In Play, Jonathan Fung’s visually provocative exhibition continues to spread awareness on the disconcerting realities of human trafficking. His work targets the vulnerability and innocence of children amidst the haunting nature of modern-day slavery. Fung’s challenging topic cleverly creates a backdrop that weaves connotative signs and symbols for the viewer to engage and extract its meaning.

Play is a video sculpture with vintage television sets that are strategically placed down a metal playground slide. The TVs play footage of teenage girls and boys playing on a playground. The overarching message is that children are innocent and a valuable resource that should be protected instead of being a commodity for sale. Short films are shot with Kodak Super 8 Vision 3 and Kodak Super 8 Ektachrome 100D color motion picture films that juxtapose the innocence of children with an impeding metal fence, which acts as a barrier that a perpetrator crosses to prey on its victims.

Redwood City’s downtown area is considered the “Entertainment Capital of the Peninsula” with its many restaurants, shops, and theaters. In 2016, Jonathan spoke and shared his art installation, PEEP, during the Before Our Very Eyes event at Courthouse Square as part of Human Trafficking Awareness Week. Play is a reminder to the Redwood City Community that we are not immune to human trafficking. This wake-up call isn’t meant to instill fear, but to raise awareness and conversation to focus efforts on prevention.

In February 2017, San Mateo County’s first-ever human trafficking conviction was served to a Berkeley man who was found guilty of coercing a minor into prostitution and sentenced to 34 years in prison. “We’re fighting the scourge of modern-day slavery. This is an example of it. Society is reacting to this and saying, “no, we’re not going to turn our heads,” Steve Wagstaffe, San Mateo County District Attorney said. (www.smdailyjournal.com)

If you or someone you know is being forced into any activity — whether it’s commercial sex, farm work or any type of labor — call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at (888) 373-7888.