Towards a field of sleep: October skies over the Korean War Memorial

Artist Lee Grant photographed the sky above the Korean War Memorial in Seoul, which she visited as part of a research residency considering the Korean War in September 2018. Grant photographed people and landscapes, drawn to scenes of every day life and nature, amidst the ongoing military presence. It is one of 14 photographs in the series "Towards a field of sleep", which presents the Australian experience of the Korean War. It is one of two series of photographs that comprise "Mnemosyne", her response to the history and legacy of the Korean War shared between the Republic of Korea and Australia.

Grant was selected by the Australian War Memorial as the Australian artist for the inaugural artist residency exchange project with the Republic of Korea. (Taedong Kim was the Korean artist, he spent a month based at the Australian War Memorial.) Grant travelled to Korea to research the history and legacy of the conflict. She visited historic sites and met with current and former service personnel and civilians who lived through the war. She then undertook research at the Australian War Memorial and met with Australian veterans. "Mnemosyne" includes two series of photographs, "Towards a field of sleep" and "And the rivers still flow towards an open sea". Grant's own photographs are complemented with archival photograph's from the Memorial collection. Mnemosyne is the name of the ancient Green goddess of memory and remembrance. The title 'Towards a field of sleep' was inspired by the poem "Towards the field of sleep" by Korean poet Choi Jeongrye.