It’s over for this year. From my own perspective, it’s been a great festival. I didn’t manage to get to all of the screenings, but I got to the ones I really wanted to. We had two top-notch films from Korea cinema’s golden age (The Housemaid and Obaltan / Aimless Bullet), a retrospective of one … [Read More]
Month: November 2008 (page 2)
Good, bad or weird? A look at Kim Jee-woon’s classic western
Now the festival is over, perhaps it’s time to set down some thoughts on the lead film, Kim Ji-woon’s Manchurian western. This was one of the most hotly anticipated films in recent years, on a par with Lady Vengeance and Secret Sunshine. Kim Ji-woon has built up an enviable track record with his past films. … [Read More]
Kim Ji-woon in London: bigger, faster
Following a screening of The Good, the Bad and the Weird, director Kim Ji-woon discussed influences, genre experimentation and working with stars in a lively Q&A chaired by Tony Rayns. Entertaining and informative, the session offered valuable insight into Kim’s creative process and Korean cinema’s growing UK audience. [Read More]
Two Friday seminars: Human cloning and Korean security
Two opportunities for free seminars this Friday: lunchtime at Chatham House with Ambassador Chun, and early evening at SOAS. First, details of the Chatham House talk: Chatham House Korea Discussion Group Friday 14 November, 12.30-14.00 Lunch: 12.00 (£10 charge) Korea: Update on the Security and Economic Situation SPEAKER: Ambassador Chun Yung-woo, Embassy of the Republic … [Read More]
Lee Byung-hun on being the bad guy
Lee Byung-hun, in town for the launch of the London Korean Film Festival, took advantage of his trip to have some interviews and engage in other promotional activities. He impressed the crowds at the opening screening of The Good the Bad and the Weird, and again the next day at the post film discussion, with … [Read More]
Korean Painting and Craft Art: Creations from Tradition
Notice of the exhibition at the KCC, which opens tomorrow: Korean Painting and Craft Art: Creations from Tradition Exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre UK 11 Nov 2008 – 4 December 2008 The exhibition showcases JU-WON JANG, NAMI KIM, CHEON-BO, and YOUNG-JUN KIM, four Korean artists who have shaped recent developments in precious ornaments, embroidery, … [Read More]
Stars launch Korean Film Festival
In what must be the biggest-budget launch of the KCC’s third London Korean Film Festival, director Kim Ji-woon and actor Lee Byung-hun were brought to London to introduce the flagship film of the festival, The Good the Bad and the Weird. Tony Rayns, the UK’s most established Korean film expert, was also there to celebrate. … [Read More]
Kim Jong Il in Photoshop Friday
Well, it was the KCNA which started it all, for publishing that photoshopped image of Kim Jong Il on parade with his soldiers, which appeared in the Times earlier this week. Here’s the bit which gives it away: The Chosun Ilbo published an almost identical photo on the same day, but their particular military inspection … [Read More]
Saturday documentaries at the KCC: Koryo Buddhist Paintings
Every Saturday, from November till the end of December, the KCC will be screening a documentary on Koryo Buddhist Paintings. Acclaimed as “divine artistry” in Asia, the Koryo Buddhist Paintings are known for their “infinite labour”. In one painting, 15,000 miniscule faces of Buddhas were drawn in gold to make a single figure of Buddha. … [Read More]
Live Music Versus Audio Tourism
Keith Howard gives his inaugural lecture as Professor of Music at SOAS on Tuesday: Live Music Versus Audio Tourism: world music and the changing music industry Inaugural Lecture by Professor Keith Howard (SOAS) 11 November 2008, 5.30pm,Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS Chair: Professor Jonathan Stock, University of Sheffield Professor Paul Webley, Director and Principal of … [Read More]
Night and Day: Hong Sang Soo in Paris
Claire O’Connell reviews Hong Sang Soo’s latest film, Night and Day, screened last week at the BFI London Film Festival What do you do when you are being sought by the Korean police for possessing cannabis? Run away of course. This is how the painter Sung-Nam (played by Kim Young-Ho) ends up in Paris from … [Read More]
Of Origin and Future: an I-MYU exhibition in Cork Street
As part of Asian Art in London I-MYU Projects is holding a special exhibition in Mayfair’s Cork Street entitled Of Origin and Future. The press release follows. 30 October – 8 November Alon Zakaim Fine Art, 30 Cork Street, W1S 3NG. Asian Contemporary Art is not a combination of Asian Art and Contemporary Art: it … [Read More]
Dance Theatre ON and The True Story of Ah Q
“That was world class” said a knowledgeable member of last night’s audience at the Laban Theatre in Greenwich. I think I probably agree. The visual impact of the dance, the variety of music – from Korean hip hop to Mozart via experimental electronica, the extreme rhythmic complexity… all of it seemed, to an untutored eye … [Read More]
Linda Wrigglesworth collection under the hammer
Last year during Asian Art in London I paid Linda Wrigglesworth a visit. She has an interesting collection of antique textiles and Korean costume alongside her own more modern takes on the oriental style. I particularly liked the rather fine 19th century purple official’s robe (below), not that I would have a use for it … [Read More]
The Tripitaka Koreana – part 1
Matthew Jackson continues his series of articles on the important treasures from Korea’s past One crowning achievement of Korea’s Buddhist heritage that is not included in the Bozar ‘Smile of Buddha’ exhibition is the Tripitaka Koreana. There is a practical reason for this, as it consists of 81,258 woodblocks, weighs 280 tons in total, and … [Read More]
November Events 2008
This events listing was written a week ago before the KCC had published their programme for November. I’ll update it when I get more information. Film Too many films to mention in the London Korean Film Festival at the Barbican from 6 November, with some of them going to Liverpool on 13 November. There’s also … [Read More]