July’s literature night features one of the most talked-about books of recent years. If you’re thinking about entering the 2020 literature essay contest, this session might help. Nice that they’re bringing in In-sook Chappell to lead the discussion. LKL review here. Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, by Cho Nam-Joo Wednesday 29 July 2020, 7pm on Zoom … [Read More]
Month: June 2020
Journey Man: an interview with ceramic artist Jaejun Lee
Determination, dedication, precision, humbleness, outstanding results. These are some of the words that come to mind when thinking about the artworks Jaejun Lee (b.1987) creates in his studio after hours and hours spent on the wheel and with his tools. Counting ten thousand followers on Instagram, artist Lee is a young and talented ceramic artist … [Read More]
Korean animations at the Annecy Festival
Thanks to Jordan, a member of the LKL Facebook Group, for alerting me to news that I’ve been eagerly anticipating for 5 years: the international premiere (I think) of The Shaman Sorceress, Studio Meditation with Pencil’s adaptation of the short story by Kim Dong-ni. It is screening at the Annecy Festival, where previous releases by … [Read More]
Udine Far East Film Festival online screenings
So we now have one small thing for which we can thank the COVID lockdown: online access to overseas film festivals. I hope they continue this innovation once things get back to normality. The Udine Far East Film Festival has four Korean movies that are available for viewing from the UK. The festival runs from … [Read More]
Bang Bang Con: The Live – a joyous celebration of BTS and ARMY
As promised at the end of BTS’ April streaming marathon, the boys were “back in ARMY’s rooms” this weekend, wrapping up their annual birthday celebrations with a live-streamed concert that was watched by over 750,000 viewers worldwide. ‘Bang Bang Con: The Live’ followed the end of this year’s Festa, an event of special daily content … [Read More]
The 2020 Korean Literature Essay Contest
I don’t think we’ve had an essay contest since 2017. It’s good to see it return, organised by UCLan for LTI Korea. The contest is open to readers in the UK. 2020 UCLan IKSU Book Essay Contest The International Institute of Korean Studies (IKSU) at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is hosting the “2020 … [Read More]
V+A Korean programme receives boost from MCST
Great news for the V&A’s programme of Korean activities and gallery: V&A announces landmark partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism 17 June 2020: The V&A has today announced a new five-year partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Korea. This major grant will enable the redevelopment of the museum’s … [Read More]
Book review: Jeong You-jeong – Seven Years of Darkness
Jeong You-jeong: Seven Years of Darkness Translated by Kim Chi-young Penguin / Little, Brown 2020 Originally published as 7년의 밤, EunHaeng NaMu Publishing Co, Seoul 2011 It felt like a long wait. We’d seen the movie adaptation a few years ago (Choo Chang-min’s Seven Years of Night, which screened at the London Korean Film Festival … [Read More]
The generosity of art in the fight against the pandemic: six UK-based Korean artists join charity art auction
In these times of unprecedented global health crisis, art can be a source of relief and precious help to go through such a hard time. This is true even more so when over a hundred artists and art professionals from all over the world come together to join forces and help those in need. Among … [Read More]
Cereal Magazine: special Korean edition
Cereal is a biannual travel and style magazine based in the UK. Each issue focuses on a select number of destinations, alongside interviews and stories on design, art, and fashion. The current edition (#19) for the summer of 2020 focuses on Korea. The volume covers the architecture of Itami Jun, the photography of Koo Bohnchang, … [Read More]
Hyunjin Kim on the work of siren eun young jung
Afterall, a contemporary art journal published by University of the Arts London, has a feature on siren eun young jung in its latest issue. To celebrate the occasion, a special launch event later this month will focus on her work. As we didn’t make it to Venice last year this is definitely one we’ll be … [Read More]
Bang Bang Con: The Live
What is likely to be the biggest global livestreamed event of the Covid lockdown kicks off at 10am BST on Sunday 14 June. Runtime is expected to be 90 minutes. The concert will be streaming on Weverse. The event will provide some consolation for BTS’s UK fans who were looking forward to their appearance at … [Read More]
Joung Young-ju debut at Pontone Gallery
A welcome piece of good news. Pontone Gallery is reopening on 15 June, and their first post lockdown exhibition features a debut for artist Joung Young-ju. Note that with the health and safety of visitors and staff in mind, the gallery will be allowing a maximum of 10 visitors at any one time. To guarantee … [Read More]
The mysteries of the Abies Koreana
Around 17 years ago, on a trip to Ashwood Nurseries in the West Midlands with the in-laws, I sneaked an unauthorised plant onto the trolley, much as a child might sneak a bag of sweets into the shopping cart on a trip to the supermarket. On my stroll around the nursery grounds, I had seen … [Read More]
Résonances livestream: Memories
Daegum player Hyelim Kim will again be appearing in an improvisational multi-disciplinary performance, livestreamed courtesy of The Vortex. Résonances: Memories 12 noon UK time Sunday 7 June 2020 Venue: Vortex Facebook Page | Résonances Facebook Page Résonances is back with a third live-streamed event! It may be our last performance online before we come back … [Read More]
Rendered Reality: an interview with Joonhong Min and Shinuk Suh
New contributor Federica Ionta meets the artists behind Rendered Reality, the exhibition currently in suspended animation at the KCCUK. Thinking of Korean art, one might recall, for instance, pottery of exquisite quality, such as the iconic moon jars, or beautiful ink paintings. However, not all Korean artists stick to traditional shapes, materials and techniques. Artists … [Read More]