In our back garden we used to have some Rhus trees. Their leaves go a beautiful red colour in autumn, and their small scale fits well with the shrubs around them. But they’re a bit floppy and every now and then we had to lop a bough off, or even cut one down completely. And … [Read More]
LKL articles by Philip Gowman (page 91)
Gig review: Jang Kiha & the Faces + Yi Sung Yol at the Scala
The advertised start time for the gig was 7pm, and at 8pm there was still a huge queue at the door simply to get in. Clearly the administration of rock concerts at the Scala is not bound by the same conventions as a classical concert at a mainstream venue. Inside, the down-at-heel décor is probably … [Read More]
Concert review: Geomungo Factory at the Cadogan Hall
Geomungo Factory was the second fusion concert as part of the K-Music 2013 Festival. The cool air conditioning inside the Cadogan Hall provided a welcome respite from the muggy atmosphere outside; and the clean, modern lines of the outfits worn by the four Geomungo Factory members promised that we were not about to hear a … [Read More]
Crossing – the defector documentary by Kim Tae-gyun – screens at Amnesty International
A quick note of an upcoming film screening at Amnesty International: Crossing (크로싱, dir Kim Tae-gyun, South Korea, 2008) Cast: Cha In-pyo, Seo Young-hwa, Shin Myeong-cheol Venue: Amnesty International UK, The Human Rights Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA Date: Mon 24 Jun 2013, 7.00 pm The film details the tragic plight … [Read More]
Hannibal Lecter plays Paganini – definitely NOT part of K-Music 2013
Thanks to the pre-concert publicity, anyone going to an Amadéus Leopold gig knows they are in for something to entertain the eyes as well as the ears. So it came as no surprise that among the gothic paraphernalia on the stage of the Queen Elizabeth Hall for his performance as part of Yoko Ono’s Meltdown … [Read More]
1956 – The birth of the hallyu?
Not really. But there’s a nice story in the Korea Herald about what is believed to be the first ever single released by a Korean artist in the U S of A: Ok Doo-ok’s East of Make Believe – a 1956 English-language remake of Korean singer Hyeon In’s Gohyangmanri, which roughly translates as “Miles Away … [Read More]
Saatchi picks Han Jaeyeol as One to Watch
Six weeks after picking Shin Kwang-ho in their weekly series of artists to watch, Saatchi Online has selected another Korean artist to focus on: Han Jae-yeol. According to the website, much of his current work is influenced by his posting to Haiti while on National Service. “Amidst the devastation [after the 2010 earthquake] he was … [Read More]
Concert review: National Orchestra of Korea gives K-Music 2013 a triumphant start
The UK debut of the National Orchestra of Korea at the Barbican on 14 June launched the 2013 K-music festival. In his interview with LKL the day before, the orchestra’s musical director Won Il had promised sounds that a British audience had never heard before. And the orchestra certainly delivered on that promise. The 60-piece … [Read More]
The Hidden Cost of Prosperity – a brave and rewarding exhibition at the KCC
Probably the bravest and among the most thought-provoking exhibitions that the KCC has hosted in its five year history is The Hidden Cost of Prosperity, a look at the darker side of the Miracle on the Han – the exploited underclass. The exhibition was one of the winners of the KCC’s Call for Curators, a … [Read More]
The Timbre of Moonlight: Won Il on bringing traditional instruments to a modern audience
In this wide-ranging interview, composer and performer Won Il reflects on his musical journey, Korean traditional sound, percussion and piri, experimental projects like Puri and Uhuhboo, and his vision for the National Orchestra of Korea ahead of its London debut. [Read More]
Bought for £10 from a Parisian cheese merchant, Lady Hyegyong’s Uigwe is now digitised
The Joseon court knew how to document things. And one of those court records, recently digitised and put online by the British Library, shows they also knew how to celebrate. The Uigwe – The Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty – were included in the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 2006. In its … [Read More]
Collaboration and adaptation for inspiration – the second SOAS Years of Radical Change conference
SOAS’s second Years of Radical Change conference, held 31 May – 1 June this year, expanded its remit to deal with Korean screen culture in its widest sense. We are used to conferences about South Korean films, but this year TV and video games were among the topics discussed. And on the second day of … [Read More]
Samulnori, sanjo and jazz from the SOAS Korean Drumming Society
The SOAS Korean Drumming Society gave an interesting and varied recital in the Lucas Lecture theatre on Monday 3 June. After a daegeum sanjo from Kim Hyelim, accompanied by Keith Howard on changgo, we had a very effective jazz improvisation by Choi Jeung-hyun (changgo) with Shzr Ee Tan (piano) using two samulnori rhythms, the daseureum … [Read More]
June events 2013
June is music month, but there’s plenty more besides. Let me know what I’ve missed. Music The SOAS Korean Drumming Society performs at SOAS on 3 June Kim Hyelim (daegeum) performs with the Yin Yang Collective at the Royal Asiatic Society on 6 June The National Orchestra of Korea under Won Il will open the … [Read More]
Korean music in June – a preview
This article was written for London Jazz News, where it appeared in a slightly different version on 20 May. Think Korean music in 2013 is all about tubby rappers and manufactured girl bands? Think again. Coming up in June is K-Music – a festival of Korean traditional, fusion and rock music which may appeal to … [Read More]
Art Basel launches in Hong Kong
The Guardian has been covering Art Basel’s first fair in Hong Kong (23-26 May) in both its print edition (the Sunday Observer) and online. There are around 170 galleries represented, including eleven Korean galleries, and the picture which goes with the Guardian‘s main article is Arario’s stall featuring work by Gwon Osang. London’s Atlas Gallery … [Read More]