Great to see so many young people from South Korea raising awareness of the ‘comfort women’ issue in London today, performing and protesting at the Japanese embassy and Trafalgar Square. [Read More]
Month: June 2016
Event news: Koo Jeong A’s Art Night installation in Charing Cross
News of a one-off experience featuring an installation by Koo Jeong A in the disused Jubilee Line terminus under Trafalgar Square: Art Night: Disused Jubilee Line, Charing Cross Underground Station: Koo Jeong A 2 July 2016 This project runs 5pm-12am. Advance bookings only via ICA website. Koo Jeong A creates a new site-specific installation that … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Oh Se-Yeol — The Layers of Memory, at Pontone Gallery
News of Shine Artists’ upcoming exhibition in their new space, Pontone Gallery: Oh Se-Yeol | The Layers of Memory Pontone Gallery | 43 Cadogan Gardens | London SW3 2TB | www.pontonegallery.com 1 – 24 July 2016 Tues – Fri: 10am – 7pm | Sat: 11am – 7pm | Sun: 12pm – 6pm The directors of … [Read More]
Concert notes: Gamin and Notes Inégales at the Spitalfields Festival
When we previewed the double bill at Wilton’s Music Hall featuring Purcell with Korean, Middle Eastern and western instruments, improvisation and more, we had an inkling that the evening might be something special. And we were darn right. This was music making and entertainment that is rare to find anywhere. First, the Purcell. King Arthur / the … [Read More]
Event news: Remembering Dictators – The Politics of Bronze Statues in South Korea and Taiwan
Thanks to Colin Bartlett for forwarding me details of a seminar at SOAS’s main building this evening, hosted by their Centre of Taiwan Studies: Remembering Dictators: The Politics of Bronze Statues in South Korea and Taiwan Speaker: Prof Huang Chang-Ling Date: 22 June 2016, 5:00 – 7:00 pm Venue: Russell Square: College Buildings Room: KLT … [Read More]
Ryu Seonghie featured in the JoongAng Daily
Readers may remember back to 2014 when the KCC had its Year of the Film Professionals. The final professional to be featured was production designer Ryu Seonghie, who has worked on many of the most distinctive Korean movies of the 21st century. Her most recent success is Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden, for which she won the Vulcan Award … [Read More]
Event news: Lynn Czae piano recital at Schott Music Room
News of a piano recital by New York based pianist Lynn Czae (채송화): Lynn Czae – Piano Recital Thursday June 23rd 2016, 7.00pm Schott Recital Room | 48 Great Marlborough Street | London W1F 7BB | uk.schott-music.com Programme to include music by Bach, Haydn, Chopin and Ravel, plus works by Robert Butts, Paul Wilkinson and … [Read More]
Another way to make sure your Korea trip is very busy
In planning my 2016 Korea trip I found two websites invaluable: firstly, the Cultural Heritage Administration site, which provides a wealth of information as to the various sites of interest throughout the country. I talk about this tool here. Secondly, there is the Korean Tourism Organisation website. This is an obvious place to look, but … [Read More]
Korean performers and artists at Edinburgh Fringe 2016
Once again there’s a strong Korean showing at the Fringe this year. It’s particularly nice to see Modl Theatre in the UK again, this time with three productions. Two of them are geared towards families and children, but the third is a something darker: a new and topical production on the theme of the wartime … [Read More]
Event news: HaHaHa and Singles are June’s screenings at the KCC
June’s screenings at the KCC are HaHaHa, one of Hong Sang-soo’s most approachable films (LKL review here), and Singles, a film which Anthony Leong describes as “a breezy concoction brimming with wit and charisma that entertains without relying on dumbed down comedy or exaggerated theatrics.” A good month then. Reservations as usual via the KCC … [Read More]
Andrew Salmon awarded MBE
Congratulations to Andy Salmon for being awarded an MBE in the Queens 90th birthday honours list. His citation, in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List reads as follows: Andrew Charles SALMON Journalist and writer, Seoul, Republic of Korea. For services to British Veterans of the Korean War. If you haven’t already, check out his two … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Seoung Ku Lee — From Nature: Mental Images, at Han Collection
News of an exhibition in the gallery formerly known as Mokspace: From Nature: Mental Images Seoung Ku Lee 16th June – 30th June 2016 Han Collection | 33 Museum Street | Bloomsbury | London WC1A 1LH | www.hancollection.co.uk Monday to Saturday, 11am to 6pm Han Collection is pleased to present ‘From Nature’, an exhibition of … [Read More]
Concert news: Korean Sounds 3 comes to Kings Place, 22 June
The third of the Korean Sounds concerts is an interesting combination of string quartet and traditional Korean music: East Meets West with Abel Quartet and the Korean National Gugak Centre: Mozart & Janácek Wed 22 June 2016 Kings Place Hall Two, 7.30pm The main theme of this concert series is ‘East Meets West’, presenting a … [Read More]
Gamin at Spitalfields Festival – programme details
Next Wednesday’s late-night (9pm) concert at Wilton’s Music Hall, featuring the extraordinary Korean musician Gamin, should be something special. (Book tickets here). Playing piri, taepyeongso (Korean traditional oboe family) and saengwhang (ancient wind-blow instrument), she is one of Korea’s most distinguished musicians, equally at home in traditional Court Music, (a member of the Contemporary Gukak … [Read More]
Neon Bunny – please come back to London soon!
London has been doing well recently for live music: from B.A.P to Jambinai via Dead Buttons and more, there has been something for everyone. But the artist that I personally have been looking forward to seeing more than the rest is Neon Bunny (야광토끼) – whose debut album Seoulight made it into the list of … [Read More]
Event news: Sounds of Korea, at SOAS
The SOAS Korean Music Society presents a varied programme of Korean music this coming Friday (10 June) at 7pm in the main SOAS building. It is rumoured that they will be joined by guest performer Gamin (who will be playing with Notes Inégales at Wilton’s Music Hall on 14 and 15 June). Entry free but … [Read More]