London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

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Selected publications

Saatchi picks Han Jaeyeol as One to Watch

Six weeks after picking Shin Kwang-ho in their weekly series of artists to watch, Saatchi Online has selected another Korean artist to focus on: Han Jae-yeol. According to the website, much of his current work is influenced by his posting to Haiti while on National Service. “Amidst the devastation [after the 2010 earthquake] he was … [Read More]

Art Basel launches in Hong Kong

The Guardian has been covering Art Basel’s first fair in Hong Kong (23-26 May) in both its print edition (the Sunday Observer) and online. There are around 170 galleries represented, including eleven Korean galleries, and the picture which goes with the Guardian‘s main article is Arario’s stall featuring work by Gwon Osang. London’s Atlas Gallery … [Read More]

Shin Kwang-ho is “one to watch”

Each week, Saatchi Online showcases an emerging artist from around the world who is already garnering attention for their work. Taking inspiration from the Saatchi Gallery’s 25-year history of discovering new talent, ‘One To Watch’ presents some of the most exciting artists on Saatchi Online helping collectors to identify strong emerging talent. This week’s ‘One … [Read More]

Some almost affordable Lee Ufan at Christies

Some unusual and almost affordable Lee Ufan pieces are coming up for sale at Christie’s London on 14 February: an untitled charcoal on paper (55.2 x 73cm) work from 1984… and another similarly sized untitled work from 1977, ink and gouache on paper. Click on the links / images to find out more on the … [Read More]

Smugglers of NK paintings busted

Do the math: on average one contraband North Korean landscape painting buys Kim Jong-il one bottle of brandy. (The article says the dealers’ “profits” amounted to around $24 per picture – assuming the margin is 50%, the amount the North Koreans get per painting is $24 per painting.) http://t.co/qmtXNfP # [Read More]

Irrational exhuberance or sober restraint? The contrasting tastes of 18th century neighbours

Leaving aside the question of whether you would fork out £53 million (including taxes and buyer’s premium) for an object that a careless cat could smash to smithereens in an instant, which vase would you rather have on your mantelpiece? On the left, the exhuberant, flamboyant, labour-intensive masterpiece produced by Qing dynasty ceramic artisans (and … [Read More]

Lee Ufan and Paik Nam June in Christies sale

Two Paik Nam June works and a Lee Ufan come up for sale at Christie’s on 1 July at the King Street branch http://bit.ly/9PurZ9 # : Lee Ufan (b. 1936): Correspondence. Oil and mineral pigment on canvas, 63¾ x 51 1/8in. (162 x 130cm.) Painted in 1995 Nam June Paik (1932-2006): Untitled. TV, neon tubing, … [Read More]

Upcoming sale at Christie’s Hong Kong

Some absolutely cracking Korean work for sale at Christie’s Asia Contemporary Art sale in Hong Kong, 30 May http://bit.ly/ccX9U3 # – including works by Chun Kwang-young, Kang Hyung-koo, Kim Dong-yoo and Yi Hwan-kwon. All four artists have exhibited in London, Chun Kwang-young via I-MYU Projects and the others at various Korean Eye exhibitions. Update: Between … [Read More]

Another Park Soo-keun under the hammer

It seems to be a quite frequent event nowadays: a work by one of Korea’s most popular and most expensive modern artists comes up for sale in a US saleroom. And so it is that another Park Soo-keun comes under the hammer at Christie’s New York tomorrow, with an estimated price tag of up to … [Read More]

Distinctively Korean sales at Christie’s

Coinciding with the interest in Korean art being generated by the Korean Eye: Moon Generation exhibition in the Saatchi gallery, Christie’s are holding an auction of contemporary photography on 1 July, in a sale which includes several Koreans who have featured on the pages of LKL. Probably the most eminent of the photographers represented is … [Read More]