This year’s Chelsea Flower Show has just come to an end. No Korean participation this year, as far as I am aware. Last year Hwang Hay-joung won silver gilt for her Smart Garden sponsored by LG. But loyal readers will remember back to 2011 and 2012, when Hwang Jihae, without a big name corporate sponsor, … [Read More]
Artist: Hwang Jihae (황지해)
LKL at 10 years: the best of the past decade
Well, if you can’t reminisce on your website’s 10th birthday, when can you? Here’s a collection of some of my favourite London memories of the past 10 years (and one or two from slightly further afield). Some of the moments lived up to expectation: a front row seat at a performance by K-pop ballad diva Lee … [Read More]
A belated tour of March’s First Thursday openings
It was always going to be difficult to get round the three openings last Thursday: Bethnal Green, Bloomsbury and Mayfair are not easy to squeeze in on the way home after work. And as it happened I got to none of them, instead entertaining an overseas work colleague at the Old Justice, which I think … [Read More]
Hwang Ji-hae in miNiATURE, at Strand Gallery
Korean garden designer and environmental artist Hwang Jihae will be participating in a garden design show with a difference: miNiATURE 10 unique gardens by leading designers – in miniature! 6-8 March 2014 The Strand Gallery | 32 John Adam Street | London WC2N miNiATURE is a new platform aiming to give leading garden designers and … [Read More]
Expo visit: Hwang Jihae’s Hanging Garden of Billingsgate
One of the most prominent exhibits at the Korea Brand and Entertainment Expo at Billingsgate was not a hologram of Psy or an animated cartoon character, but a garden that was a full 22 metres long, dominating the space behind the main stage’s seating area. In an event designed to demonstrate the range of Korean … [Read More]
2013 Korea Brand & Entertainment Expo celebrates the best of contemporary Korea
I’m struggling to keep up with the things which are being packed in to the three-day extravaganza at Old Billingsgate in the City, which accompanies the State Visit of President Park Geun-hye. KOTRA and KOCCA, with support from KIDP and ARKO, are working around the clock to bring a kaleidoscopic expo featuring some of the … [Read More]
2013 Travel Diary #16: Suncheon Garden Expo — The Lugworm’s Trail
Suncheon-si, Tuesday 10 September, 10am. Like many areas of the Suncheon Garden Expo, Hwang Ji-hae’s garden, which was the main reason for my coming to Suncheon in the first place, also limits its reliance on floral colour. Looked at from above, or viewed from the source of the water (top left of above image) which … [Read More]
The Suncheon Bay Garden Expo 2013 opens in Jeollanam-do
Hwang Ji-hae, Korea’s best-known garden designer, won’t be at Chelsea this year. After two consecutive Chelsea gold medals, she’s taking a break from what is possibly the world’s most prestigious flower show, and instead has been concentrating on designing a garden closer to home: for Korea’s first International Garden Expo at Suncheon, Jeollanam-do. The Mayor … [Read More]
The London Korean Links Awards 2012
The seventh eclectic and highly personal commemoration of the best of the past year. Personality of the Year Runner up There were plenty of personalities in the South Korean Olympic team, particularly the pistol shooters, archers and the gymnasts. But the athlete that everyone will remember is fencer Shin A-lam, cheated out of a place … [Read More]
Hwang Jihae: two Chelsea gold medals and now the RHS President’s Award
HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Hwang Jihae for winning the RHS President’s Award – an award which in the past has always been given to a display in the main pavilion. The attention to detail and the meticulous planting caught the eye of President Elizabeth Banks, who in her time has herself won five Chelsea Gold Medals. … [Read More]
Quiet Time: DMZ Forbidden Garden — an appreciation of the Chelsea gold medal-winner
It was the first decent day of the month. Although it had started grey and cold, the forecasters promised sun and heat, and they were spot on. Quite a good day then, after all the hard preparation by Hwang Jihae’s team, to be awarded a coveted Chelsea gold medal, for the second year runnning. Was … [Read More]
It’s another Gold Medal – congratulations to Hwang Jihae’s team!
Yes, it’s another gold medal. More coverage soon once I’ve had a chance to see the finished garden myself. Links: LKL’s complete coverage of Hwang Jihae’s gardens at Chelsea 2012 and 2011 Quiet Time: DMZ Forbidden Garden on Facebook. Please donate using the Paypal sign. [Read More]
Quiet Time: DMZ Forbidden Garden — Judgement Day
Today is the first of two judgement days at the Chelsea Flower Show. Nothing more can be done apart from wait for the results, and pay a visit when it’s open to the public next week (if you managed to get a ticket). For those who can’t come along, here are some photos of the … [Read More]
The DMZ Garden gets its finishing touches
With the Chelsea Flower Show having its first judging day tomorrow (Sunday), all the show gardens have to be finished today. Yesterday Hwang Jihae’s team was boosted by some additional volunteers to help finish off the last details. The professionals did some final planting, filling in one or two gaps under the demanding and perfectionist … [Read More]
A DMZ Watch-tower rises over the Chelsea Showground
LKL gets an exclusive look at the construction of the DMZ “Quiet Time” garden, by Korean designer Hwang Jihae, at the Chelsea Flower Show. With the increased tension on the Korean peninsula the narrow strip of demilitarized land which separates north and south is ever more in focus. The timing of Hwang Jihae’s appearance at … [Read More]
The DMZ as eco-tourism – and as a garden
South Korea is turning the DMZ into eco-tourism zone, says Lucy Williamson on the BBC. Hwang Jihae’s DMZ Garden at the Chelsea Flower Show this year is looking increasingly relevant. Links: LKL’s complete coverage of Hwang Jihae’s gardens at Chelsea 2012 and 2011 Quiet Time: DMZ Forbidden Garden on Facebook. Please donate using the Paypal … [Read More]