Lee Ufan’s current exhibition at the Guggenheim New York is his first major show in the US, and only the third by an Asian at the prestigious space – the previous being by Cai Guo-Qiang (I Want to Believe, 2008) and fellow Korean Paik Nam-june (The Worlds of Nam June Paik, 2000). With three-dimensional installations … [Read More]
Month: June 2011
Chung Myung-whun awarded Chevalier des Arts et Lettres
Conductor Chung Myung-whun to join distinguished list of Koreans winning France's top cultural honour – the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres http://bit.ly/iv5hKW # [Read More]
Haegue Yang’s exhibition in Oxford
Joongang Ilbo has an interesting interview-feature on Haegue Yang’s exhibition in Oxford. http://bit.ly/kbwxFI #. I wondered about going on a day trip to her exhibition this weekend, but then realised I needed to do something practical with my own clothes dryer instead. [Read More]
The 5 Most Anticipated Korean Movies in Second Half of 2011
The 5 Most Anticipated Korean Movies in Second Half of 2011: a useful preview from Namhanman http://bit.ly/l0Minb # Sector 7 (7광구) (Kim Ji-hoon) My Way (마이 웨이) (Kang Je-gyu) Only You (오직 그대만) (aka. Always) (Song Il-gon) The Front Line (고지전) (Jang Hoon) La Quotidienne (오늘) (Lee Jung-hyang) [Read More]
Plato and Dae Jang Geum – Art and the Ideal State
Plato thought that art was detrimental to the soul. At least, this is the theory put forward by the character of Socrates in book 9 of the ‘Republic’, a work on the development of the human soul and civilisation. The probem with art, Socrates alleges, is that the very qualities which make it enrapturing necessarily … [Read More]
Tesco to celebrate FTA by bringing kimchi to Koreatown
As the ratification of the US-Korea seems to bumble on interminably, the EU-Korea treaty comes into effect on 1 July. To celebrate, Tesco is running a “Taste of Korea” promotion during July. Tesco is huge in Korea, which is the firm’s second biggest presence after the UK, with £5 billion in revenues and 354 stores: … [Read More]
Bridge of National Defense collapses into Nakdong River
‘Bridge of National Defense’ Collapses into Nakdong River – reportedly due the Four Rivers project. The Marmot has a timely feature on some of these historic bridges: http://bit.ly/kHg19s. Photo above from Joongang Ilbo # [Read More]
“A Room” Exhibition at the KCC
Details of the KCC’s exhibition which will see us through the summer months, focusing on homes and interiors: A Room: New Readings of Korean Tradition 28 June 2011 – 31 August 2011 The Korean Cultural Centre (UK) is pleased to announce the upcoming exhibition A Room: New Readings of Korean Tradition, a compelling exhibition that … [Read More]
Lee Ufan at the opening of Marking Infinity
The opening of Lee Ufan’s “Marking Infinity” at the Guggenheim. Lee tells his audience how he spent three weeks wrestling with the curved interior space of the Frank Lloyd Wright rotunda. http://twitpic.com/5h3ui5 [Read More]
The Nomad Artist in a Transnational Era: Korean Contemporary Art on British Soil
Looks like an interesting afternoon coming up at the KCC on Friday afternoon, 1 July. RSVP to [email protected] The Nomad Artist in a Transnational Era: Korean Contemporary Art on British Soil. Ever since the early 1960s when the term ‘globalization’ was coined there have been stormy discussions especially since the early 1990s. By now, the … [Read More]
China claims Arirang as its own
Why 'Arirang' isn't listed among Korea's cultural assets – and why it soon will be thanks to the Chinese. Interesting article in the Chosun Ilbo http://bit.ly/jFz2MM with a counterblast by Roboseyo (Nobody owns Arirang) # [Read More]
Noodles in NYC K-town
A farewell lunch of noodles at Shanghai Mong in NYC K-town yesterday. Thanks, Insoon. I'll see you in Seoul next year. http://twitpic.com/5gndzp # [Read More]
Princess Pyunggang and General Ondal: Korean children bring musical from Seoul
News of an upcoming musical in Kingston and Brighton: Princess Pyunggang and General Ondal From Seoul, this award-winning troupe of multi-talented Korean children and adults present a majestic 21stC remix of an ancient Korean children’s folktale unifying traditional drumming, opera, flag dance and tap to dazzle audiences and inspire endless love and peaceful transformation. Suitable … [Read More]
Culture ministry to launch K-pop academy
Do we need another K-pop academy? Government support for the film industry was needed in the 1990s, but there are plenty of commercial K-pop operations. But we should welcome support for Korean indie music. http://bit.ly/iSJR5f # [Read More]
Korean unions target Standard Chartered and KEB
"There is a serious attempt … to tarnish StanChart’s reputation" in Korea. (FT) http://on.ft.com/jWUhFl #. Continuing the theme: Korean Bankers Take to the Streets – a good summary of what's going on at KEB and SC First right now http://on.wsj.com/l5WXBV # [Read More]
Margaret Drabble reviews Park Kyung-ni’s Land
Margaret Drabble reviews Park Kyung-ni’s Land in the Times Literary Supplement: “a remarkable and important work in which Eastern and Western traditions fruitfully meet” http://bit.ly/iQ7SBn # [Read More]