London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

July events 2009

Here are the events for July: Exhibitions and sales The Christie’s sales of Korean work is on 1 July The Ideal Worlds exhibition at Sesame closes on 3 July (sorry for missing this off last month’s listings) The Phillips de Pury / Korean Eye Moon Generation exhibition at the Saatchi gallery closes on 5 July … [Read More]

Guerrilla artists take on the establishment

In the north-east extremities of the City, on the fringes of bohemian Hoxton, is I-MYU, a small gallery on the first floor of a shared block. You need to ring the doorbell to gain admittance. Since its opening nearly two years ago, I-MYU has been championing the cause of Korean artists. Im Jeongae and Yu … [Read More]

Korean Old Pop at I-MYU

Notice of I-MYU’s latest exhibition, which is well worth a visit. Korean Old Pop 26 June 2009 ~ 18 July 2009 I-MYU Projects | 23 Charlotte Road | London EC2A 3PB Curator: Min Byung Jic Artists: Kim Ki Yong | Kang Young Min | The Jack Sponsors: Art Council Korea | Art space Hue This … [Read More]

A manhwa artist at war

The Manhwa exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre finished this week, in preparation for the new Living Heritage exhibition. It was an interesting exhibition, giving some of the history of manhwa from its beginnings in early twentieth century newspapers, to the graphic novels which are avidly consumed today and which form a major part of … [Read More]

Distinctively Korean sales at Christie’s

Coinciding with the interest in Korean art being generated by the Korean Eye: Moon Generation exhibition in the Saatchi gallery, Christie’s are holding an auction of contemporary photography on 1 July, in a sale which includes several Koreans who have featured on the pages of LKL. Probably the most eminent of the photographers represented is … [Read More]

Living Heritage at the KCC

An Exhibition of Intangible Heritage Properties produced by twenty-five of Korea’s finest Master Craftsmen and Women. 29 June ~ 21 July 2009 The Korean Cultural Centre proudly announces the upcoming exhibition of Living Heritage at the Korean Cultural Centre UK. The title Living Heritage is one given by UNESCO that refers to the most fragile … [Read More]

Max Hastings: The Korean War

Pan Macmillan, 1987 There are so many books on the Korean War, which commenced 59 years ago today, that it’s difficult to know where to start. One history which has stood the test of time is by Max Hastings. Clocking in at 35% fewer pages than David Halberstam’s recent well-received account, Max Hastings’s The Korean … [Read More]

London salerooms get Korean bug

Two of London’s main art dealers and auction houses are majoring in Korean art at the moment. Phillips de Pury, tucked in behind the old Army & Navy store in Victoria, has an exhibition and sale of major contemporary artists which it hopes will become an annual event, while Christie’s is preparing for an auction … [Read More]

The Marines who never returned screens at the KCC

News of the screening at the Cultural Centre on 25 June, the anniversary of the start of the Korean War. Lee Man-hee’s classic war film – difficult to get to see. As usual, pre-registration is required. The Marines Who Never Returned (돌아오지 않는 해병) Director: Lee Man-hee (1963, 110 mins) Starring: Choi Mu-ryong, Chang Dong-hui … [Read More]

A scientific look at ancient Korean art

Jennifer Barclay reports on the Anglo-Korean Society evening at the Korean Cultural Centre, 16 June 2009 Short documentaries on some of Korea’s ancient cultural artefacts were shown at the Korean Cultural Centre on 16 June, presented by members of the non-profit Korean Spirit and Cultural Promotion Project. Matthew Jackson and Hang-Jin Chang, who graduated together … [Read More]

Contemporary Dance at Dulwich Picture Gallery

Dulwich Picture Gallery is hosting four performances of a contemporary dance production over two weekends in celebration of its new exhibition, The Polish Connection. The dance performance has been developed in relation to an installation by Antoni Malinowski. Working from the 18th Century portraits of King Stanislaw the vectors of the Polish King’s gaze are … [Read More]

Nanta: Catch it while you can

It’s impossible not to admire the hard-working, multi-talented Koreans who perform in the energetic shows like Breakout (2007), Jump (2002), and, the original, Nanta (1997), which is currently showing at the Rose Theatre. And it’s impossible not to be entertained. There’s probably little to say about Nanta which hasn’t already been said. The performers are … [Read More]

Yoon Bok-hee: a Korean Kitten in Kingston

“Aigoo!” grumbled veteran pop diva Yoon Bok-hee as she bent down to untangle a kink in the microphone cable. Her back didn’t seem to be giving her any problems though. She told us twice, to much applause, that she is now 63 years old, and very sprightly she is too. This was all part of … [Read More]