Jayne Anne Phillips: Lark and Termite Vintage Books, 2009 Surely the most carefully crafted sentence in a novel is the opening one. So when a reader is faced with an opening sentence that would not only have the Microsoft grammar checker going crazy with those irritating green wiggly lines but which would fox a literate … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 137)
UK Korean Artists Association in Call for new members
Recently we saw the exhibition by 60 young Korean artists working in London: primarily students and recent graduates. In our focus on the exciting new talent coming out of the colleges, many of whom return to Korea once their visas run out, sometimes we overlook the Koreans who have made their home here. The Korean … [Read More]
Hanji and Im Kwon-taek in the Korea Times and JoongAng Ilbo
Im Kwon-taek: directing beyond his years – a good feature on the new film “Hanji” in the Korea Times http://bit.ly/hZUbel. “I wanted to show that we are losing something valuable right here, right now,” says Director Im. Another feature in the JoongAng Ilbo http://bit.ly/gub2Nk reveals: “The concept for this film started in a pub when … [Read More]
Two recent low-lights in Korea-related publishing
Two recent books to avoid: Kimchi-flavored erotica? “In Deep Kimchi” on Amazon: http://amzn.to/fB5KfN. Looks totally dreadful, particularly as it seems to be about sex with a J-pop band #. Via KTLit.com. Charles Montgomery says a new book on Dokdo Thirty Three Shouts is “A Complete Waste of Time http://bit.ly/i6RIUT # [Read More]
Donguibogam to get English translation
The Donguibogam, the encyclopedia of Korean traditional medicine finished by Heo Jun in 1613, finally gets translation (http://bit.ly/ecjgvO #) in prepartation for the 400th anniversary of its publication. “The translation is almost done, and we will soon check the material a final time before publication,” said Shin Gyu-bum, an official at the Ministry of Health … [Read More]
Gig review: Nah Youn Sun and Ulf Wakenius at Pizza Express Soho
March 1st this year at Pizza Express Soho was Nah Youn Sun’s first headline gig in Central London. Her actual London debut was in the Vortex in Hackney in May 2009, and in March 2010 she supported the Swedish band Tonbrucket in a much bigger venue, the Queen Elizabeth Hall. LKL wondered whether Nah’s style … [Read More]
Film review: Sona, the other myself
The third Asia House Pan-Asian Film Festival offered the opportunity to see an unusual documentary. Yang Yonghi’s Sona, the other myself is a simple portrait of three generations of a family – an elderly ethnic Korean couple living with their daughter (Yang herself) in Osaka, and Yang’s three elder brothers and their children who live … [Read More]
Film review: 71 Into the Fire
71 Into the Fire, by director John H Lee (이재한), is a film based on a true story which occurred in the early months of the Korean War, when the northern armies swept all before them until they reached the Busan perimeter. A group of 71 student soldiers are given the job of defending a … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: the 4th 4482 exhibition – Rhizosphere
The fourth 4482 group show by young Korean artists in London was bigger than ever this year – to such an extent that the organisers managed to secure some overspill gallery space on the ground floor of the OXO tower building, across the courtyard from the main Bargehouse warehouse. This overspill gallery space was very … [Read More]
Daewoo to build the world’s largest container ships
Daewoo to build the world's largest container ships: the Maersk Line Triple-E http://bit.ly/hQiGkH # “Triple-E ships will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 50% per container moved” says Maersk. [Read More]
Suwon Blue Wings appeal to female fans
If you were female, would this pic make you follow the footie? K-League Goes All Out to Attract Women Fans, says the Chosun Ilbo http://bit.ly/f93yc5 # [Read More]
And upcoming art auction: I need to win the lottery – fast
Coming up this month is a big sale of Korean work at Christie’s sale rooms in New York. The flagship piece is a mature work by Kim Whanki (1913-1974) with the rather dull title of 2-V-73 #313. If the estimated $1 million price tag is beyond all but the uber-rich and lottery winners, there are … [Read More]
A novel way to encourage people to pay tax
I'd be sure to pay my taxes in person if T-ara was down at my tax office. I expect that's the point. http://bit.ly/icptwa # [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Shin Meekyoung – Translation
Shin Meekyoung’s current exhibition at the Haunch of Venison must be the largest space yet occupied by a Korean in a London show. The show is a wide ranging survey of her recent work. Her medium is soap, and her sculptures are often in western classical style. She has exhibited her Roman and Greek style … [Read More]
March events 2011
Here are the events I know of for March. I’d strongly recommend a visit to Liverpool before the Nam June Paik show closes, and a visit to Pizza Express Soho for Nah Youn Sun on March 1st. Film The 3rd Asia House Asian Film Festival has two films with Korean interest: Hong Sang-soo’s Ha Ha … [Read More]
Baek Hyun-jhin’s Time of Reflection and other recent music links
Some recent music links: The Guardian continues its series on the North Korean music scene: Pyongyang goes pop http://bit.ly/gIQhx1 # RT @indiefulrok: Don’t know who all of those Korean Music Awards 2011 winners were? Find out here: http://t.co/nIotYeD #kindie # via @refresh_daemon: So glad that Baik Hyunjhin took some time to reflect. init_music: 백현진 – … [Read More]