The Future of Silence: Fiction by Korean Women Translated and Edited by Bruce & Ju-Chan Fulton Zephyr Press, 2016, 193pp When an unexpected book-shaped package landed on my doormat in April 2016 I eagerly opened it, wondering what was inside. I was slightly less enthusiastic when I discovered that it was a collection of short stories … [Read More]
Month: February 2017
Korean designers at London Fashion Week and Int’l Fashion Showcase
Once again there was strong Korean representation at London Fashion Week. As at previous events, Eudon Choi and Jackie JS Lee had catwalk shows, and this time they were joined by Korean-Canadian Edeline Lee. All three were represented in the Designer Showrooms, along with J.Won, Moon Lee Artwear, shoe designer Kim Kwang and the Korean-New … [Read More]
Event news: A Blood Pledge is the third movie in the KCC’s K-horror series
The first two films in the current series of weekly K-horror screenings have been fun and the talks beforehand informative. A Blood Pledge will be introduced by Anton Bitel. A Blood Pledge (여고괴담 5) Director: Lee Jong-yong, 2009, 88 mins 7pm, Thursday 2 March 2017. Admission free – registration essential via the KCC website. Synopsis … [Read More]
Kim Yong-gyun’s The Red Shoes: haunted objects, horror and the New Korean Cinema Wave
The Red Shoes (2005) blends psychological horror with the New Korean Cinema wave’s cinematic style. Focusing on a cursed pair of shoes and a woman’s unraveling mind, the film explores young adult horror, striking visual contrasts, and the rise of Korean horror internationally, cementing its status as a modern classic of the genre. [Read More]
I, Kid – the opening performance
I, Kid is now the seventh exhibition by the Korean Artists Association UK to be held at the KCC, and their 9th performance. This year’s performance and exhibition aimed to give expression to a feeling of nostalgia for one’s childhood – and for most artists participating in the event, this meant their childhood back in Korea. Previous … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Yeji Kim – Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things, at the KCC
The upcoming exhibition at the KCC is by Yeji Kim, winner of the KCC’s 2017 Open Call: Yeji Kim: Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things A series of paintings which explore a sense of the virtual world, inspired by the flatness of images found on social media platforms. 27 February – 18 March 2017 Korean … [Read More]
The advance of Korea’s longevity
According to a study by Imperial College London and the World Health Organisation, “average life expectancy is set to increase in many countries by 2030 – and will exceed 90 years in South Korea.” The press release accompanying the report revealed: The five countries with the highest life expectancy at birth for men in 2030 were: … [Read More]
Event news: Deborah Smith on translating Bae Suah
Deborah Smith’s latest Bae Suah translation, Recitation, is now available in bookshops. This month you have the opportunity to hear some of the challenges of translating it, courtesy of SOAS’s Centre for Translation Studies: Close to a State of Linguistic Weightlessness: On Translating Bae Suah Dr Deborah Smith (Korean-English translator, Publisher/Editor at Tilted Axis Press) … [Read More]
Event news: Red Shoes is the second movie in the KCC’s K-horror series
The second of six weekly screenings of horror movies and thrillers – a series curated by Collette Balmain – will be introduced by Hangul Celluloid’s Paul Quinn. We are assured that the gremlins that infected the DVD player at last week’s screening have been exorcised. Red Shoes (분홍신) Dir: Kim Yong-gyoon, 2005 (103 mins) 7pm, … [Read More]
UK/Korea Creative Futures is launched
Here is the official announcement from the British Council of the collaboration with Korea over the next two years: British Council announces UK/KOREA Creative Futures 2017 London, 20 February 2017. The British Council today officially launched UK/KOREA Creative Futures 2017, a year-long celebration of the long-standing relationship between the UK and Korea which will see … [Read More]
Gallery: Korean Artists at London Art Fair 2017
A quick post to upload some of the photos of the various galleries exhibiting Korean art at this year’s London Art Fair (plus one gallery that I missed). Hanmi Gallery Jaye Moon Jaye Moon’s work had been getting a fair amount of attention – guerrilla-style installations of Lego dotted around the Business Design Centre and … [Read More]
The mystery of Kim Jong Nam’s assassination solved
You couldn’t make this up. Or maybe you could and they did. Even though I suspect it’s a fake front page posted online to make people go out and hunt down the paper itself (which I would do if it weren’t so cold outside), it’s still too good not to share. Thanks to Paul Matthews … [Read More]
LKL’s evening with Zion.T in Kentish Town
On the very rare occasions when I go to a big popular music concert I usually end up wondering why. A couple of years ago I queued for ages to get into the cheap seats (£77) for Big Bang’s gig in Wembley Arena. At least they didn’t have a support act, and worked hard to … [Read More]
Suh Do-ho: a popular local attraction
It was good to see people queuing to get into Suh Do-ho’s solo show at Victoria Miro yesterday, a pleasant stroll along the Grand Union Canal from the Angel. I was going to go to the exhibition myself, but it’s the sort of work where you’re better off with only one or two people in … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: KAA residency — I, Kid
For their January 2017 exhibition and performance at the KCC, the Korean Artists Association chose nostalgia for childhood as their theme. The text which follows is from the exhibition catalogue, with installation shots mainly by LKL. I, Kid. 우리어릴적 Childhood memories are special to all of us. They do not disappear, but are planted in … [Read More]
Exhibition news: North Korean Paintings — Beyond Borders, Beauty, at Coningsby Gallery
Late notice of an exhibition of a private collection of paintings by North Korean artists. Thanks to Hannah Giles and Marc Leggett for bringing this to my attention. North Korean Paintings: Beyond Borders, Beauty Thu, 16 Feb 2017, 10:00 AM – Sun, 19 Feb 2017, 9:00 PM The Coningsby Gallery | 30 Tottenham Street | … [Read More]