Annabelle Godeau, a 27-year-old French graphic artist who recently won the grand prize in the "comfort women" art contest run by the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), said that she drew her 18-page graphic novel to spread awareness about the victims of sexual slavery from colonial times and World War II.
"I wanted to tell the story of the 'comfort women' so that others like me, who grew up in the West and know little about these atrocities, could learn about and hear these women's tales," she said.
Godeau began taking an interest in Korea in high school when she came across its music and films by chance online. In college, she studied animation and illustration and in 2013 landed herself an internship at a company in Korea.
It was during her time in Korea that she first learned about the "comfort women." From then onward, Godeau took an active interest in the issue. She even took the initiative to explore the topic further for her final graduation project.
"I learned a lot about World War II as a young student in France, but I never heard anything about the victims of sexual slavery in East Asia. The moment that I learned of this tragedy, I was utterly shocked," she said.
In a recent interview with Korea.net, Godeau explained the thought process behind her prize-winning comic, and what she hopes readers will take away from her material.
French graphic artist Annabelle Godeau's prize winning comic about the 'comfort women' includes a page detailing the historical background that led to the enslavement of these women.
French graphic artist Annabelle Godeau's prize winning comic about the 'comfort women' reexamines the stories of the victims in close detail.
French graphic artist Annabelle Godeau's prize winning comic about the 'comfort women' reexamines the stories of the victims in close detail.
