died in Beijing the night
before.
218
00:38:41,590
--> 00:38:50,124
I don't
know the exact death toll,
because
the whole history has been wiped out in China.
219
00:38:56,490
--> 00:39:00,224
In
China, it's risky to be a good artist.
220
00:39:02,024
--> 00:39:07,724
I have
been taking the risk for over 20 years, since I went to college.
221
00:39:10,490
--> 00:39:24,690
Artists
like us are considered sensitive, and are strictly supervised by the
government.
222
00:39:41,924
--> 00:39:47,890
This is
my daughter. Her name is Liang Xiao Me.
223
00:39:48,990
--> 00:39:51,824
This is
my son.
224
00:39:51,824
--> 00:39:58,590
His name
is Liang Ji Yen.
And we
always call him Little Stone.
225
00:40:01,124
--> 00:40:07,490
But in
China, to be an artist may be the only way
226
00:40:07,490
--> 00:40:11,590
you can
feel a little feeling about freedom.
227
00:40:43,690
--> 00:40:51,124
I've
watched various documentaries about
space
and the universe since defecting.
228
00:40:53,324
--> 00:41:02,890
Watching
those, I felt this earth that we live on
is a
mere speck of dust
229
00:41:03,324
--> 00:41:14,990
but the
humans living here are arguing,
fighting,
and killing each other.
230
00:41:15,990
--> 00:41:20,390
What a
shame before the eyes of the aliens.
231
00:41:32,124
--> 00:41:38,124
The
stars here are not the same as the stars in my hometown.
232
00:41:39,690
--> 00:41:50,224
There,
stars were like a splash of white paint on a black canvas.
233
00:41:50,224
--> 00:41:58,390
There
was the Milky Way, and sometimes I could see stars moving, which I later found
out were satellites.
234
00:41:59,424
--> 00:42:05,224
That was
good. Looking up at the night sky and viewing the stars.
235
00:42:07,124
--> 00:42:16,890
Back
then, I dreamt of being an astronaut and visiting the galaxy.
236
00:42:19,290
--> 00:42:24,324
Visiting
the moon and stars as an astronaut.
237
00:42:26,624
--> 00:42:28,490
That's
when I was young.
238
00:42:28,490
--> 00:42:36,624
Now when
I see the night sky,
I feel
just a fraction of what I felt as a boy.
239
00:42:49,890
--> 00:43:00,390
My
hometown was in the countryside so it had mountains, rivers, and goats living
in the hills.
240
00:43:08,190
--> 00:43:17,824
After
Kim Il Sung died, we had such torrential rainfall
and we
lost a lot of crops.
241
00:43:21,990
--> 00:43:28,390
The
rations provided by the government started getting delayed.
242
00:43:28,824
--> 00:43:30,024
At first
it was for 1 month...
243
00:43:30,024
--> 00:43:30,990
2
months...
244
00:43:31,424
--> 00:43:32,124
3
months...
245
00:43:32,124
--> 00:43:34,590
It kept
getting delayed.
246
00:43:39,490
--> 00:43:46,890
I don't
think it was caused by Kim Il Sung's death.
247
00:43:49,724
--> 00:43:55,924
Maybe
Kim Jong Il used all those resources
to
secure his new regime
248
00:43:55,924
--> 00:43:59,890
or for
his leisure.
249
00:44:15,290
--> 00:44:20,724
So many
people didn't get the food that
should
have been distributed.
250
00:44:22,590
--> 00:44:28,590
Every
day we'd hear, "So and so in the next house has died."
251
00:44:29,790
--> 00:44:31,690
"And
someone in that house died too."
252
00:44:32,690
--> 00:44:36,924
Looking
from the outside, they were way too naive.
253
00:44:36,924
--> 00:44:39,790
All they
did was work.
254
00:44:39,924
--> 00:44:47,290
But in
spite of their hard work,
they
always struggle for food.
255
00:44:48,424
--> 00:44:50,824
It
breaks my heart.
256
00:47:31,590
--> 00:47:40,590
I think
this exhibition will become my first step to more exhibitions.
257
00:47:40,590
--> 00:47:44,224
A
stepping stone.
258
00:47:44,224
--> 00:47:46,924
A
transformation point.
259
00:47:47,124
--> 00:47:54,524
I was
not sure if this exhibition would even be possible.
260
00:47:54,924
--> 00:48:02,924
I was
nervous that there would be problems before it even starts.
261
00:48:11,124
--> 00:48:18,590
As we
installed the work,
it hit
me that my exhibition will really happen.
262
00:48:20,624
--> 00:48:23,990
So I'm
really happy.
263
00:48:31,590
--> 00:48:38,490
I think
he is largely motivated by the desire
for
freedom and a better life.
264
00:48:44,924
--> 00:48:49,124
He is
fortunate to have defected successfully,
because
I guess about 9 out of 10 defectors fail.
265
00:48:49,124
--> 00:48:53,924
And
failure could mean death.
266
00:48:55,724
--> 00:48:57,490
This
right here...
267
00:48:57,724
--> 00:49:09,390
Once I
crossed the Tumen River into China,
I
started writing down all my thoughts and feelings.
268
00:49:13,390
--> 00:49:15,624
"Today
is July 1st.
269
00:49:16,290
--> 00:49:22,624
Under
the street lamps, the signs of restaurants are lit up along the street
270
00:49:23,224
--> 00:49:29,324
the
light is coming into my empty room
where I
am sitting at the window, smoking.
271
00:49:29,990
--> 00:49:35,790
Hey,
you. What are you thinking about?
Are you
missing the hometown you've left behind?
272
00:49:35,790
--> 00:49:39,490
Or are
you dreaming about
the new
land you will soon enter?
273
00:49:39,490
--> 00:49:43,590
The
cigarette is burned out
and I'm
left with only ashes.
274
00:49:44,590
--> 00:49:49,290
I flick
my ash and stare out the window, silently.
275
00:49:49,290
--> 00:49:52,890
Well, I
have no one to talk to anyway."
276
00:49:54,124
--> 00:49:59,924
I didn't
have any intention of running away,
because
I thought North Korea was a great country.
277
00:50:00,590
--> 00:50:03,224
I was
just hungry.
278
00:50:08,390
--> 00:50:13,424
One day,
I climbed the mountain.
279
00:50:13,890
--> 00:50:18,990
I made
it to the top, and the view was overlooking a city in China.
280
00:50:23,524
--> 00:50:27,490
I hid in
the tobacco field and waited for night to come.
281
00:50:32,524
--> 00:50:36,624
In that
moment, everything including the sound of the insects sounded so loud.
282
00:50:42,424
--> 00:50:44,724
I was
staying silent,
283
00:50:44,724
--> 00:50:48,290
nervous
that guards might be nearby.
284
00:50:50,290
--> 00:50:53,290
After
what felt like an eternity...
285
00:50:53,790
--> 00:50:55,124
Let's
go.
286
00:50:55,124
--> 00:50:57,390
I am
being too hesitant.
287
00:50:58,324
--> 00:51:02,624
With all
my fears and worries,
I put my
feet into the river.
288
00:51:07,990
--> 00:51:11,124
On the
North Korean side the river wasn't that deep
289
00:51:11,124
--> 00:51:15,390
But
closer to the Chinese side, the riverbed fell away beneath me.
290
00:51:16,324
--> 00:51:18,124
So I
swam.
291
00:51:21,124
--> 00:51:26,124
I was
right beneath the Polaris star and the moon.
292
00:51:26,124
--> 00:51:31,490
Looking
at them, I started my journey.
293
00:51:47,424
--> 00:51:52,333
Even
until right before I crossed the river, I was certain that I'd come back.
294
00:51:53,524
--> 00:51:57,924
But
after I crossed the river, I went up the mountain
and was
wringing out my clothes,
295
00:51:57,924
--> 00:52:01,490
I was
looking back at North Korea,
296
00:52:01,990
--> 00:52:06,124
and I
thought, "Maybe I won't be able to go back."
297
00:52:15,990
--> 00:52:22,924
If I
were to get caught in China,
I would
get sent back to North Korea anyway.
298
00:52:24,990
--> 00:52:29,890
Well
then, South Korea is my land too,
so maybe
I've got to go to the south.
299
00:52:31,390
--> 00:52:33,290
I
thought that way would be better.
300
00:52:33,290
--> 00:52:35,824
Even if
I die, it's better to choose my own way.
301
00:52:36,390
--> 00:52:38,124
So I
left.
302
00:52:44,624
--> 00:52:48,724
I wanted
to go to South Korea, but I didn't know how.
303
00:52:56,224
--> 00:52:59,490
It took
about a week to get out of China.
304
00:53:06,590
--> 00:53:08,790
I got
close to the border
305
00:53:08,790
--> 00:53:12,724
and I
was trying to figure out how to get across.
306
00:53:12,724
--> 00:53:16,390
There
was a bus that was going along the border.
307
00:53:18,724
--> 00:53:25,624
I
thought if I hop off that bus after about 15 minutes,
we would
be at the right place.
308
00:53:26,390
--> 00:53:32,190
So
that's what I did. I got off and snuck across the border into Laos.
309
00:53:48,990
--> 00:53:55,724
Once I
made it safely to Thailand, all I did was art until I went to South Korea.
310
00:53:57,958
--> 00:54:01,124
I still
have a few pieces I drew back then.
311
00:54:08,790
--> 00:54:12,124
I was
assigned to live in Gongju, South Korea.
312
00:54:12,124
--> 00:54:19,424
I was
trying to meet up with South Korean artists,
and soon
found an art museum in Gongju.
313
00:54:19,890
--> 00:54:25,324
The
owner suggested that I apply to a nearby school
in Chungnam province
314
00:54:25,324
--> 00:54:30,590
but I wanted
to go to a Hongik University in Seoul.
315
00:54:30,590
--> 00:54:37,890
I went
there and asked what I had to prepare,
and they
said the drawing test was all I had to take.
316
00:54:39,024
--> 00:54:41,490
I was
confident.
317
00:54:42,390
--> 00:54:45,590
I went
back and took the test
318
00:54:45,590
--> 00:54:47,424
and then
they sent me my acceptance letter.
319
00:54:47,490
--> 00:54:55,324
"Hong-ik University graduation picture"
320
00:54:57,390
--> 00:55:02,124
I
realized that I too have a story to tell the world.
321
00:55:02,124
--> 00:55:09,290
I too
have a reason for my existence.
322
00:55:09,790
--> 00:55:13,875
This is
all I know how to do,
so I'll
just keep doing what I do.
323
00:55:14,724
--> 00:55:18,390
I am
going to use this to tell my story.
00:55:34:11 --> 00:55:41:13
TITLE CARD:
2 days until Sun Mu’s exhibit in Beijing.
324
00:56:34,167
--> 00:56:38,290
I'm
someone who takes risks.
325
00:56:38,290
--> 00:56:45,124
I can't
stop an exhibition that I like so much
just
because of risks.
326
00:56:46,924
--> 00:56:50,990
Whatever,
that's my attitude.
327
00:56:58,490
--> 00:57:04,824
Interviewer:
Do you think there will be any threats on the day of the event?
328
00:57:05,690
--> 00:57:08,124
Yes. I'm
sure there will be a threat.
329
00:57:08,124
--> 00:57:16,490
But I
don't want to let them know who this crazy Sun Mu guy is and where he lives.
330
00:57:17,690
--> 00:57:21,590
Sun Mu
told me if he got caught, he would kill himself
331
00:57:21,590
--> 00:57:25,324
because
he doesn't want to incriminate his family.
332
00:57:25,324
--> 00:57:28,324
He
doesn't want the government to find out who he is.
333
00:57:28,524
--> 00:57:32,824
That's
why I can't be there as Sun Mu at the opening ceremony.
334
00:57:34,124
--> 00:57:36,324
I can't
be there, but my artwork will.
335
00:57:36,324
--> 00:57:38,124
That's
the same as me being there.
336
00:57:40,490
--> 00:57:44,624
Interviewer:
Can you tell us the meaning of the piece with the fish on a chopping board?
337
00:57:50,590
--> 00:57:54,324
On a
huge chopping board, there's a little fish
338
00:57:54,324
--> 00:57:55,890
It's a
boring fish
339
00:57:55,890
--> 00:57:59,290
and big
knives are pointing their blades at the little fish.
340
00:57:59,290
--> 00:58:02,024
Who
knows how that little fish will get sliced up?
341
00:58:02,024
--> 00:58:07,490
I want
to talk about how a powerful nation will carve off a bigger chunk with a bigger
knife,
342
00:58:07,490
--> 00:58:10,390
and
smaller nations get smaller chunks.
343
00:58:26,324
--> 00:58:33,990
Interviewer:
Are you worried that your family could be in danger if they are with you?
344
00:58:34,390
--> 00:58:45,290
I do
worry a little, but when I'm with them I'm not Sun Mu the artist, I'm just the
head of my family.
345
00:58:48,490
--> 00:58:53,324
Well,
I'm not sure if the Chinese government would acknowledge that difference.
346
00:58:55,390
--> 00:59:05,190
We will
just be a nice happy family traveling around China.
347
00:59:11,000
--> 00:59:16,490
Safety
is the biggest concern for me, since we're talking about family.
348
00:59:16,824
--> 00:59:24,324
I don't
have any room to worry about anything else but the safety of our family.
349
00:59:26,390
--> 00:59:29,224
I hope
my husband does well
350
00:59:29,224
--> 00:59:32,924
but to
be honest I'm worried about this exhibition.
351
00:59:41,024
--> 00:59:44,190
It's not
like I'm putting myself in danger purposely.
352
00:59:44,724
--> 00:59:49,724
I'm just
doing what I have to do.
01:00:41:09 --> 01:00:46:13
TITLE CARD:
The day before Sun Mu’s exhibit in Beijing.
353
01:01:14,424
--> 01:01:19,990
I have
to cut this giant board into pieces
354
01:01:23,124
--> 01:01:26,590
all
around here.
355
01:01:26,890
--> 01:01:27,924
Isn't it
fun?
01:01:35:18 --> 01:01:39:00
TITLE CARD:
Ho Bin
Sun Mu’s Assistant
356
01:01:38,890
--> 01:01:42,375
If we
take a look at this piece
357
01:01:43,990
--> 01:01:46,490
It
reads, "The view is good, but it's also a good place to live"
358
01:01:46,490
--> 01:01:49,490
And
there's a sassy girl looking back.
359
01:01:49,490
--> 01:01:55,690
Her
attire of a red scarf and ribbon in her hair
360
01:01:55,690
--> 01:02:00,124
shows
that she's a typical North Korean student.
361
01:02:01,390
--> 01:02:04,124
But this
"good place to live" is not the North Korea we know.
362
01:02:04,124
--> 01:02:08,990
So when
people read this they might ask,
"Does
the artist even know North Korea?"
363
01:02:09,790
--> 01:02:16,490
Interviewer:
What genre do you think
Sun Mu
belongs to as an artist?
364
01:02:16,990
--> 01:02:20,290
I'll
give a simple answer.
365
01:02:20,390
--> 01:02:22,724
Political
pop art.
366
01:02:23,390
--> 01:02:27,224
I don't
know a thing about pop art.
367
01:02:27,290
--> 01:02:33,490
I just
do this, or I do that, whatever I feel like doing.
368
01:02:33,490
--> 01:02:37,290
I have
no intention of defining my art as pop art.
369
01:02:37,390
--> 01:02:40,390
I don't
know and I'm not interested.
370
01:02:40,490
--> 01:02:44,290
Interviewer:
Who is your biggest influence?
371
01:02:44,924
--> 01:02:47,824
I don't
have anyone who influences me.
372
01:02:47,824
--> 01:02:49,624
Oh wait,
there is.
373
01:02:50,190
--> 01:02:52,924
Kim Il
Sung and Kim Jong Il.
374
01:02:54,724
--> 01:02:57,790
Is that
funny?
375
01:03:16,124
--> 01:03:20,890
Wow, the
press release on your exhibition has been viewed by 16,000 people.
376
01:03:20,890
--> 01:03:24,690
It's
spreading from person to person.
377
01:03:26,390
--> 01:03:28,890
That's
cool you can get those numbers.
378
01:03:30,890
--> 01:03:42,390
Tomorrow
there will be an opening reception, and after that we have the performance,
right?
379
01:03:42,824
--> 01:03:46,290
Yes,
maybe like this
380
01:03:46,990
--> 01:03:53,124
First,
the opening. We start at four.
381
01:03:53,124
--> 01:03:57,524
But it
will be 4:30 when everyone gets here.
We won't
have much time.
382
01:03:57,524
--> 01:04:03,424
I'll
make an opening announcement at 4:30, marking the start of the exhibition.
383
01:04:03,424
--> 01:04:09,124
The
first thing to do is play his songs.
384
01:04:10,390
--> 01:04:16,424
After
the songs, it's the performance of the children, they will release the flag.
385
01:04:16,724
--> 01:04:21,724
After
the performance, it's his thank you speech.
386
01:04:21,890
--> 01:04:25,790
So after
the flag performance, we'll hear your words of gratitude.
387
01:04:25,790
--> 01:04:27,124
The one
we recorded, right?
388
01:04:27,124
--> 01:04:28,324
Yes.
389
01:04:28,924
--> 01:04:43,990
Tomorrow,
I might come with a group of visitors and drift off without letting anyone
know.
390
01:04:44,224
--> 01:04:48,290
He's
thinking about pretending to be security.
391
01:04:48,324
--> 01:04:49,524
He
should get his hair cut.
392
01:04:50,424
--> 01:04:53,790
We
better be careful tomorrow.
393
01:04:53,790
--> 01:05:00,190
Since
the kids are too young to know what's going on,
once
they catch sight of Sun Mu
394
01:05:00,190
--> 01:05:03,390
they
might give away Sun Mu's identity right away.
395
01:05:03,624
--> 01:05:07,624
So then
as soon as the ceremony ends,
I'll
take the kids upstairs.
396
01:05:18,324
--> 01:05:24,990
I wish
he wouldn't come to the opening to be completely honest.
397
01:05:24,990
--> 01:05:30,124
I even
had a dream that during the opening he is captured and taken away.
398
01:05:33,290
--> 01:05:37,490
Sometimes
I can't sleep because of that fear.
01:06:20:03 --> 01:06:24:13
TITLE CARD:
The day of Sun Mu’s exhibit in Beijing.
399
01:07:48,490
--> 01:07:55,424
I do
want to go to the gallery and see how they've set it up.
400
01:07:57,324
--> 01:08:04,024
But I
think the gallery wants me to stay quiet.
401
01:08:05,124
--> 01:08:12,924
So I'll
have to lay down this title of Sun Mu for a bit
and go
there as one of the visitors.
402
01:08:13,624
--> 01:08:16,857
I've put
so much effort into all those pieces.
403
01:08:16,857
--> 01:08:25,207
And now
we're coming to the opening...
404
01:08:26,924
--> 01:08:36,790
It's sad
that I can't stand there in public and say, "I am Sun Mu."
405
01:08:40,124
--> 01:08:42,490
Because
that's who I am.
406
01:08:51,292
--> 01:08:53,833
Has
anybody from the government come by yet today?
407
01:08:55,250
--> 01:09:00,167
I think
maybe in the morning two guys come here.
408
01:09:00,208
--> 01:09:01,792
Want to
see first...
409
01:09:01,875
--> 01:09:05,792
I'm not
sure who they are but from the clothes
410
01:09:05,833
--> 01:09:07,417
and the
feeling...
411
01:09:07,792
--> 01:09:11,292
Seems
like someone working in the government come here.
412
01:10:02,323
--> 01:10:05,157
I got a
call saying that I shouldn't come out.
413
01:10:05,157
--> 01:10:08,790
It got
Sun Mu and me all curious
414
01:10:08,924
--> 01:10:14,657
so I
ignored the call and went out.
415
01:10:16,357
--> 01:10:21,924
Once I
stepped out, I saw police officers all over the place.
416
01:10:21,924
--> 01:10:30,157
I chose
to go to the coffee shop on the second floor instead of the first so as to not
raise suspicion.
417
01:10:30,157
--> 01:10:35,657
On the
second floor, I ran into Liang and Liang's wife, who were trying to hide.
418
01:10:38,290
--> 01:10:42,124
As I was
thinking to myself that I should pick up a pamphlet,
419
01:10:42,124
--> 01:10:46,724
the owner
of the coffeeshop asks
420
01:10:46,724
--> 01:10:50,124
"Isn't
your husband the artist doing the exhibition?"
421
01:10:50,924
--> 01:10:54,290
I was so
surprised. If I had stayed there any longer,
422
01:10:54,290
--> 01:11:04,157
they
would soon find out how I'm linked to Sun Mu and I could become their hostage
in no time.
423
01:11:11,124
--> 01:11:13,124
Ho Bin:
Hello?
424
01:11:13,124
--> 01:11:16,124
The
situation is,
425
01:11:18,624
--> 01:11:21,290
there
are some people standing in front of the gallery
426
01:11:21,290
--> 01:11:24,790
and some
are wearing North Korean pin badges.
427
01:11:24,790
--> 01:11:26,724
And
there's Chinese police.
428
01:11:26,724
--> 01:11:30,424
They are
having a conversation now.
429
01:11:31,624
--> 01:11:36,290
Cars
and... a lot of police officers.
430
01:11:52,357
--> 01:12:00,424
I didn't
get there until later, around 3:30.
431
01:12:00,424
--> 01:12:05,357
They
began to stop people from getting into the museum.
432
01:12:05,624
--> 01:12:10,924
Ho Bin:
Yes, Mr. Cui. Are you still staying around here?
433
01:12:10,924
--> 01:12:15,490
In my
opinion, it'd be better if you stay away from here.
434
01:12:15,124
--> 01:12:20,224
Cui: I didin't even know what Sun Mu or we did wrong
435
01:12:20,224
--> 01:12:23,790
but with
the crowd of Chinese police and North Koreans outside the gallery,
436
01:12:23,790
--> 01:12:25,557
the
situation was confusing.
437
01:12:26,124
--> 01:12:28,290
But I
thought, we're not criminals.
438
01:12:30,124
--> 01:12:36,790
There
were North Koreans with Kim Il Sung badges
going
here and there.
439
01:12:50,157
--> 01:12:54,424
Liang:
There were many North Koreans outside of the museum.
440
01:12:55,724
--> 01:13:03,208
They
brought many North Koreans with lapel pins on their chest. There were dozens of
them.
441
01:13:04,042
--> 01:13:06,208
Why all
the police?
442
01:13:07,790
--> 01:13:09,624
I don't
know.
443
01:13:13,857
--> 01:13:15,557
Is this
a non-profit exhibition?
444
01:13:15,557
--> 01:13:16,857
Yes,
yes.
445
01:13:17,290
--> 01:13:20,290
Is this
your full-time job or your part-time job?
446
01:13:20,290
--> 01:13:23,157
It's considered
a full-time job.
447
01:13:23,790
--> 01:13:26,124
I met
him at a workshop.
448
01:13:26,124
--> 01:13:30,357
Is he
not there now?
449
01:13:30,990
--> 01:13:33,724
I just
received his paintings.
450
01:13:34,490
--> 01:13:42,124
So this
gentleman mailed his paintings to a Korean who knows you,
or is
there someone else in between?
451
01:13:43,924
--> 01:13:48,424
Well,
Mr. Liang, what I just asked first is...
452
01:13:48,857
--> 01:14:00,357
They
started investigating. They interrogated me until really late, about 3 a.m.
453
01:14:07,724
--> 01:14:10,124
The
streets near the gallery were shut down.
454
01:14:10,124
--> 01:14:16,624
People
were only allowed to get out, not in, because the police were controlling it.
455
01:14:30,290
--> 01:14:37,124
The
banners outside the gallery were torn down too, by people brought by the
police.
456
01:14:38,290
--> 01:14:41,290
The
whole thing happened very suddenly.
457
01:14:53,657
--> 01:15:00,424
We had a
lot on our minds, and our bodies were trembling in fear.
458
01:15:00,424
--> 01:15:04,924
When we
heard knocking on the door we were so scared,
thinking
it might be the police.
459
01:15:12,167
--> 01:15:14,042
I'm staying
back! I'm staying back.
460
01:15:52,424
--> 01:15:59,157
"The
exhibition is shut down temporarily. Thank you for understanding."
01:16:03:05 --> 01:16:08:02
TITLE CARD:
The next morning.
01:17:54:08 --> 01:17:59:18
TITLE CARD:
Seoul, South Korea
461
01:18:16,124
--> 01:18:23,657
It looks
like the North Koreans asked the Chinese authorities
462
01:18:24,990
--> 01:18:30,290
to put a
stop to the whole exhibition.
463
01:18:30,657
--> 01:18:37,990
Looking
at what happened that day, I think I underestimated the whole thing.
464
01:18:38,724
--> 01:18:43,157
I could
have been captured.
465
01:18:45,224
--> 01:18:48,424
I did
not expect all that.
466
01:18:59,224
--> 01:19:05,857
With the
help of Cui's wife, we were able to change our flight
tickets so we could leave right away.
467
01:19:08,357
--> 01:19:14,357
When we
were in the taxi to the airport, I was worried about the possibility of someone
following us
468
01:19:14,357
--> 01:19:26,490
and at the
airport, I was worried that the officials might detain us.
469
01:19:34,924
--> 01:19:39,157
I even
thought, "What if they stop us before we take off?"
470
01:19:39,157
--> 01:19:46,224
The
feeling I had at the moment our plane finally took off is indescribable.
471
01:19:49,790
--> 01:20:01,857
At that
time, I was worried that the North Korean government might do something
merciless to me.
472
01:20:01,857
--> 01:20:06,490
They
might send someone to do something sketchy. That's what I worry about.
473
01:20:07,224
--> 01:20:10,924
It did
get me into a lot of trouble.
474
01:20:11,557
--> 01:20:23,624
I was
summoned to the police station several times after that day,
which
put me under a lot of pressure,
475
01:20:23,624
--> 01:20:29,924
and my
phone was monitored for a while.
476
01:20:35,890
--> 01:20:39,690
There is
no one in the Chinese art world that doesn't know about this exhibition.
477
01:20:44,057
--> 01:20:48,057
Now,
everyone knows that there is a North Korean defector artist.
478
01:20:49,890
--> 01:20:57,024
I
believe Sun Mu's art will eventually get into North Korea.
479
01:21:02,057
--> 01:21:05,890
"If
you kill a rooster, the dawn will come nonetheless."
480
01:21:06,190
--> 01:21:09,057
That's
how I see all of this unfolding.
01:21:29:17 --> 01:21:43:06
TITLE CARD:
After Sun Mu’s exhibition was shut down by the
Chinese authorities, Liang was forced to place Sun Mu’s art in storage in
Beijing under the supervision of the Chinese government.
01:21:38:07 --> 01:21:45:12
TITLE CARD:
It is unknown when he will be able to retrieve
them.
481
01:22:13,890
--> 01:22:18,457
Interviewer:
If you were able to go back to North Korea,
what
would you want to do the most?
482
01:22:18,457
--> 01:22:25,690
I'd load
up my car with a pig, rice, and booze
483
01:22:26,324
--> 01:22:32,557
and go
and throw a big party in my hometown
484
01:22:33,324
--> 01:22:37,000
so we
could all eat till our stomachs burst, for once.
01:22:50:06 --> 01:22:55:03
TITLE CARD:
Yeon Mi Jeong,
North Korea Lookout
Ganghwa-do, South Korea
485
01:23:26,324
--> 01:23:33,824
Interviewer:
Is there something you want to do there,
if you
were allowed?
486
01:23:34,690
--> 01:23:38,524
Well, I
want to do an exhibition in Pyongyang.
487
01:23:46,824
--> 01:23:49,324
In my
dream one day
488
01:23:49,024
--> 01:23:55,890
I found
Kim Jong Il at a bar sitting by himself
in the
corner, looking lonely.
489
01:23:56,124
--> 01:24:00,824
And I
was dressed very nicely.
490
01:24:01,690
--> 01:24:06,057
I
thought to myself, "I believed in that man once,
but he
looks so shabby tonight."
491
01:24:06,557
--> 01:24:14,190
I tried
to go and give him something to eat,
but his
pride wouldn't let him take it.
492
01:24:17,024
--> 01:24:20,024
I have
these dreams...
493
01:24:21,832
--> 01:24:28,824
On
another day, I met Kim Jong Un in my dream.
494
01:24:29,824
--> 01:24:36,257
He said,
"Hey, I'll help an esteemed artist like yourself
put on
an exhibition in Pyongyang."
495
01:24:36,524
--> 01:24:39,124
I said,
"Is that so?
496
01:24:39,124
--> 01:24:41,390
Well if
that's what you say,
497
01:24:42,457
--> 01:24:44,390
it'll
happen."
01:25:04:07 --> 01:25:12:06
TITLE CARD:
I AM SUN MU