Four Korean design studios came to Tent London this year. There’s a gallery of their stalls at the bottom of this brief post. Zeup Design Studio presented some colourful pens which looked like pieces of lemongrass, while Kim HyunJoo Studio presented pens that also doubled as clips and as bookmarks. It was a shame the … [Read More]
Category: Festivals (page 32)
A look at some of the Korean design on show at 100% Design London 2014
There may not be a Korean Pavilion at 100% Design London this year, but you don’t have to walk far from the central bar area of Earls Court 2 to find Korean designers. Just take one pace the other side of the bar and you come across Kim Been’s stall, Beeeen Company, with her range … [Read More]
J. JS Lee and Eudon Choi display their SS15 collections
Jackie Lee and Eudon Choi presented their SS15 collections in the London Fashion Week catwalk shows on 12 September. As happened in the spring, J. JS Lee was first to display her collection – a cunning move as her catwalk show once again was the main photo in the evening press coverage. Here’s the Evening … [Read More]
Korean films at the 2014 BFI London Film Festival
There’s rather a good haul of Korean movies at the BFI London Film Festival this year, including a Hong Sang-soo which looks a little different from the usual, a treat for fans of the remarkable Bae Doona, a charming animation and a “tense, kinetic and darkly funny neo-noir”. Tickets go on sale on 18 September. … [Read More]
Constancy & Change in Korean Traditional Craft, at Tent London
Every year you’ll find some independent Korean designers at Tent London. But this year there’s a Korean “pavilion” that will showcase themes of tradition in contemporary Korean design. Register on the Tent London website. The exhibition runs from 18 to 21 September. Constancy & Change in Korean Traditional Craft T3-A Hall, First floor, Old Truman … [Read More]
The 2014 Fringe – a round-up of the reviews
Now that the 2014 Fringe has come to an end, here’s a summary of the reviews of the Korean shows. I’m surprised the Taekwondo show didn’t get any professional reviews, as I heard that the BBC loved it. Show LKL rating Other ratings Brush Review Fringe Guru The List Broadway Baby ThreeWeeks Leodo: Paradise Lost … [Read More]
Edinburgh Fringe visit: two Korean monodramas and one Korean American
Korean acts coming to the Fringe have often majored on the non-verbal: percussion, taekwondo, comedy, physical theatre, music and dance. Last year, with Othello – Two Men, we discovered that more traditional theatre, heavy on text, can work well despite the language barrier – provided surtitles are visible. This year the Korean contingent was bolder … [Read More]
Edinburgh Fringe visit: A Walk in the Dust
When a play is put on for only one performance at the Fringe, you wonder what is going on. When it’s a Korean performance, and the date chosen is August 15th, National Liberation Day, the day on which Korea was freed from Japanese rule in 1945, the choice of “one day only” makes more sense. … [Read More]
Leodo: Paradise Lost — Norian Maro returns to the Fringe
Here’s the official press release for Norian Maro’s 2014 Edinburgh Fringe production Leodo: Paradise Lost. The show has developed out of last year’s production, Pudasi, which LKL reviewed here. The Stage has already given this year’s upgraded version a four-star review: “The talented seven-member ensemble never flags in energy, choreographic skill or audience engagement” The … [Read More]
The experience of North Koreans in New Malden
A panel session about the experiences of North Korean defectors in New Malden is at first sight a strange event to promote as part of an arts festival. But the 7th New Malden Arts Festival overlaps with Malden Fortnight, a celebration of New Malden’s varied community, of which Koreans are of course a significant part. … [Read More]
Edinburgh Fringe Preview: Brush – a charming piece of theatre for children
Last year at the Fringe we had Climb a Willow to the Sea God’s Palace, a lovely 45-minute performance from Kkumdongi Puppet Theatre telling a Korean fable using puppetry and painting geared towards a younger audience. This year for the younger festival-goers we will have Theatre Haddangse performing Brush. The company gave a special preview … [Read More]
Report from the KCC Artist Talk: Shakespeare interpretations in East Asia
I hadn’t been to any of the events for Seoul in the City, part of this year’s City of London festival. The symposium at London’s Korean Cultural Centre for Shakespeare’s plays in contemporary East Asian languages seemed particularly interesting to me. My previous experience of Shakespeare in East Asia was confined to Ran, Akira Kurosawa’s … [Read More]
Brush, a show from the Edinburgh Fringe, comes to the KCC
As I was planning my trip to the Fringe this year there was a problematic clash between two shows, both of which I wanted to attend. One of them was Brush. My trip to Edinburgh is now a lot easier, because I can catch Brush in London instead: Brush Ahead of their performance at the … [Read More]
Artist Talk – Re-interpreting Shakespeare’s Hamlet
This is the third talk presented in connection with the Seoul in the City strand of this year’s City of London Festival. And check this link to find out about an offer of free tickets to Yohangza Theatre Company’s production of Hamlet this Saturday. Beyond Borders: Re-interpreting Shakespeare’s Hamlet Monday 14 July 2014, 19:00 to … [Read More]
The Korean Hamlet: special seminar + performance ticket deal
The nice people at the KCCUK have a special offer for you, whereby you can receive free tickets for Hamlet directed by Jung-Ung Yang by registering to attend the Artist Talk event. The play will be performed for one night only on 12th July at 7.30pm at the Peacock Theatre. To obtain your free tickets … [Read More]
Korean performers at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe
As usual, the Edinburgh Fringe will host a range of Korean performers this year with something to suit all tastes and ages. Kkachidong theatre company, who two years ago introduced me to the legend of Grandmother Mago, returns to tackle something more grounded in history: the life story of dancer Choi Seung-hee. Norian Maro from … [Read More]