The latest version of of the invaluable Jetpack WordPress plugin, released today, has a new feature: an AI module that writes blog posts for you if you are feeling lazy. So I typed in the following text and hit the “send” button: Please write a review of Han Kang’s novel “Greek Lessons” This is because … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 8)
June events 2023
Exhibitions It’s the last chance to see the V&A’s Hallyu exhibition, which closes on 25 June, and the KCC’s craft week exhibition, Light of Weaving: Labour-Hand-Hours, which closes on 30 June Soojin Kang’s solo show at Gathering continues until 17 June Han Collection’s exhibition of works by buncheong artist Shin Sang-ho also finishes on 17 … [Read More]
Hwang Jihae wins her third Chelsea Gold
LKL reports from the Chelsea Flower Show Press Day, for which Jihae Hwang prepared photo opportunities with designer Paul Smith and daegeum player Hyelim Kim. But she hit the jackpot with an extended visit from the King which ended with a photo opp which could not be planned. [Read More]
Jirisan – the landscape that inspired Hwang Jihae’s “Letter from a Million Years Past” garden at Chelsea
LKL goes on a field trip to the deep valleys of Jirisan, the landscape that inspired Hwang Jihae’s “Letter from a Million Years Past” garden at Chelsea Flower Show and talks about the designer’s aims for the garden itself, which advocates letting nature to its own devices so that the aboriginal plants can thrive. In Jirisan, that means plants that benefit human health. [Read More]
2023 Korea trip 1: the happy mutants of Daechi-dong
Insadong, Seoul, 9 May 2023. This year’s Korea trip has no specific theme. Its timing has been determined by events in London. While I normally like to be in Korea for Buddha’s Birthday, that day falls rather late in the international solar calendar this year: 26 May. I need to be in London that week … [Read More]
May events 2023
Highlight of this month is Jihae Hwang’s third appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show with her show garden inspired by the herbal medicine traditions of Jirisan. Plus there’s plenty of craft-related events and exhibitions, thanks to London Craft Week, and the 2023 Festival of Korean Dance winds up. Chelsea Flower Show, London Craft Week and … [Read More]
Have purple raccoons ever floated in YOUR dreams?
I’ve started, very belatedly, to resume my Korean language studies, which originally began, and paused, around 15 years ago at the Korean Cultural Centre in London. I was in their first intake for the beginners’ language class, and I met people there that I’ve stayed in touch with ever since. Back in 2008 the KCC’s … [Read More]
Yun Ko-eun on the humour to be found in nightmarish scenarios
The moderator was late, misdirected by a faulty map app. The interpreter’s pen ran out of ink, as did a replacement pen supplied by a member of the audience. A warning message popped up on screen warning those present that the KCC’s laptop battery was getting low. The PA system didn’t seem to be working. … [Read More]
April events 2023
Highlights this month are a Korean strand in the Queer East film festival, the start of the 2023 Festival of Korean Dance and a bumper crop of translated literature. Exhibitions Zadie Xa’s solo show continues at Whitechapel Gallery until the end of the month, and the Hallyu exhibition continues at the V+A for another few … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Transfer / 갈아타다 at the KCC
It involves several levels of meta to post on a webpage a digital image of an exhibition that explores questions of what is lost when a physical work of art is recorded digitally and then reproduced. When the image records a talk by one of the artist-curators of the exhibition discussing his own contribution to … [Read More]
Queer East 2023 announces a Focus Korea strand
Hot on the heels of the BFI Flare festival, Queer East this year also has a Korean focus, with eight feature films, six shorts and one VR cinematic experience. The selection includes one UK feature premier, plenty of recent films plus some opportunities to revisit the back catalogue. In a separate post we’ve listed out … [Read More]
March events 2023
The pace of events is gradually picking up. Looking ahead to April, to ensure the best price for your Festival of Korean Dance tickets, book during the early bird discount period which ends on Friday 17 March. Exhibitions Zadie Xa’s solo show continues at Whitechapel Gallery, and the Hallyu exhibition continues at the V+A. Both … [Read More]
2023 Festival of Korean Dance programme details announced
Here’s the official press release for the 2023 Festival of Korean dance, which takes place a little earlier this year. For the first time audiences in Salford, Coventry and Brighton will be able to enjoy some of the performances. Festival of Korean Dance 2023 24 April – 11 May 2023 The annual Festival of Korean … [Read More]
February events 2023
Here’s what we’re looking forward to this month: Exhibitions The KCC’s winter group show, Begin Again, closes on 4 Feb. The next group show, Transfer, opens on 24 Feb. The V+A’s Hallyu exhibition continues all month, as does the Whitechapel Gallery’s Zadie Xa solo show Han Collection has an exhibition of tea bowls by Shin … [Read More]
Review: Cho Nam-joo – Saha
After the domestic success of Kim Ji-young (2016; English translation by Jamie Chang published in 2020), and of its encouraging sales overseas, it was natural that Cho Nam-joo’s next novel would attract interest. Accordingly, Saha had a slightly shorter journey from Korean into English: after an original publication date in 2019 its English translation came … [Read More]
Book review: Seo Su-jin – Korean Teachers
After what was a fairly downbeat reading experience for us last year, quite by chance we came across the first publication of translated Korean literature from Singapore’s Harriet Press, released without our noticing it in March 2022. Seo Sujin’s debut novel Korean Teachers won the Hankyoreh Literature Award in 2020, and it is encouraging that … [Read More]