London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

The Tripitaka Koreana – part 1

Matthew Jackson continues his series of articles on the important treasures from Korea’s past One crowning achievement of Korea’s Buddhist heritage that is not included in the Bozar ‘Smile of Buddha’ exhibition is the Tripitaka Koreana. There is a practical reason for this, as it consists of 81,258 woodblocks, weighs 280 tons in total, and … [Read More]

Blight, Hope and Photoshop

“This is not a Korean exhibition” announced Lee Chan-Buom, Director of the Cultural Cooperation Division of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade as he introduced the panellists at a fascinating discussion to coincide with the “Blight and Hope” exhibition at the KCC. With sponsorship from the British Council and the UNDP, there was to … [Read More]

The Birth of the YKABs (Young Korean Artists in Britain)!

‘4482: Korean Contemporary Artists London’ exhibition, 16th – 19th October. Seminar, ‘How to promote Korean Art Abroad,’ 18th October 2008. Both at Bargehouse, Southwark. Report by Beccy Kennedy Take forty contemporary artists, a fervent independent curator, an unexpected art space, four floors of art works in throngs of media and genres, and a thriving spot … [Read More]

“Disposable People”: Comfort Women photos at the Festival Hall

Overlapping nicely with the photographic exhibition at the KCC (Poverty seen through the Lens) is Disposable People, an exhibition at the Royal Festival Hall on a related theme: modern day slavery. Magnum photographer Chris Steele Perkins spent some time talking with some of the last surviving sex slaves from the Pacific War – the Korean … [Read More]

“Poverty Seen through the Lens” at KCC

Notice of the upcoming show at the KCC, featuring Korean and non-Korean photographers An international photography exhibition on the topic of global poverty will be held at the Korean Cultural Centre UK, from 21 October to 4 November 2008, under the title of “Blight and Hope: Poverty Seen Through the Lens,” hosted by the Korean … [Read More]

Crowning glory at the Smile of Buddha

Matthew Jackson reports from the “Smile of Buddha” exhibition in Brussels I had never been to the Bozar Centre (French: “Palais des Beaux-Arts”) in Belgium prior to the current “Smile of Buddha” exhibition of Korean Buddhist art. It is an impressive place (right) and I highly recommend it if you are ever in Brussels. The … [Read More]

Francesca Cho: Old Paintings in Surgery

FRANCESCA CHO: OLD PAINTINGS IN SURGERY Location: Lilyville Surgery 630 Fulham Road London SW6 5RS Entrance on Lilyville Road, off of Fulham Road Time: 17 October – 14 November Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri 11am-1pm and 2.30pm – 3.30pm. Wed 11am-1.00pm or by appointment: Ms. Linda Gilson (020 7731 9388) Contact: Curator Lois Olmstead email: lolmstead … [Read More]

The Pensive Bodhisattva comes to Brussels

By Matthew Jackson The centrepiece of the Bozar exhibition of Korean Buddhist Art, beginning in Brussels on the 10th of October, will be the Pensive Bodhisattva statue, Korea’s National Treasure No. 83. It is difficult to describe in words why the statue is regarded so highly as a work of Buddhist art, because its qualities … [Read More]

“Made in Korea” festival in Brussels

The “Made in Korea” festival in Brussels is a big-budget four month perspective of Korea’s arts. Centred around the Centre for Fine Arts, this is a unique opportunity to see some of Korea’s ancient treasures and also some more contemporary visual and performing arts. Definitely worth a trip to Brussels. First, a summary of some … [Read More]

Korea at 60: Forwards and Upwards

From the KCC website: The government of the Republic of Korea was established on August 15, 1948 after three years of U.S. military administration following liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Date: 6 October 2008 13 October 2008 Venue: Korean Cultural Centre UK The exhibition is organised by Korean Culture and Information Service, and presented by … [Read More]

A Park Soo-keun comes up for sale

“80% of Korean art buyers are pure speculators”, says Juhl Joohyun Lee, director of Arario Gallery. And with Lee Kun-hee having stepped down from the chairmanship of Samsung and allegations flying that an illegal slush fund was used to buy works for his wife’s Leeum museum, Samsung has stopped buying art. So says the FT … [Read More]