September is another relatively quiet month as we gear up for the full Autumn programme of events. Make sure you book your tickets for the London Film Festival and K-Music 2019, both in October. See you all at the Korean Eye 2020 Teaser Exhibition at the START Art Fair… For those at the start of … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 24)
Black String’s new album “Karma” bodes well for the K-music festival
I’m not quite sure why I didn’t rave about Black String’s debut album Mask Dance when it came out in 2017. Listening to Karma, their follow-up studio album on ACT records due to be released on 27 September 2019, I’m finding it compelling listening. And returning to Mask Dance now I’m seeing it in a … [Read More]
A visit to New Malden’s 2019 Korean Independence Day celebrations
Having arrived back in town from the Edinburgh Fringe around midnight the previous evening, I was never going to make it to the 11am speeches and other formalities that kick off the traditional Korean Independence Day celebrations in New Malden. But it was clear that there had been a good turnout: by the time I … [Read More]
September Literature Night: The Plotters by Kim Un-su
This book took an absolute age to come out in the UK. It’s now here. Will it live up to the hype? Kim Un-su: The Plotters Wednesday 18 September 2019, 7pm @KCCUK Entrance Free – Booking Essential Apply to [email protected] or call 020 7004 2600 with your name and contact details by Monday 26th August. … [Read More]
Review round-up: LKL at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe
After a break from the Fringe last year, LKL returned this year to see what was new. A lot of the companies are fringe regulars: Brush, Modl, Cho-in and Hooam have all come over before, and in fact Modl this year was celebrating its 30th birthday. But there were also new acts, including Korean Gipsy … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Circulation Metaphor, at the KCC
There’s a little bit of Jeollanamdo in the KCC at the moment. Although the exhibition is co-organised by the Asia Cultural Center in Gwangju, and by the Gwangju Museum of Art, the subject matter of the exhibition strays outside of the city limits into Damyang, Hwasun and further afield. The first work to engage you … [Read More]
The Illusionists: we went to see the Korean Manipulator, and ended up being fans of all seven performers
The events that LKL covers often involve high culture: dance, visual arts, contemporary or experimental music. So a family entertainment show aimed at a mainstream audience is somewhat outside our usual area of coverage. But that’s not to say we don’t appreciate supreme talent and skill when we see it. Last week we went along … [Read More]
Mari Kim’s trip to London for “Immortal Beloved”
We’ve enjoyed seeing Mari Kim’s work on display in London galleries over the past few years, so it was a real treat to be able to meet her when she came over recently for the opening of her show at Pontone Gallery. The works on display this time showed a slightly different direction: still the … [Read More]
August events 2019
It’s a bit quieter this month – except for Edinburgh of course. All events are in London except where stated otherwise. Film The KCC’s Love Beyond Boundaries season concludes with Wanee and Junah (1 August) and Oasis (8 August) The BTS Bring the Soul movie has screenings on 7 and 10 August The next Korean … [Read More]
Live music review: SaaWee at the Albany, Deptford
When anticipating Korea related events involving live performance, I generally try not to raise my expectations too high. That way, I don’t get disappointed. But sometimes I break that rule, usually based on past experience of one or more of the performers. Hence, when pulling together the events post for July I highlighted three events … [Read More]
Ko Jin-young wins the 2019 Evian Championship
Going into the final day, all of the top four players on the leaderboard of the LGPA Evian-les-Bains golf tournament were Korean. Kim Hyo-joo led, followed one shot behind by Park Sung-hyun. A further three shots behind were Park Inbee and Ko Jin-young. On the final day, today, things started to go wrong for Kim … [Read More]
Jambinai, Park Jiha and SB Circle – a roundup of reviews of three K-music performers
The line-up of K-music 2019 has been announced, and it’s nice to see some familiar faces returning to London so that we can get to know their music better. Jambinai, who open the festival, have become fairly regular visitors to the UK. They had the UK launch of their new album, Onda, at the Garage, … [Read More]
The 2019 K-Music festival: the official press release
The schedule for the 2019 K-Music festival was released last month, giving everyone the time to plan their diaries. Here, rather belatedly (it’s been a busy few weeks), is the official press release. Tickets are already on sale. K-Music 2019 London’s Festival of Korean Music Thurs 3 Oct: Jambinai, Purcell Room Sun 6 Oct: Celebrate … [Read More]
LG launches homebrew machine with Suffolk malt
Earlier this week the British Embassy in Seoul participated in the official launch in Korea of LG’s new home brewing appliance that takes the mess and faff out of making your own beer. A sleek, self contained unit takes two weeks to brew the beer, making around 5 litres, and sanitises itself afterwards to get … [Read More]
Photos from Birdsong and Borders concert at St Luke’s
While it’s a huge treat that there’s so much in the way of interesting performances involving UK-based Koreans nowadays, it’s a shame that sometimes they clash with each other. Hyelim Kim’s recent collaboration with Merit Ariane at LSO St Luke’s was something I’d definitely have gone to… if it hadn’t been for Jinyeob Cha’s performance … [Read More]
Review: Jinyeob Cha in Bongsu Park’s Dream Ritual
The stage is black, preparing you for sleep; the floor slightly mirrored. The space is empty apart from a curtain of transparent silvery organza fabric whose flowing folds represent the peaks and troughs of a typical sleep brainwave, and between which the dancer will move like a ghost. The dancer enters, pulling a another fabric … [Read More]