Cheok is the traditional Asian standard of measurement, meaning ‘span of the hand.’ Resisting the uniform standardisation of society, this personal and individual measurement is the guiding principle of renowned Korean Choreographer Ae-soon Ahn’s visually enticing reflection of the nature of precision. Mysterious and virtuosic solos and groups connect and communicate in a rich and sensuous landscape of … [Read More]
Category: Festivals (page 5)
K-Dance 2024: Burnt Offering, by 99 Art Company
A sublime evocation of life; a danced ritual for our times. Most dances from all over the world originated from ‘religious rites’. Burnt Offering, winner of the Best Production award at the 2nd Seoul Arts Awards at the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, invites us to consider what new rituals we need, what we might … [Read More]
K-Dance 2024: Kontemporary Korea – a double bill of K-Dance
Kontemporary Korea is a double bill of contrasting works, introducing one of Korea’s leading choreographers Cheol-in Jeong who creates virtuosic and emotive works as Melancholy Dance Company, and audience favourite Sung Im Her, offering her high energy and engaging personality to another edition of A Festival of Korean Dance. TomorrowIsNowTodayIsYesterday (TinTiY) Sung Im Her’sTiNTiY looks at the impact of (social) media on … [Read More]
Korean crafts at Collect 2024
Collect, now in its 20th year, offers collectors an opportunity to acquire new, museum-quality handcrafted artworks from some of 21st Century’s finest craft talent. As in previous years, there is a strong Korean representation, with five Korea-specialist galleries exhibiting. You will also find individual Korean artists in galleries without a country focus: Gallery Sklo Booth: … [Read More]
Korean films at BFI Flare 2024
Last year BFI Flare had a Korean focus, giving us four feature films and a short. It’s only natural that this year’s offering won’t quite match up to last year’s feast, but still we have one feature and a short: Heavy Snow (폭설) Dir: Yun Su-ik (2023, 77 mins) Cast: Han So-hee, Han Hae-in Monday … [Read More]
A review of the Korean cultural year 2023
2023: a year when an environmental artist from Gwangju shared a hug with the King; four K-pop princesses went to Buckingham Palace and received honorary MBEs; and the tolling bell of Jirisan’s Daewonsa temple was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. The year marked the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UK … [Read More]
A look back at LEAFF and LKFF 2023
We didn’t get around to writing any detailed reviews of the films that screened at the two big festivals in the autumn of 2023, so it’s time to try to pull some thoughts together before the memories fade entirely, jostled sideways by new ones. There were some sparkly new films which were fun to watch … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival 2023: the detailed schedule
Here’s one-page listing of all the films at the 2023 London Korean Film Festival. Click on the various links to go to the relevant page on the festival website for plot summaries and ticket details. Time Title Strand BFI = BFI Southbank | ICA = Institute of Contemporary Arts | PHC = Picturehouse Central | … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival Announces 2023 Programme
Yesterday the KCC released the final programme for the 2023 London Korean Film Festival. While in general 2023 has not so far been a stand-out year for Korean film, there’s plenty to enjoy here. I’m looking forward to seeing Hur Jin-ho’s latest, as his Christmas in August was one of the first Korean movies I … [Read More]
Jung Jae-il’s K-music opening concert leaves London wanting more
Ten years ago, the very first K-music festival concert, given by Won Il and the National Orchestra of Korea, was on the main stage at the Barbican. So for the first concert of the 10th anniversary K-music Festival it was the appropriate venue for Jung Jae-il to make his London debut. The Barbican is also … [Read More]
Korean artists at START Art Fair 2023
StART 2023 at Saatchi Gallery will this year present its signature array of exhibiting artists and galleries from around the globe, highlights include Singapore-based Premium Pages Gallery, sculptor Katya Emelyanova and London-based paper artist Lisa Lloyd. Projects this year include the Korean globetrotter Doowon LEE who has been taking the international art-world by storm with … [Read More]
Korean movies at LEAFF 2023 (updated)
This year, LEAFF presents a special Retrospective strand dedicated to the works of Director Chung Ji-Young (1946-), known to be the Ken Loach of South Korea. The cinema veteran is known for compelling storytelling based on real-life cases. 2023 marks the 40th anniversary since his directorial debut. In order to celebrate, LEAFF brings 8 of … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival announces 2023 dates and Special Focus strand
Details of the 2023 London Korean Film Festival are gradually coming out. BFI members may already have spotted, in the Oct-Nov catalogue, two LKFF screenings that will be at the BFI: Phantom (Lee Hae-young, 2023) on 4 Nov and Innocent Witness (Lee Han, 2019) on 5 Nov. Yesterday, the KCC officially announced the first round … [Read More]
Cobweb screens at BFI London Film Festival
‘Incredible scenes play out in my dreams,’ insists impassioned film director Kim Ki-yeol (manically played by Bong Joon-ho regular Song Kang-ho), resolute in his determination to remake the ending of his latest film. With his cast and crew persuaded to do a two-day re-shoot, delicious chaos ensues as strict censorship regulations, the personal affairs of … [Read More]
Koo Jeong-a at Venice Biennale 2024: “Scent Memory” Open Call
In March this year Arts Council Korea announced that Koo Jeong A would represent Korea in the 2024 Venice Biennale. Danish artistic director Jacob Fabricius and Korean curator Lee Seol-hui were appointed to curate the project, which is entitled “Odorama Cities”. According to the Korea Times, the 2024 project will transform ‘the entirety of the … [Read More]
K-Music Festival 2023: the official press release
The KCC and Serious announce the line-up for the 10th iteration of the K-music Festival. Expect new music from Leenalchi and Jambinai, some new collaborations, and performers that are new to the festival. The festival runs from 1 October to 12 November. [Read More]