The annual performance at the Korean Cultural Centre by the UK Korean Artists Association is becoming something of an institution. This year it is accompanied for the first time by a one-week exhibition of works by some of their visual artists. It has always been a popular event, but this year with both visual and … [Read More]
Category: Event reports and reviews (page 39)
The Korean Festival 1 – British Summer 1
The Kingston Korean Festival (14 August this year), timed to take place as close as possible to Korea’s Independence Day on 15 August, is always at the mercy of the British summer weather. We all knew that rain was likely at some point during the day, and when there were a few spots during the … [Read More]
Remembering the Battle of the Imjin at the KCC
“I’ve met Tom Cruise, and now I’ve met Sam Mercer. And when I met Sam I was truly star-struck. The man’s a legend.” So said a member of the audience at the Korean Cultural Centre after an instructive talk by Andrew Salmon on the battle of the Imjin on 15 July. Sam Mercer was sitting … [Read More]
Soon Yul’s Journey To Infinity: The Art Of Soon Yul Kang
by Paul O’Kane For London’s Artspace gallery, South Korean artist Soon Yul Kang exhibits a display of tapestries along with some paintings and collages. The works date from the mid-1990s to the present. The Artspace gallery has two rectangular floors, upstairs and downstairs, and on each of these Soon Yul and her curator have lined … [Read More]
The East is Tasted at Tower Bridge
We’ll remember this summer heat: after so many Korean summer festivals in London marred by rain and cold, this one was a scorcher. Blue skies, Tower Bridge in the background heaving with tourists, the Gherkin to the north, and on the south side on some of the greenest lawns I’ve seen for weeks during this … [Read More]
The Three Ambassadors: what next on the Korean peninsula?
For the second year running, the Anglo Korean Society organised a fascinating Korea update in the Houses of Parliament, provided by three ambassadors: Martin Uden and Peter Hughes, our representatives in Seoul and Pyongyang respectively, and Choo Kyu Ho, Seoul’s representative in London. Simon Hughes MP hosted at the event held on 8 July. Sir … [Read More]
Korean Eye: anything but ordinary
Jennifer Barclay pays a quick visit to the varied exhibition of contemporary Korean art at the Saatchi Gallery Korean Eye was founded by David Ciclitira, who became a fan of contemporary Korean art when visiting South Korea on business, and decided to bring an exhibition to the UK for the first time last year. As … [Read More]
White Badge: Korea and the Vietnamese War
In a year that we remember the 60th anniversary of the first post-WW2 US military involvement in Asia, it was a great idea to invite Director Jeong Ji-yeong (정지영) to the UK. Jeong is known for a number of well-received films, including Nambugun, a film which gives a nuanced view of the Korean War from … [Read More]
An evening with Changrae Lee
LKL reports from the evening with Korean American author Changrae Lee, chaired by Erica Wagner, as part of the Asia House Festival of Asian Literature, 24 May 2010. The Asia House Festival of Asian Literature, now in its fifth year, for the first time included Korean representation this year. With such a title, you might … [Read More]
Double entry, poison and murder: historical sources examined at SOAS
LKL reports from the 21 May conference at SOAS – Historians, clerks and accountants: Methodological issues in the use of sources on Chosŏn History. The one-day seminar at SOAS examined the value and danger of using alternative historical sources. The types of sources discussed ranged from family and guild accounting records, via personal travelogues, ancient … [Read More]
2010 Travel Diary #9: MISO at the Chongdong Theatre
Sunday 2 May 2010. Korea is known for its high-energy stage shows. They have a huge international appeal. Shows like Nanta and Jump perform to enthusiastic audiences everywhere, combining acrobatics, humour, music and maybe some traditional culture – though dressed-up in an accessible way. A feature of the shows is that they are largely non-verbal … [Read More]
Exhibition review: Far East Fine Art at the Mall Galleries
The debut exhibition by Far East Fine Art, a joint venture between a Brit experienced in the gallery market and a Korean with access to artists in South Korea, shows promise for the future. The choice of location was deliberate – central and high profile, and, for a start-up venture like this, offering the flexibility … [Read More]
Korean missionaries: Protestant churches and their global vision
Saharial reports from the recent talk at the Korean Cultural Centre: Dr Kirsteen Kim (Theology at Leeds Trinity University College) Wednesday 31st March 2010 In the summer of 2007, a group of missionaries from the Saemmul Presbyterian Church, South Korea, were kidnapped by the Taliban, an incident that left 2 of their members dead and … [Read More]
Conference Report: Joseon Dynasty Court Painting
LKL reports from the one-day seminar on Joseon Dynasty Court Painting held at SOAS on 29 March 2010. Last year, SOAS in conjunction with the Academy of Korean Studies and the British Museum presented a one-day workshop on folk art. As a follow-up event, this year the workshop looked at work from the other end … [Read More]
The BKVA annual report 2009
With the kind permission of Colonel GM Gadd OBE, National Chairman of the British Korean Veterans Association, we reproduce here the annual report of the BKVA’s activities, as presented to the annual general meeting of the Anglo-Korean Society yesterday. CHAIRMANS REPORT TO THE AGM OF THE ANGLO-KOREAN SOCIETY HELD AT THE CULTURAL CENTRE, NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, … [Read More]
Ivory Coasted!
Aashish Gadhvi reviews South Korea’s resounding 2-0 victory over the Ivory Coast. With photos by Aashish and Saharial. Have you ever had a dream that was so perfect that the moment you wake up you try your very best to go back to sleep and experience it all over again? Well I had one of … [Read More]