Korean Illuminated Sutra Transcription Talk & Demonstration

Master artist Kim Kyeong-Ho is a pioneer and transmitter of the art of Sagyeong, Korean Sutra Copying. He was appointed by the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor as the sole Traditional Sutra Copying Skills Transmitter, and is both an accomplished artist and teacher of this unique art that had not been practiced for 600 years since the Joseon Dynasty. During the lecture, Master Kim will speak about the process and ingredients used in his sutra transcription as well as his philosophy and approach to this thousand years old art form. He will also demonstrate a transcription with gold powder for 5 minutes.

Free admission for members & non-members with RSVP 

 

Korean Illuminated Sutra Transcription Talk & Demonstration
with
Kim Kyeong-Ho

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 2019 | 12 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

For more information contact, Jay Oh, Arts & Culture Director.

 


About the Speaker

Master Kim Kyeong-Ho serves as the President Emeritus of the Korea Sutra Copying Research Association and Director of the Korean Institute of Traditional Sutra Copying. Recently, he has devoted himself to the work of expansion, artistic exploration and creation of modern Sutra copying by incorporating various elements from the Bible, the Quran, mandalas, and tantras from the Indian and Tibetan traditions. Master Kim has had 20 solo and group exhibitions including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, U.S.) in 2010, Flushing Town Hall (New York, U.S.) in 2012, Korean Cultural Center (Los Angeles, U.S.) in 2014, and Tibet House US (New York, U.S.) in 2019. Master Kim is the author of 20 books (3 co-authorship).


ASIA WEEK ARTIST TALK with Suh Seung Won

 

Simultaneity presents an ongoing series based on the Korean Dansaekhwa monochrome movement by artist Suh Seung Won (b. 1941), a pioneer of geometric abstraction in Korean contemporary art. Expanding on a career across five decades, Suh’s Simultaneity series explores his continued meditations on the concurrence of time and space, expressed through interactions between geometric forms and the underlying surface.

This exhibition primarily shows Suh’s works created between 1970 and the present, in which the rigid geometric forms found in his earlier works shift into more obscure, diaphanous patterns, creating new depths within the surface of the picture plane. This expansion of Suh’s previous abstractions produces works which appear monochrome from a distance, but upon closer examination are revealed to be composed of a variety of colors, allowing the artist to show the coexistence of the visible and the invisible aspects of reality.

Suh seeks to enable the unseen to be seen through the use of the physical medium of paint to render the “world of nirvana”, the intangible phenomena beyond human awareness. The harmonious balance between space and form found in the Simultaneity series exposes a truth beyond the limits of visible human reality. For Suh Seung Won, these works explore the ways in which the consistency of time can be interpreted through the consistency of space in a unification of form, color and surface.

Works by Suh Seung Won are included in the permanent collections of The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (Korea), Seoul Museum of Art (Korea), The British Museum (UK), Hokkaido Museum of Modern Art (Japan), Shimonoseki Museum (Japan), and the Brooklyn Museum (US). His works have been featured in key international exhibitions, including “Five Korea Artists, Five Kinds of White” at the Tokyo Gallery (1975), “Korea: Facet of Contemporary Art” at the Tokyo Museum (1983), “Art Contemporain Coreén” at the Cordeliers Convent in Paris (1995), “The Facet of Korean and Japanese Contemporary Art” at the Gwangju Biennale (2000), and “Origin” at the Galerie Perrotin in Paris (2016).

This exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Donghwa Cultural Foundation.

 

ASIA WEEK ARTIST TALK:
with Suh Seung Won

Followed by:
Special recorded commentary by Raphael Rubinstein

Art critic and curator Raphael Rubinstein will address the work of Suh Seung Won in the context of 20th century abstraction and contemporary painting, noting how Suh has developed a distinct approach that highlights the perceptual, meditative qualities of abstraction in which the borders between figure and ground seem to dissolve.

THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 | 6:30 PM


@ The Korea Society 
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, NYC

Gallery hours: 10 AM – 4:30 PM by appointment

For more information, please contact info@koreasociety.org or call (212) 759-7525.

 


 

Of Interest:

The New York Times: The Buddhas, Gods and Emperors of Asia Week New York


 

Korean Film Today with Won Dong-Yeon

SOLD OUT

Famed producer Won Dong-Yeon–the creative force behind Along with the Gods and Masquerade–speaks to the state of Korean film today and intricacies of the film industry at home. He also reflects on the power of Korean directors, producers and actors for the global box office.

Co-Sponsor:

Korean Film Today
with
Won Dong-Yeon

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

 


 

Of Interest:

FORBES: Producer Won Dong Yeon Talks Oscars, Netflix And ‘Along With The Gods’

The Nine Cloud Dream with Heinz Insu Fenkl

Korea’s most prized literary masterpiece: a Buddhist journey questioning the illusions of human life—presented in a vivid new translation by PEN/Hemingway finalist Heinz Insu Fenkl

Often considered the highest achievement in Korean fiction, The Nine Cloud Dream poses the question: Will the life we dream of truly make us happy? Written in 17th-century Korea, this classic novel’s wondrous story begins when a young monk living on a sacred Lotus Peak in China succumbs to the temptation of eight fairy maidens. For doubting his master’s Buddhist teachings, the monk is forced to endure a strange punishment: reincarnation as the most ideal of men.

On his journey through this new life full of material, martial, and sensual accomplishments beyond his wildest dreams, he encounters the eight fairies in human form, each one furthering his path towards understanding the fleeting value of his good fortune. As his successes grow, he comes closer and closer to finally comprehending the fundamental truths of the Buddha’s teachings. Like Hesse’s Siddhartha, The Nine Cloud Dream is an unforgettable tale that explores the meaning of a good life and the virtue of living simply with mindfulness.

The Nine Cloud Dream
with
Heinz Insu Fenkl

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

 


 

SUH SEUNG WON: SIMULTANEITY 1970-PRESENT

 

As an early member of the Dansaekhwa art movement, Suh Seung-Won (b. 1941) presents the theoretical basis for Korean modernism. For over 50 years, Suh has expressed his aesthetic views on the simultaneity of time and space through his exploration of interactions between geometric patterns and backgrounds.

Suh’s firm investment into this aesthetic philosophy and the consistency of his artwork over the past 50 years is a remarkable feat of consistency, maintaining relevance in a dialogue of temporary aesthetics constantly in flux.

According to Suh, “simultaneity enables the unseen to be seen, ensuring that what is happening in the world of nirvana or ‘beyond dark’ could be represented through me.” Around 1990, the rigid geometric forms found in Suh’s previous work began to disappear, creating new depths of space composed of smoothly overlapping rectangular forms. This new approach expanded on the artist’s exploration of visible and invisible reality by creating canvases which appear monochrome from a distance, but upon closer examination are revealed to be composed of a variety of colors.

This exhibition is presented in collaboration with Donghwa Cultural Foundation.

 

Suh Seung Won: Simultaneity

February 7 – April 19, 2019

Closed: Monday, March 4 to Wednesday, March 6 for renovation.

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, February 7, 2019

Gallery Reception | 6 PM
Gallery Talk with Kyunghee Pyun | 6:30 PM

A Korean Master of Monochrome Painting
50 Years of Challenges by Suh Seung-Won

One of the most significant masters of Dansaekhwa will be honored in his solo exhibition held at the Korea Society. This talk summarizes artistic innovations and challenges of Suh Seung-Won’s half a century career. Sequences of brush strokes and layers of paint accumulate time and space the way archaeological sediments are formulated throughout centuries. Focusing on his signature series of Simultaneity, the talk highlights aesthetic and philosophical backgrounds of Suh’s vision.


 About the Speaker

Kyunghee Pyun, Ph.D.
Kyunghee Pyun is an Assistant Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. Her scholarship focuses on history of collecting, reception of Asian art, diaspora of Asian artists, and Asian American visual culture. She was a Leon Levy fellow in the Center for the History of Collecting at the Frick Collection and works on a book project entitled Discerning Languages for Exotic: Collecting Asian Art. Her new book, Fashion, Identity, Power in Modern Asia focuses on modernized dress in the early 20th-century Asia and was just published by the Palgrave Macmillan in 2018.

As an independent curator, she has collaborated with Asian American artists in New York since 2013. Her recent projects were the Violated Bodies: New Languages for Justice and Humanity held at The Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery, John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Postmodernism and Aesthetics: Collide or Steer at the Korean Cultural Center, New York, both held in 2018.


@ The Korea Society 
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, NYC

Gallery hours: 10 AM – 4:30 PM by appointment

For more information, please contact info@koreasociety.org or call (212) 759-7525.

 

 


New Year Pansori Recital

Pansorist Saebom Shin offers her rendition of gugak, a traditional Korean vocal music, in this New Year performance. Shin performs Danga: Sacheolga, Chunhyang-ga, poet Jinee Hwang’s Longing for the Moon, and the folksong Taepyung-ga. Performers include gayakeumist Rami Seo, guitarist Hokyung Choy, tabla player Deen Singh, and guest vocalist Hera Yoon.

 

Tickets

 
The Korea Society Fellow, Patron and
Corporate members: FREE with registration

Tickets
 
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(where applicable)
 
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New Year Pansori Recital
with Saebom Shin

Thursday, January 17, 2019 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 


About the Artist

Shin Saebom is a musician and singer who majored in pansori, a genre of traditional Korean music. From early childhood, she had an interest in traditional Korean music and started learning pansori. She had learned a variety of songs like chunhyang-ga and simcheong-ga under several notable singers. She won numerous awards in many prestigious national Pansori competitions, including the Dong-A Traditional Korean Music Competition. She completed her studies in Seoul National University. As a member of the World music group Yoonseul Project, she appeared in Korea, including at Maria Callas Hall in Seoul and World Music Market APaMM Choice Showcase in Ulsan. She also released several albums, including Spring-Sacheolga Part 1.


Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection with Haemin Sunim

Begin 2019 with renowned Buddhist teacher and writer Haemin Sunim. Born in Korea and educated in the United States, he has more than a million Twitter and Facebook followers. His books The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down–published in thirty languages–and Love For Imperfect Things have sold more than four million copies. Join Haemin Sunim for an hour of insightful conversation and reflection.

 

Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection
with Haemin Sunim

Thursday, January 10, 2019 | 6 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

 

 

 


Gender Politics of Kpop

Dr. S. Heijin Lee, Assistant Professor at NYU and freelance journalist Lai Frances delve into representations of gender roles in Kpop. They explore the traditional notions of masculinity and femininity reflected in artists’ concepts and LGBTQ+ issues in Kpop.

 

Gender Politics of Kpop

Thursday, December 6, 2018 | 6:30 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 


 

This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.


About the Speakers

Dr. S. Heijin Lee is Assistant Professor at New York University, focusing on Transnational Feminist Cultural Studies; Asian/American Studies; Gender and Sexuality Studies; Digital Media and Popular Culture. Dr. Lee’s research explores the imperial routes of culture and media. In addition to her book, The Geopolitics of Beauty, which maps plastic surgery in South Korea, Asia, and Asian America, Lee is co-editing two anthologies. Dr. Lee’s works include Other Pop Empires, Bollywood to Hallyuwood, and Fashion and Beauty in the Time of Asia, which tracks fashion and beauty as formations of Asian modernities. Lee has been published in Women and Performance: Journal of Feminist Theory and Frontiers: Journal of Women’s Studies. She earned her Ph.D. in American Studies and Certificate in Women’s Studies from the University of Michigan; a M.A. in Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles; and a B.A. in Ethnic Studies/Spanish at the University of California, Berkeley.

Lai Frances, whose real name is Allyza Umali, is freelance journalist and producer whose work has been featured in Billboard, Allure, PopCrush, KpopStarz, The Boombox, and many more media outlets. A self-proclaimed Kpop girl group enthusiast, Lai can be found on panels at KCON and New York Comic Con while contributing to podcasts and digital projects on arts, entertainment, and culture. Frances earned a B.A. in Journalism and Video Production from Rutgers University-Newark with a focus on music, entertainment and multimedia journalism.


K-pop & Social Media

[NEW TIME]
Social media advances K-pop’s reach around the globe, with YouTube and Twitter buzzing with the latest content from Korean artists. Tumblr Content Insights Associate and K-pop specialist, Beatrice Vantapool, and BuzzFeed’s Sarah Han, explore how technology has connected and created fans worldwide.

Talk followed by Q&A and reception with Korean food and drinks.

 

Admission

 
The Korea Society Fellow, Patron and
Corporate members: FREE with registration

Tickets
 
Full Name
Title or Position
Company
Email
Membership ID
(where applicable)
 
How did you hear about this program?
 




K-pop & Social Media

Thursday, November 29, 2018 | 6:30 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 


About the Speakers

Beatrice Vantapool is a Content Insights Associate and runs K-pop partnerships at Tumblr. She works on Tumblr’s Fandometrics and specializes in fandom’s influence across social media. She has been featured in Billboard, Forbes, and Soompi, and interviewed artists including Pentagon, Infinite L, Tiffany Young, and Momoland.

 

Sarah Han is a BuzzFeed writer who loves gushing about K-Pop and all things related to makeup and skincare. Some of the artists she’s interviewed include: BTS, Red Velvet, Pentagon, NCT 127, K.A.R.D, Stray Kids, and Eric Nam. While she’s waiting for Red Velvet to recruit her as their sixth member, you can find her binging various K-dramas, watching K-pop stage mixes, and going down rabbit holes of variety shows/artist interviews/Vlives.


Women on Manhwa: The Future of Korean Comics

While male-focused narratives have led Western and American comics, manhwa (Korean comics) are leading the charge for women and gaining popularity as a cultural export, reaching fans worldwide via mobile apps. Artists Narae Lee, Ministry of Culture Grand Prize winner, and Kyungran Park discuss their craft at The Korea Society. Sun Bang, CEO of TappyToon, provides insight into this rapidly expanding global industry.

Talk followed by Q&A and networking reception.

 

 

Women on Manhwa: The Future of Korean Comics

Friday, November 16, 2018 | 6:30 PM

The Korea Society
350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 


About the ArtistsAbout TappyToon

Narae Lee has created comics since 2007. Her original series Bloody Sweet, about a young moodang (traditional Korean shaman) who becomes linked to a vampire, won the 2016 Korean Ministry of Culture’s Grand Prize in manhwa. She is the artist of James Patterson’s The New York Times bestselling Maximum Ride original English-language manga adaptations since 2008.

 

Kyungran Park won the 2007 Haksan Publishing comics contest, and was artist for the four-volume series M.A.X. and multiple short series. She began serialization of her original comic Imitation in 2014, about a newbie K-pop idol’s romance and rise to stardom. The latest works of both creators have been translated into Japanese, Chinese, French, Indonesian, English and more, and are available digitally on major online comics portals.


Since 2016, TappyToon has offered a diverse range of manhwa (Korean comics) through its top-ranking smartphone apps and website, accessed daily by readers in over 190 countries. From novel adaptations to K-pop, TV drama originals to exclusive hits, TappyToon covers all genres of comics and is partnered with over a dozen publishers.

Sun Bang is CEO and co-founder of TappyToon. Previously, she led teams at Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival and has worked in North American film sales.