The latest volume of Modern Poetry in Translation magazine has a focus on Korean poetry. The subtitle of the issue is The Blue Vein – a reference to a line from Kim Hyesoon’s work included in the volume. “Every morning the sky, the blue vein slaps you hard.” The extract is from Kim Hyesoon’s latest … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 44)
Exhibition visit: Suh Do-ho — Passage/s
Visiting the Suh Do-ho solo show at Victoria Miro gallery is a very British experience. You queue to get in the front door, queue in the back yard to get to the second exhibition space and, once admitted to this gallery you queue again to get up close to the main exhibit. In the dozen … [Read More]
Gallery: Yeji Kim – Children Shouldn’t Play with Dead Things
Yeji Kim’s exhibition was the first to be held in the KCCUK’s refashioned space. Gone is the Multi-Purpose Space, demolished and reclaimed as an enhanced exhibition area. Screenings and lectures are now downstairs in the library, and one wonders how the KCC will cope with theatrical presentations in the future. Anyway, the larger space works … [Read More]
Book review: Bandi — The Accusation
Bandi: The Accusation – Forbidden Stories from Inside North Korea Translated by Deborah Smith Serpents Tail 2017, 245 pp Originally published as 고발, Chogabje.com, 2014. Mike Breen, in his book The New Koreans, describes han as “a kind of rage and helplessness that is sublimated and lingers like an inactive resentment” and is often evidenced in … [Read More]
March events 2017
Here are the events that I know of for March. Also look out for the publication of Bandi’s The Accusation, translated by Deborah Smith, which is starting to get press coverage. Film The K-Horror series of screenings curated by Collette Balmain continues with A Blood Pledge (2 March), Horror Stories (9 March), Mourning Grave (16 … [Read More]
Book review: The Future of Silence – Fiction by Korean Women
The Future of Silence: Fiction by Korean Women Translated and Edited by Bruce & Ju-Chan Fulton Zephyr Press, 2016, 193pp When an unexpected book-shaped package landed on my doormat in April 2016 I eagerly opened it, wondering what was inside. I was slightly less enthusiastic when I discovered that it was a collection of short stories … [Read More]
Korean designers at London Fashion Week and Int’l Fashion Showcase
Once again there was strong Korean representation at London Fashion Week. As at previous events, Eudon Choi and Jackie JS Lee had catwalk shows, and this time they were joined by Korean-Canadian Edeline Lee. All three were represented in the Designer Showrooms, along with J.Won, Moon Lee Artwear, shoe designer Kim Kwang and the Korean-New … [Read More]
I, Kid – the opening performance
I, Kid is now the seventh exhibition by the Korean Artists Association UK to be held at the KCC, and their 9th performance. This year’s performance and exhibition aimed to give expression to a feeling of nostalgia for one’s childhood – and for most artists participating in the event, this meant their childhood back in Korea. Previous … [Read More]
The advance of Korea’s longevity
According to a study by Imperial College London and the World Health Organisation, “average life expectancy is set to increase in many countries by 2030 – and will exceed 90 years in South Korea.” The press release accompanying the report revealed: The five countries with the highest life expectancy at birth for men in 2030 were: … [Read More]
UK/Korea Creative Futures is launched
Here is the official announcement from the British Council of the collaboration with Korea over the next two years: British Council announces UK/KOREA Creative Futures 2017 London, 20 February 2017. The British Council today officially launched UK/KOREA Creative Futures 2017, a year-long celebration of the long-standing relationship between the UK and Korea which will see … [Read More]
Gallery: Korean Artists at London Art Fair 2017
A quick post to upload some of the photos of the various galleries exhibiting Korean art at this year’s London Art Fair (plus one gallery that I missed). Hanmi Gallery Jaye Moon Jaye Moon’s work had been getting a fair amount of attention – guerrilla-style installations of Lego dotted around the Business Design Centre and … [Read More]
The mystery of Kim Jong Nam’s assassination solved
You couldn’t make this up. Or maybe you could and they did. Even though I suspect it’s a fake front page posted online to make people go out and hunt down the paper itself (which I would do if it weren’t so cold outside), it’s still too good not to share. Thanks to Paul Matthews … [Read More]
LKL’s evening with Zion.T in Kentish Town
On the very rare occasions when I go to a big popular music concert I usually end up wondering why. A couple of years ago I queued for ages to get into the cheap seats (£77) for Big Bang’s gig in Wembley Arena. At least they didn’t have a support act, and worked hard to … [Read More]
Suh Do-ho: a popular local attraction
It was good to see people queuing to get into Suh Do-ho’s solo show at Victoria Miro yesterday, a pleasant stroll along the Grand Union Canal from the Angel. I was going to go to the exhibition myself, but it’s the sort of work where you’re better off with only one or two people in … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: KAA residency — I, Kid
For their January 2017 exhibition and performance at the KCC, the Korean Artists Association chose nostalgia for childhood as their theme. The text which follows is from the exhibition catalogue, with installation shots mainly by LKL. I, Kid. 우리어릴적 Childhood memories are special to all of us. They do not disappear, but are planted in … [Read More]
A survey of post-millennials – and South Korea shows its expected malaise
Another of those surveys, and guess where South Korea ends up in the rankings? As you might expect from the land of Hell Joseon, the statistics do not look great: second from bottom in terms of overall happiness. Around 1,000 15-21-year-olds from each of 20 countries were surveyed between September and October 2016 as part … [Read More]