London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

The Real DMZ: Negotiating Borders, at the KCC

One of the more interesting exhibitions of 2018 was the three month Real DMZ exhibition in Nottingham. Three of the artists from that show are involved in the next stage of the project: The Real DMZ: Negotiating Borders 1 October – 23 November 2019 Preview: 30 September 2019 Artist Talk: 3 October 2019 Korean Cultural … [Read More]

8 more reasons to visit Lee Bul: Crashing

Lee Bul’s fabulous show at the Hayward Gallery closes this weekend. If you haven’t seen it yet, here are eight more reasons why you should. 1. Park Chung-hee naked OK, a rather sensationalist opener, and not something I ever expected to find myself writing, but yes: suspended from the ceiling are two naked effigies of … [Read More]

Exhibition visit: Lee Bul – Crashing. Pt 2 – Scale of Tongue

The most eye-catching work in Lee Bul’s Hayward Gallery exhibition is the giant inflatable zeppelin, its grid of rectangular silver panels echoing the grid of skylights in the Hayward’s newly refurbished upper floor. The work, entitled Willing to be Vulnerable, memorialises the Hindenburg disaster in 1937, when the giant airship, representing a possible future of … [Read More]

Lee Bul in Conversation and Performance by Zadie Xa

Lee Bul discusses her work with Hayward Gallery Director Ralph Rugoff, followed by Flooded with ICE / Hell Fire Can’t Scorch Me, a performance by Korean-Canadian visual artist Zadie Xa that brings together live storytellers, dancers and musicians. Co-produced by writer Taylor Le Melle, with performers Jihye Kim, Jane Chan and Nam Yoon Kim. Purcell … [Read More]

Lee Bul: Crashing, at Hayward Gallery

A retrospective of Lee Bul’s work is coming up at the Hayward Gallery. We are promised that she will bring “cyborgs, mirrored labyrinths and a Zeppelin” to the newly refurbished South Bank space. Lee Bul: Crashing Hayward Gallery, 30 May – 19 August 2018 From 30 May to 19 August 2018, Southbank Centre’s Hayward Gallery … [Read More]

Event news: Rehearsals from the Korean Avant-Garde Performance Archive

We’re really looking forward to this exploration of the 60s and 70s avant-garde. It promises to be challenging, but hopefully rewarding too. Rehearsals from the Korean Avant-Garde Performance Archive Korean Cultural Centre UK, 1-3 Strand, London, WC2N 5BW Dates: 27 June – 19 August 2017 The Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) is pleased to announce Rehearsals … [Read More]

Lee Bul curator talk – 20 October

A welcome opportunity to hear Lee Bul’s two current exhibitions discussed by the experts. Maybe it will help me write a review. Lee Bul: The Curators’ Talk October 20 (Mon), 7pm Mami Kataoka (Chief Curator, Mori Museum, Tokyo) Jonathan Watkins (Director, Ikon Gallery, Birmingham) Sook-Kyung Lee (Curator, Tate Research Centre) Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK … [Read More]

Lee Bul’s first UK solo show, at Ikon Gallery

This exhibition should be well worth a day trip to Birmingham. But if you can’t make it, there’s a specially commissioned installation at the KCC in London running alongside the exhibition. Lee Bul 10 September — 9 November 2014 Ikon Gallery | 1 Oozells Square | Brindleyplace | Birmingham | B1 2HS | ikon-gallery.org Tuesday … [Read More]

Lee Bul: a special installation at the KCC

From 10 September the main Lee Bul action in the UK can be found in Birmingham at the Ikon Gallery. But to coincide with Ikon gallery’s first UK solo show of Lee Bul, the Korean Cultural Centre UK will be showcasing the visually compelling Diluvium (2014). This work, with its steel frames covered by irregularly … [Read More]

Lee Bul: From Me, Belongs to You Only

An excellent opportunity to be introducted to the work of Korean artist Lee Bul is coming up at the Hayward Gallery. Lee’s work explores the body, beauty, feminism, nature and technology – and perhaps she is best known for her giant cyborg body parts. This has got to be one of the events of the … [Read More]

Lee Bul interviewed in Korea Times

Good interview with cyborg artist Lee Bul in the Korea Times. "Lee Bul Pioneers Korean Contemporary Art" http://bit.ly/cxvu6K #. “Becoming an artist is not possible from trying. If somebody tries ‘not’ to be an artist, the person will have a greater possibility of becoming an artist,” she says. [Read More]

Book review: J Scott Burgeson — Korea Bug

J Scott Burgeson: Korea Bug Eunhaeng Namu, Seoul, 2005 A recent article in the JoongAng daily about a foreigner in Seoul who hasn’t made himself popular with hypersensitive and volatile Korean netizens introduced me to a gem. Burgeson, a foreigner who has been in Seoul since 1996 is one of the more unusual expats out … [Read More]