This rather beautiful letter, from a pregnant widow to her dead husband in 16th century Andong, has be out there for a while, but has just resurfaced in the blogopshere courtesy of Letters of Note. Do give it a read there, or in the earlier article in archaeology.org. The letter was found on her husband’s … [Read More]
Month: September 2012 (page 3)
Three Korean victories in Venice
Official Awards: GOLDEN LION for Best Film to PIETA by Kim Ki-duk; ORIZZONTI YOUTUBE AWARD FOR BEST SHORT FILM to CHO-DE (초대) by Yoo Min-young; Collateral Awards: QUEER LION for the “best film with a homosexual and queer culture theme” to WEIGHT (무게) by Jeon Kyu-hwan. [Read More]
Exhibition Visit: Sung Hwan Kim – Temper Clay in Tate Modern Tanks
So far I’ve probably spent seven hours over the course of five visits trying to figure out the massive installation in the Tate Modern by 37 year old Sung Hwan Kim (김성환). I haven’t succeeded yet, and indeed I’m not at all sure it’s possible fully to resolve the into a coherent whole the many … [Read More]
Kkokdu – a cortege’s colourful attendants
Accompanying the KCC’s exhibition of Korean funerary figures, Charlotte Horlyck gave a helpful lecture providing some historical background and context to these colourful wooden characters. The talk was particularly valuable as the introduction provided by the director of the Kkokdu Museum a few weeks previously had lacked much content. While generally admitting that not much … [Read More]
North Korean/Japanese co-production: Somi, The Taekwondo Woman screens at the Zipangu Festival
A European premiere in the Elephant and Castle on Friday 14 September: a Japanese / North Korean historical martial arts co-production from 1997. It will be screened at the Zipangu Japanese Film Festival, but only provided it gets enough funding in advance. You can ensure the film gets screened by being one of the 120 … [Read More]
Contemporary K-art in front of Tate Modern at the Thames Festival
More details of the K-art stream in the wide-ranging Korean participation in the Thames Festival. And while you’re paying a visit, don’t forget to pop in to the Tate Modern itself, where Sung Hwan Kim has an amazing installation in the East Tank. ‘All Eyes on Korea’: Contemporary Korean Art and Family Workshops Saturday, 8th … [Read More]
How to get a Korean boyfriend
Many of you will have seen this already, but I only just came across it via Stephen Epstein’s and Rachel Joo’s fun article on Japanfocus.org on legs, abs, and the surprising de-emphasis of boobs in Korean pop culture. The entertaining video, from My Korean Boyfriend, is particularly fine in respect of its observation of “aegyo” … [Read More]
Recommended event this week: Beautiful Mind charity honours Paralympians
As we approach the end of All Eyes on Korea, the 100-day festival of Korean culture coinciding with the Olympics, South Korea is putting on one final spurt of energy to honour the paralympians. At the Thames Festival this weekend the Korean Village will be screening Marathon – a film about an autistic athlete. I’m … [Read More]
Mozart Town screens at the KCC
September’s director at the KCC is Jeon Kyu-hwan. Not a well-known director in this country, but I’m rather looking forward to these particular screenings. Mozart Town (모차르트 타운, 2008) 7pm, 6th Sept 2012 Director: Jeon Kyu-hwan Cast: Gbato Blaise, Yoo-rang Joo and Seong-tae Oh Genre: Drama Certificate: 18 (South Korea). Nobody under the age of … [Read More]
Terra Galaxia: Aerotropolis, Home and Away @ Liverpool Biennial City States 2012
Several Korean artists will be appearing at the Liverpool Biennial in a group show curated by Stephanie Seungmin Kim: Terra Galaxia: Aerotropolis, Home and Away Dates: 15 Sept – 25 Nov 2012 Venue: LJMU Copperas Hill Building | Copperas Hill | Liverpool | L3 | 10AM – 6PM Sen Chung Kyungah Ham Seoung Won Won … [Read More]
Japanese app offers fluffy solution to Dokdo issue
You can claim Dokdo for Korea in a free mobile phone app, in which 독도 토끼 swims across the East Sea to get there before his Japanese equivalent. You can play Takeshima Struggle (yes, it’s a Japanese app) on a Samsung Galaxy S, but not on an iPhone: it’s Android only. Source / further info: … [Read More]
Director Lee Yoon-ki interview: intimate storytelling
Lee Yoon-ki discusses his unconventional path into filmmaking, his focus on quiet, time-compressed stories of relationships, and adapting short fiction. He explains his actor-centred working methods, restrained use of music, influences from American indie cinema, funding challenges for non-commercial films, and his view of cinema as a universal language. [Read More]
September events 2012
Summer’s over, Chuseok approaches. Everyone’s now bored with Gangnam Style. So what does September hold? Film This month’s director of the month at the KCCUK is Jeon Kyu-hwan. Otherwhere has her usual very useful focus on the director. The films on successive Thursdays are Mozart Town (2008), Animal Town (2009), Dance Town (2010) and From … [Read More]
Blue Crystal Ball: group exhibition at the Holden Gallery, Manchester
Abandon Normal Devices (AND) is an energetic regional festival of new cinema, digital culture and art. The festival takes place annually in Liverpool and Manchester on alternate years, with an extended regional programme. There are three Korean artists participating in one of the group exhibitions: Blue Crystal Ball Thu 30 Aug 2012 — Thu 20 … [Read More]
Gangjeong awareness campaign to come to Trafalgar Square
The campaign to raise awareness of the issues surrounding the building of the Gangjeong Naval Base in Jeju Island has had a number of events in London, including a demonstration outside the South Korean embassy and an event at the Old Justic pub. The campaign is coming to Trafalgar Square on 8 September, thus coinciding … [Read More]