By Kim Ji-soo
Geneva, as many know, is home to a vast array of international organizations, including the headquarters of many United Nations agencies and financial institutions. Befittingly, the headquarters of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is there, as well as the award-winning International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum.
Small, almost private in size, the museum enjoyed a steady flow of visitors on one rainy day in June, the same day French President Macron visited the city for the 108th session of the International Labor Conference. It first opened in 1988. It has received the Kenneth Hudson Award in recognition of its most unusual and daring achievements ― one that challenges common perceptions of the role of museums in society.
Currently, there is an ongoing mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions. Under the broad theme "The Humanitarian Adventure," three separate topics are dealt with in the permanent exhibition: "Defending human dignity" (developed by architect Gringo Cardia, Brazil); "Restoring family links (Diebedo Francis Kere, Burkina Faso)"; and "Reducing natural risks (Shigeru Ban, Japan)." The exhibition, was launched six years ago, still manages to immerse the viewer, showing the various challenges people are facing and how humanitarian action can evolve accordingly.
Testimonies of 12 witnesses are a common thread in the exhibit, offering their stories via video and audio visuals.
Having lived through a tumultuous contemporary period where Korea underwent Japanese colonialization, the 1950-1953 Korean War, authoritarian regimes and financial crises, Koreans too are familiar with the challenge of maintaining human dignity and remaining connected with families. An inflow of refugees also surged to the fore last year with Yeminis seeking asylum via Jeju Island. Yet the idea of walking through these weighty themes was daunting at first.
The exhibit however made it easy to relate to and empathize with the people involved. It was all about stories told visually, interactively and spatially. Looking at "Hurricane," an interactive game in the "Reducing natural risks" section, teens were having fun moving objects symbolizing houses and people to safe areas in a simulated situation. In the "Defending human dignity" section, an array of prisoners' items were showcased. There was one plaque, made of thin steel, created by a Soviet prisoner captured in South Africa in 1982 during the Namibian War of Independence. The plaque was created with such skill one wonders what its creator could have produced if they had possessed the correct tools. It's heartening to witness people's creativity surviving through harsh conditions.
Other themes such as "Restoring family links," which started with long chains hanging from the ceiling to signify tragedies, and followed by millions of index cards of people, was powerful enough to stir up varying emotions. It may be a bit overwhelming to walk through and visit every corner of this museum, but the emotive narrative that flowed through each area of the exhibition enabled a better understanding of the harsh environments people face in living through uncertain times.
The strength of their stories was well delivered, by stirring up emotive understanding. Korea has its share of museums focusing on Independence, the Korean War, Korea's participation in foreign wars and colonialization.
The Red Cross museum in Geneva, if the Korean museums have already not, can work as a reference point.
Kim Ji-soo is a deputy managing editor at the Korea Times.
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Small, almost private in size, the museum enjoyed a steady flow of visitors on one rainy day in June, the same day French President Macron visited the city for the 108th session of the International Labor Conference. It first opened in 1988. It has received the Kenneth Hudson Award in recognition of its most unusual and daring achievements ― one that challenges common perceptions of the role of museums in society.
Currently, there is an ongoing mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions. Under the broad theme "The Humanitarian Adventure," three separate topics are dealt with in the permanent exhibition: "Defending human dignity" (developed by architect Gringo Cardia, Brazil); "Restoring family links (Diebedo Francis Kere, Burkina Faso)"; and "Reducing natural risks (Shigeru Ban, Japan)." The exhibition, was launched six years ago, still manages to immerse the viewer, showing the various challenges people are facing and how humanitarian action can evolve accordingly.
Testimonies of 12 witnesses are a common thread in the exhibit, offering their stories via video and audio visuals.
Having lived through a tumultuous contemporary period where Korea underwent Japanese colonialization, the 1950-1953 Korean War, authoritarian regimes and financial crises, Koreans too are familiar with the challenge of maintaining human dignity and remaining connected with families. An inflow of refugees also surged to the fore last year with Yeminis seeking asylum via Jeju Island. Yet the idea of walking through these weighty themes was daunting at first.
The exhibit however made it easy to relate to and empathize with the people involved. It was all about stories told visually, interactively and spatially. Looking at "Hurricane," an interactive game in the "Reducing natural risks" section, teens were having fun moving objects symbolizing houses and people to safe areas in a simulated situation. In the "Defending human dignity" section, an array of prisoners' items were showcased. There was one plaque, made of thin steel, created by a Soviet prisoner captured in South Africa in 1982 during the Namibian War of Independence. The plaque was created with such skill one wonders what its creator could have produced if they had possessed the correct tools. It's heartening to witness people's creativity surviving through harsh conditions.
Other themes such as "Restoring family links," which started with long chains hanging from the ceiling to signify tragedies, and followed by millions of index cards of people, was powerful enough to stir up varying emotions. It may be a bit overwhelming to walk through and visit every corner of this museum, but the emotive narrative that flowed through each area of the exhibition enabled a better understanding of the harsh environments people face in living through uncertain times.
The strength of their stories was well delivered, by stirring up emotive understanding. Korea has its share of museums focusing on Independence, the Korean War, Korea's participation in foreign wars and colonialization.
The Red Cross museum in Geneva, if the Korean museums have already not, can work as a reference point.
Kim Ji-soo is a deputy managing editor at the Korea Times.
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