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Hello, my name is Robert Kowalczyk and I am the international coordinator for The Peace Mask Project.
Formerly I was Professor and Chair of the Intercultural Studies Department at Kinki University in Osaka, Japan.
The Peace Mask Project represents both diversity and harmony.
Diversity for individuals, for generations, for cultures and people.
And harmony amongst all of these.
There are three components to The Peace Mask Project.
One of course is the masks, shown collectively on a wall, often thousands.
Another are portraits of the individuals of whom the mask impression was taken
which are also displayed along an adjoining wall.
And the third component, which is equally important
is the peace messages that are written by the individuals whose impressions are made.
All three of these combine to make an exhibition and a celebration of diversity and harmony.
One of the beautiful things of The Peace Mask Project is that local communities are involved in the workshops.
Mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters working together, basically, to create the masks.
And the workshops are then followed by exhibitions of the masks displayed upon a wall.
And with those exhibitions there is often entertainment, such as music or performances.
So it really is a community festival of sorts, in its culmination.
And during the process, a very important part of it is the
dialogue that happens between people as to why this is taking place.
What is this for? What are they doing?
This dialogue helps to create understanding among the people.
Speaking of dialogue, the philosophy of The Peace Mask Project
is to generate conflict transformation, conflict resolution between people.
This is at the core of our beliefs.
The Peace Mask Project began in 2002
with the celebration of the football World Cup, held both in Japan and in Korea.
This was a particularly significant event because there had been a history of conflict between the two countries
mostly due to the occupation of Korea by Japan, prior to World War II.
So this was kind of like a melting of the tensions between the two.
The Peace Mask Project between Korea and Japan in 2002
was a wonderful example of conflict transformation through art.
Following that project in 2002, The Peace Mask Project was taken to many other countries
and was proven successful as a bridge in Cambodia, in India,
again in Korea through the “Korean Conflict” series
at the 6th international conference of peace museums held in 2008
and also in other locations, including the United States.
I can sincerely say, from the deepest part of my heart
that we with The Peace Mask Project
are sincerely looking forward to working with you in the Catalonian countries
to bring warmth and happiness and joy
and a great celebration for all the Catalonian people.
We look forward to seeing you again very soon.
Adeu!
Hello, my name is Kya Kim and
I'm in charge of media and communications at The Peace Mask Project.
Peace Mask is a project which facilitates conflict transformation through art.
Art in its nature is non-dualistic so it transcends us vs. them thinking
and embodies the spirit of unity.
Conflict, neither negative nor positive in itself
is an opportunity for growth through self-actualization.
This is the path to peace through dignity, mutual respect, and dialogue.
We believe that self-actualization is the fundamental right
of any individual or group to reach their full potential without frustration.
We feel that The Peace Mask Project provides a unique opportunity for the Catalan countries
to blossom in a nonviolent, nonsectarian expression of hope.
We look forward to working with you to bring together the people of
Catalunya Nord, Illes Balears, Pais Valencia, y Principat
together in a beautiful mural of peace masks.
I’d like to speak a little more about the workshops, which are a very important part of the project.
Myong Hee Kim, who is the Director of the project, is an internationally-known artist based in Japan.
Originally Korean, but based in Japan.
During the workshops, Ms. Kim trains local art students
of how to actually make, to create, the mold, which is highly important for the project.