45 minutes from the downtown area of Seoul is a rather special place. Take line 4 to Seoul Grand Park (Gwacheon, 과천), and board the free shuttle bus which runs from near the exit. The Lonely Planet says it would take 20 minutes to walk to the gallery, but it seemed to take the bus … [Read More]
Visual arts, crafts, design, fashion (page 101)
ARCO 2007, part 3: the official press release on the contemporary art strand
Some background on Korea’s participation as guest of honour at ARCO 2007, direct from the ARCO press office. SOUTH KOREA AT ARCO’07: A SPECIAL LOOK AT ASIAN ART For the first time ever, the Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair, ARCO, will welcome a special guest from one of the most artistically effervescent and emerging international … [Read More]
ARCO 2007, part 2: details of galleries in the contemporary art strand
The earlier post included all the special Korean events around the ARCO 2007 contemporary art fair. For you art gurus out there, here’s some details of the Korean artists and galleries showing there, direct from the ARCO press office (with email addresses slightly sanitised) —————————- KOREAN GALLERIES IN THE PROGRAM DEDICATED TO THE COUNTRY IN … [Read More]
ARCO 2007: a Huge Korean festival in Madrid this February
Just received from the organisers of ARCO 2007 in Madrid. Film, music, dance, literature and of course contemporary art. To call it a feast undersells it. And that’s not all: this is just the stuff they know about already. There’s some other stuff they haven’t finalised. I haven’t taken all this in yet, but I … [Read More]
Graham Norton sits on the best of Korean design
Congratulations to Korean-born Jackie and Lloyd Choi of Jackie Choi London for winning one of the Mayor of Hackney’s annual Business Awards 2006. The awards are designed to “celebrate entrepreneurs with business acumen and innovative ideas that generate jobs throughout the borough”. The awards were presented on 14 November, and the Choi sisters won in … [Read More]
Francesca Cho’s meditative work
I happened to meet artist Francesca Cho at the Jerwood gallery yesterday lunchtime. Korean-born, but now based in London, she is the more established artist among the exhibitors in the Still Dynamics show, which closes today. Her contemplative work, to which the images below and my words here can’t do justice, recalls Rothko but also … [Read More]
Is it Mrs Blair who’s farting Hangul?
Prompted by Beccy Kennedy’s thoughtful comments on the Still Dynamics exhibition, I popped over the river to the Jerwood Space yesterday lunchtime. The result is this somewhat tabloid counterblast — hoping to prompt some more of you to go along to see it for yourself. The most eye-catching work in the show is Seunghee Kang’s … [Read More]
Korean art: Unstoppable forces and immovable objects
Still Dynamics: The Korean Contemporary Art Show The Jerwood Space, 14-20 December Review by Beccy Kennedy The serene setting of the Jerwood Space provides the perfect offset for the vivid works of eleven Korean artists. With the exception of Kira Kim’s light installation, I Love U, and Sangjun Roh’s miniature, cardboard people, the works are … [Read More]
Secret Korean contemporary art show now on
With apologies for the late notice, I’ve just heard about another Korean contemporary art show. Known to but a few, and by word of mouth only it seems. Even one of the artists wouldn’t tell me about it. This is real inside-track stuff. It finishes on 21 December, and is on at the Jerwood Space … [Read More]
But is it Art?
Encounters with Painters in North Korea 5pm SOAS, 8 December 2006 Koen De Ceuster, Centre for Korean Studies, Leiden University “But is it Art”?: that was the question posed by Koen De Ceuster on Friday night at SOAS, as part of the series of talks held by the Centre for Korean Studies. The talk started … [Read More]
Here I am now – a group Korean art show in North London
This is a great month for Korean art in London. Just received from Margot Bannerman: here I am now 12 – 16 December Monday – Friday, 12 – 4.30pm, Saturday, 10.30am – 4.30pm Byam Shaw School of Art at Central St Martins 2 Elthorne Road | Archway | London N19 4AG The title of the … [Read More]
Theatre news: Private Jokes, Public Places – a new play following a Korean-American architecture student
Thanks to Colin Bartlett for letting me know of play now on at the New End Theatre, with a Korean-American connection. Till 10 December. Snug Harbor Productions, Ergo Entertainment & Maximum Entertainment Productions in association with New End Theatre present the European premiere of PRIVATE JOKES, PUBLIC PLACES By Oren Safdie Directed by Leon Rubin … [Read More]
Uncovering Wonderland
Review of the Asia House exhibition by Beccy Kennedy The multi-storey, multi-story exhibition of contemporary Korean art at Asia House, Through the Looking Glass, provides a multi-faceted Korean art experience, in terms of the media used and the themes approached by the artists. Independent curator, Jiyoon Lee, uses the looking glass as an audience-friendly metaphor … [Read More]
Traditional Yet Contemporary sale at Bonhams
The sale of contemporary Japanese and Korean ceramics at Bonhams on 7 November was the first time that a London auction had a focus on Korean work. As such, there was a lot of admiration from buyers as to the quality of the work, but when it came to putting hands in pockets buyers were … [Read More]
Exhibition news: Through the Looking Glass, at Asia House
A major exhibition with associated events, as part of Think Korea 2006: Through the Looking Glass 23rd November 2006 – 3rd March 2007 (Monday to Saturday, 10am – 6pm) ASIA HOUSE 63 New Cavendish Street, London W1G 7LP (0207 307 5454) Press View: 22 November, 10am – 12pm Opening Reception: 22 November, 6.30pm – 8.30pm … [Read More]
Circuit Diagram at Cell gallery
What do a 20 dollar bill, a spirit level, a geodesic dome, and a loudspeaker chanting Mongolian love songs in Korean have in common? That’s the question posed by the introduction to a multinational contemporary art show in the Cell gallery space in Cambridge Heath Road, Hackney. And answered. The loudspeaker chanting the Mongolian love … [Read More]