Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) UK celebrate the centenary of Korean comics ‘Manhwa’ with a host of interrelated special exhibitions, events and film screenings, 21 May – 24 June 2009. Special Exhibitions Manhwa: A Language of Unlimited Imaginations Manhwa celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2009. This popular art form holds … [Read More]
Year: 2009 (page 23)
Korea’s least-known best films?
Mark Morris from Cambridge University’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies discusses two films shown at the Barbican on Sunday. The International Buddhist Film Festival (IBFF) chose the Barbican Centre for its venue between 7-17 May. Two remarkable Korean films stood out among an eclectic mix of documentary and narrative films. The 1949 Hometown … [Read More]
The Great Game and Li-Ladygensky
What am I on about? Come to SOAS on Friday to find out. It looks like a particularly interesting lecture, this time in English, but note the change of venue. Friday, May 15th, 5pm, FG08 Prof. HyunSoo Kim, SOAS / Dangook University Title: “Interrelation between British Fleet’s Withdrawal from Port Hamilton (Kŏmundo) and the British … [Read More]
Review: Youn Sun Nah and Ulf Wakenius at the Vortex
There weren’t many people who knew what to expect at the Vortex on Sunday night. Time Out had given a useful taster in their listings column, while one or two Korean fans (including the ambassador’s wife) knew Youn Sun Nah’s music well. Probably most of the audience were there because they are Vortex regulars – … [Read More]
Francesca Cho in Berlin and Lecce
London-based Korean artist Francesca Cho is participating in two group exhibitions in continental Europe during May: in Berlin and Lecce. Reliquaries of Empires Dust Reliquaries of Empires Dust is an exhibition exploring trends in art and artists response to the current global climate. Whether an exploration in environmental, geopolitical, monetary, cultural, societal shifts or in … [Read More]
Time Out previews Youn Sun Nah
Time Out provides the following encouragement to come along to The Vortex this Sunday evening: Korean jazz singer YSN may be a new name on these shores, but she’s already clocked up six albums; her latest, “Voyage” released on prestigious German label, ACT. Here with leading Swedish guitarist Wakenius, she lets the full range of … [Read More]
Korean film at the Terracotta film festival
The new kid on the block when it comes to Asian film is Terracotta. They launched themselves last November by securing the rights to Im Pil-sung’s horror film Hansel and Gretel (which screens at the KCC later this month – 28 May), and they’re making a splash at the Prince Charles this month with the … [Read More]
Sleepless (and short) in Seoul
The French spend more time sleeping than anyone else in OECD countries. They also devote more time to eating than anyone else and nearly double that of Americans, Canadians or Mexicans. The Japanese sleep nearly an hour less every night than the French and also spend longer at work and commuting than they do indulging … [Read More]
3rd New Malden Arts Festival
Details of the 3rd New Malden Arts Festival, organised by Theatre For All. Date: 16 June 2009 ~ 11 July (4 weeks) Organised by: Theatre For All (www.theatre4all.com) Supported by: Kingston Council, Korean Cultural Centre UK, ASIANA AIRLINES 16th June YOON BOK HEE OPENING GALA CONCERT 16th June – 27th June NANTA (Cookin’) – Rose … [Read More]
A hangul writing competition
In celebration of their current exhibition Hangul=Spirit: Inspired by Korean Characters, the Korean Cultural Centre is organising a Hangul writing competition. The competition involves the writing of two much loved Korean poems: entry forms including the Hangeul writing paper can be downloaded from the KCC website (www.kccuk.org.uk). The rules: Two Korean poems are to be … [Read More]
Myosung Breaks Convention
For the past few years, Sadlers Wells theatre has hosted a breakdancing fest over the Mayday bank holiday weekend. And for the past few years I have only realised it was happening after it was over. This year, I’ve done slightly better (realising it is going on half way through), thanks to the Weekend FT, … [Read More]
May events 2009
Here are the Korea-related events for May Featured events Nah Youn Sun plays the Vortex on 10 May as part of her world tour. Her London debut. Unmissable. B-boy crew Myosung perform at Breakin’ Convention 2009 on 3 May, followed by a UK tour. Visual Arts Kim Jin’s solo show continues at I-MYU until 16 … [Read More]
Chongganbo – Sejong’s Musical Alphabet
By Matthew Jackson King Sejong is most famous for his invention of the Korean alphabet. His other achievements, in social and legal reform, science and art, are less well known. The Chongganbo (정간보), which could be regarded as a musical alphabet, is one such achievement. The five-line staff notation that we use in modern music … [Read More]
Two rare Korean Buddhist films at the Barbican
International Buddhist Film Festival World Cinema with a Buddhist Edge Thu 7–Sun 17 May 2009 The world’s leading resource for Buddhist cinema, the US based IBFF comes to the UK, and the Barbican, for the first time. Part of The Many Faces of Buddhism series, the lineup of programmes here at IBFF 2009 LONDON includes … [Read More]
Lovers’ Concerto (연애소설, 2002) review: love remembered, hearts broken
Framed through memory and regret, Lovers’ Concerto follows a young man reflecting on a formative relationship with two women. Openly melodramatic and often contrived, it nonetheless builds deep empathy through measured direction, strong performances, and emotional unpredictability, culminating in an unrelenting portrait of love, loss, and heartbreak. [Read More]
Happy music, Happy people
We want to make people in this world listen our music and feel happy 😉 Nina Lee from Happy Robot Records talks to Anna Lindgren. Over the past few years, Happy Robot has become one of the finest indie labels in Korea. Several of their artists made it to the finals of AVIMA 2009 – … [Read More]