"My artwork ‘Touched,’ a story of “The Rape of Nanjing” was the focus of my final art piece this year. It underlines political issues in democratic countries, where having freedom of speech and expression is a basic human right. The capacity to openly express ourselves and voice our minds and opinions is critical for societal progress. I am passionate about world history and from research; I came across the Second-Japanese Sino War (Rape of Nanjing, Nanking Massacre, December 1937). The story left me saddened by the atrocities that took place and I was horrified by the Japanese Government and their part in trying to hide and deny the Rape of Nanking. Their story deserves a voice. I discovered Zhang Xiuhong`s horrific experience and story during the massacre. Xiuhong died at the age of 90 (2016). Before her death, Xiuhong left a testimony for China’s first documentaryabout Nanjing Massacre survivors, in which she revealed her painful memory of rape by Japanese invaders when she was only 11 years old. Scarred, both physically and mentally Xiuhong’s voice comes through in my artwork."

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