A review of some of the highlights and trends in the Korean cultural year, primarily in London but also with half an eye to anything we might have seen elsewhere in the UK. The review is a personal one, inevitably skewed towards the events we managed to get to. Introduction This time last year I […]
Artists: Shin Meekyoung (신미경)
Gallery visit: Shin Meekyoung’s Weather, at Barakat Gallery
Meekyoung Shin’s current show at Barakat Gallery is the first major London exhibition to feature her new ceramic work. In the past, Shin has been known for her soap sculptures, many of which are designed to resemble Chinese or Korean ceramics. Now, having studied ceramics and glass at the RCA she is experimenting with clay, […]
Meekyoung Shin: Weather, at Barakat Gallery
A new solo show by Meekyoung Shin: Meekyoung Shin: Weather 3 October – 22 November 2019 Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm or by appointment Opening Reception: 3 October, 6 – 9 pm Barakat Gallery | 58 Brook St | Mayfair | London W1K 5DT “In a world in which everything is subject to the […]
Exhibition visit: Contemporary Korean Ceramics at the V+A
This year-long exhibition as part of the Korea/UK 2017-18 cultural collaboration brings together a range of approaches and responses to Korean ceramics. From work that is purely functional to work that is purely decorative, via work that seeks to critique contemporary Korean society, the unifying element is the quality of the craftsmanship and execution. Yoon […]
Exhibition news: Shin Meekyoung’s Translation Paintings at Asia House
Shin Meekyoung’s exhibition of her Painting Series earlier this year came to a slightly premature end when the gallery hosting it unexpectedly closed. The exhibition had been beautifully set up, and we really enjoyed it. Hopefully the series should work equally well in Asia House’s Georgian interior. Translation Paintings by Meekyoung Shin Friday 14 August–Friday […]
KWK exhibition: Rain Doesn’t Fall For Nothing, 4-14 Aug
A contemporary art exhibition as part of Kingston Welcomes Korea: Rain Doesn’t Fall For Nothing Participating Artists: HaYoung Kim, Sang Jin Kim, Sea Hyun Lee, Sejin Park, Meekyoung Shin Venue: The Creative Industries Centre, Kingston College, 55 Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT2 5BP Admission FREE. Exhibition open: Tue 4 – Fri 14 August, […]
Have a Good Day, Mr Kim! – Choi and Lager’s summer exhibition in Cologne
Nowhere near London, but I’m posting this just because I wish I could find a conveniently-timed flight to get me to the opening event, as this is an exhibition I’d love to get to. I fear that this press release is the closest I’m going to get. Choi and Lager have assembled a pretty impressive […]
Exhibition visit: Shin Meekyoung — Painting Series, at HADA Contemporary
According to the notice advertising the exhibition, Shin Meekyoung’s Painting Series questions the values we ascribe to art works: by using expendable material rather than canvas and oils, and by avoiding the depiction of any discernible subject matter, she aims “to question the authority the painting has enjoyed for centuries.” Shin’s soap paintings are meant […]
Shin Meekyoung and T.O.P receive Prudential Eye awards
London-based South Korean artist Shin Meekyoung won the 2015 Prudential Eye Award in the sculpture category, at a cemerony held in Singapore on 20 January this year. The Prudential Eye Awards were launched in 2014 by the Prudential Eye Programme, a partnership between Parallel Contemporary Art, Saatchi Gallery and Prudential – the collaboration which also […]
Shin Meekyoung: Painting Series — at HADA Contemporary
Much of Shin Meekyoung’s newest work last year was presented outside of London rather than in the capital. So it’s good that she’s got a solo show at HADA Contemporary in February and March this year, her first for that gallery. Shin Meekyoung: Painting Series 5 February – 15 April 2015 HADA Contemporary | 21 Vyner […]
The London Korean Links Awards 2014
Our regular unscientific seasonal post which recognises some of the people, books, films and events which made 2014 an outstanding year. Personality of the Year This year there seem to have been more anti-heroes than heroes – examples to avoid rather than emulate. Villains we loved to hate this year have included the reclusive photographer, […]
Shin Meekyoung’s Plinth Project, two years on
Almost exactly two years ago – on 23 July 2012 – Shin Meekyoung’s equestrian statue of the Duke of Cumberland was hoisted into position in Cavendish Square. I happened to be in the area on 24 July 2014 so I paid a visit. The soap from which the statue is made has shown itself to […]
Meekyoung Shin’s Cabinet of Curiosities in Lincolnshire
Bridging the gap between craft and conceptual art, Meekyoung Shin’s exquisitely crafted work is equally popular with critics and the public. Her new exhibition at the National Centre for Craft and Design opens on Saturday: Meekyoung Shin’s Cabinet of Curiosities 26 July – 2 November 2014 The Artist London and Seoul-based Korean artist Meekyoung Shin […]
Shin Meekyoung’s Toilet Project comes to sketch London
Shin Meekyoung’s Toilet Project seems to be getting everywhere. Now at a club just off Regent Street. Meekyoung Shin: Toilet Project sketch, 9 Conduit Street, W1S 2XG FROM JULY Hanmi gallery is pleased to present Meekyoung Shin’s ongoing “Toilet Project” at sketch London, which will feature soap “artefact” sculptures that visitors can ‘use’ in the […]
Friday Late at the V&A – a fun evening of cultural collision
Are the British becoming more Korean? That was the rather silly thought that occurred to me as I walked round the energetic space of the V&A yesterday evening for the Korea Friday Late. What do I mean by that? Well, at every expo or festival in Korea the emphasis is on physical experience. You can’t […]
Friday Late at the V&A: the final programme
The Korean Friday Late at the V&A promises to be both lively and interesting. Details have been emerging over the last couple of weeks, and their press release at www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/f/friday-late/ is now final. Below is the text, expanded in places with LKL’s commentary in italics and images from our archives. Friday Late: Korea 30 May […]
New phase of Shin Meekyoung project launched at BAFTA
On the second evening of the London Book Fair there were no author events. No panel sessions, no “conversations with…” And that was because all the Korean authors, along with interpreters, LTI Korea representatives, British Council, Ministry of Culture folks and sundry hangers-on such as myself, were at BAFTA for a reception. It was at […]