Ham Sup (b. 1942) has worked with hanji, traditional Korean paper made from the bark of mulberry trees, as his primary medium for over 30 years. Hanji is well known in Korea as a prized material for cultural and religious purposes, and has been an integral part of Korean daily life for centuries. While the traces of Korean history are immediately apparent in the medium and colors of his work, Ham’s unique artistic process reflects the visions of a true modern artist who effectively combines tradition and modern abstraction, celebrating dreams of Korea in both its past and future.
Born and raised in the Gangwon provincial capital, Chunchon, a rural area known for its natural beauty, Sup Ham has participated in numerous exhibitions at internationally renowned venues, including the National Museum of Contemporary Art (Seoul), Hyundai Art Gallery (Seoul), and the Museum for Asiatische Kunst (Berlin), and collections including the Rockefeller Foundation (USA), Boeringer Collection (Germany), and Foundation Juan Marche (Spain).
Professor Kyunghee Pyun discusses the process of Hanji making with regards to sustainability and ecosystem of a Korean artisanal tradition. She also presents Ham Sup’s unique art making with Hanji to emphasize his innovative process that touched upon the cultural heritage of Korea.
This exhibition participated in “Asia Week 2018” and it will run until April 12, 2018.
This exhibition is presented in collaboration with the Dongwha Cultural Foundation.
Step into the global phenomenon known as Hallyu, or the Korean wave, with Chung Chung Lee, creator behind the fashion label LIE and son of legendary designer, LIE SANG BONG. Chung Chung is a pioneer in expanding awareness of Korean fashion at 2018 New York Fashion Week through “Concept Korea,” a biannual fashion show supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. At the Korea Society’s event, Chung Chung shares the inspiration behind his past seasonal fashion shows. For fashionistas interested in learning more about up-and-coming K-fashion trends, this event is not to be missed!
Followed by a reception with light fare.
The Rise of K-fashion, LIE
with Chung Chung Lee
Monday, February 12, 2018 | 12 PM
@ The Korea Society 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, NYC
Commencing his design career in menswear on the famed Savile Row under the guidance of the celebrated menswear designer Oswald Boateng, Chung solidified his tailoring skills, which eventually led to launching a menswear line, A. Hallucination in London. Upon the introduction of his first collection, Chung received critical acclaim by notable fashion magazines such as Vogue UK and GQ UK followed by multiple awards including two consecutive “Winner of Ones to Watch” awards in 2010 and 2011 by Vauxhall Fashion Scout, “Bright Young Things” by Selfridges, and “Menswear Designer” award given by Fashion’s Finest Awards in 2011.
In 2011, Chung partnered with his sister Nana to form the fashion label LIE. Defined by a masterful blending of geometric patterns and shapes, each collection manifests their multicultural perspective through a playful yet restrained use of sculptural shapes, proportion, and texture accompanied by intricate details and tailoring.
Since its launch, LIE has grown to include two free standing stores in Korea, multiple pop-up shops throughout Asia and a permanent section in the flagship LIE SANGBONG Concept store in New York’s Meatpacking District. The line is distributed across the globe including select boutiques, specialty shops and department stores in Korea, Singapore, China, Turkey, Middle East, Canada, and the United States. A crucial component of LIE’s global expansion plan, LIE is set to make its official US debut this fall with its spring summer 2018 collection during New York Fashion Week through which Chung endeavors to reach a wider global audience. With a team that’s located worldwide, the brand continues to grow and evolve by exploring new possibilities while remembering its roots.
Proclaimed by UNESCO in 2003 as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, p’ansori is a unique genre of Korean musical storytelling. Singer, Jin Wook Hong, performs traditional and contemporary pieces in this style, accompanied by musicians on the gayageum, bass, drums, and keyboard.
6:30 PM | Registration and Reception 7:15 PM | Performance
Korea Society Fellow, Patron, and Corporate members, please register HERE for complimentary tickets.
Jin Wook Hong is a p’ansori singer and an occasional gosu, p’ansori drummer. He began his musical training at the age of twelve, studying with masters, Woo Hyang Sung and Su Mi Kim and later trained as a p’ansori isuja, a successor, for Intangible Cultural Property No. 5. After completing his undergraduate studies at Seoul Institute of the Arts College, Hong relocated to the US to study Music Therapy at Molloy College.
In celebration of the holiday season, The Korea Society collaborates with YUNA YANG Collection to present an exclusive members’ event. Since its debut at 2010 New York Fashion Week, the luxury women’s wear brand has represented the quality of traditional couture with a modern vision. The collection is featured extensively in publications such as New York Times, Elle, Brides, New York Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue Taiwan, Vogue Korea, and Style.com. Numerous Hollywood stars including Carrie Underwood, Kendall Jenner, Danai Gurrira, Brittany Snow, Ann Curry, and Julianne Hough have worn pieces from the collection.
The event will take place at YUNA YANG Collection’s first ever pop-up store in the West Village. Yuna Yang, the Creative Director, will discuss her past collections which present a collage of her inspiration from Korean heritage to Western experience.
Join us and enjoy an evening of private shopping with discounts, drinks, and finger foods. Ten lucky guests will win YUNA YANG Collection’s signature cloud denim pouch as a gift.
If you have any questions, please contact Kloe Byun or (212) 759-7525, ext. 321.
MORE ABOUT THE COMPANY
YUNA YANG Collection is known for collaborations with various cultural influencers on productions such as the recent Umeda Hankyu Dept. Cherry Blossom Festival; Isetan Shinjuku Holiday Event; Met Gala with Maye Musk; Venice film festival winner ‘Mona Fastvold’ -‘The Thief’ Fashion film collaboration; 21st Century Fox films ‘Water for Elephants’ & ‘Red Tails;’ Duck Hyun Cho, respected Korean artist, for luxury department store ‘Avenuel’ Opening Event; and Nick Cannon’s Project Canvas..
Jeju is home to the world-famous haenyeo, female divers who gather marine goods for a living. These women have received considerable attention from around the globe. The haenyeo symbolize Jeju women, their unyielding spirit and lead role in boosting the Jeju economy. UNESCO designated Jeju haenyeo as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Magnum Photographer David Alan Harvey stayed in Jeju for about a month and found inspiration in the Jeju haenyeo.
David Alan Harvey (June 6, 1944) is an American Photographer based in North Carolina and New York City. Harvey has been a member of the Magnum Photos Agency since 1967. He has photographed extensively for National Geographic magazine and in 1978 was named Magazine Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association. Harvey is the publisher and editor of Burn Magazine, an online publication featuring the work of emerging photographers.
Photographer’s Afterword: “I was amazed every morning by these strong willed women, it’s clearly hard physical work and yet the women seem happy and are constantly joking and laughing with each other… I stayed in Jeju for about a month and continued to be inspired by haenyeo every day. I wanted to give a very special and humble thank you to all haenyeo who made me feel at home. I came to admire their resilience, free spirit, sense of humor, and warmth. These women divers showed me a whole new world. Bobbing around out there in the frigid Pacific on their little foam floats and then kicking down without oxygen tanks to pick up a few abalones of the ocean floor was simply something to witness. I was so honored to be in their presence.”
December 8 -22, 2017
Gallery Opening | 6 PM
Gallery Talk | 6:30 PM
For more information, contact: Jahee Yu, Art Exhibition Coordinator | 212-759-7525 ext. 301.
The Korea Society Gallery 350 Madison Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10017
Gallery Hours: M-F, 10 AM-4:30 PM
Organized by (주최)
The Korea Society Jeju Special Self Governing Province
Supported by (주관) Euro Photos/Magnum Photos Korea Agent
Media Sponsor (미디어 후원) The Monthly Photo Art Magazine
Curators: Inhee Iris Moon, Ki-Myoung Lee Curatorial Assistant: Mijung Jo
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.
The 15th Annual New York Korean Film Festival Announces Upcoming Program
for November 3rd to November 5th, 2017 at the Museum of the Moving Image.
The New York Korean Film Festival returns to the Museum for its yearly celebration of the best in Korean cinema. This 15th edition of the Festival includes a wide range of genres, with action thrillers, comedies, romance, documentary, social drama, melodrama, and the madcap science fiction and social critique of Bong Joon-ho.
Fabricated City (조작된 도시) FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2017 | 7 PM Dir. Park Kwang-hyun. 2017, 126 mins. DCP.
A paranoid thriller with a high-tech edge, Park Kwang-hyun’s (Welcome to Dongmakgol) latest film pits a team of skilled video gamers against a mysterious underworld organization in a battle that rages through both the physical and digital worlds. When Kwon Yu (Ji Chang-wook), a former tae kwon do star turned video game addict, is framed for murder, his gamer friends come to his aid and in the process uncover a vast, murderous conspiracy. This nonstop thrill ride of a movie mixes jaw-dropping action scenes with pointed commentary about socioeconomic inequality in today’s Korea. Justin Lowe of The Hollywood Reporter calls it “an updated version of Park Chan-wook’s Oldboy set in the world of online video games…. Featuring a fast-paced plot and a snappy visual style, Park’s absorbing third feature should appeal equally to high-tech enthusiasts and action film fans.” (Description by Tom Vick, film curator, Freer and Sackler Galleries)
A Quiet Dream (춘몽) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017 | 3 PM Dir. Zhang Lu, 2016, 98 mins. DCP
With Han Ye-ri, Yang Ik-june, Park Jung-bum, Yoon Jong-bin. In Korean with English subtitles. The loveable opening film of the 2016 Busan Film Festival follows three goofballs vying for the affection of the attractive owner (Han Ye-ri) of a dive bar in a scrappy Seoul neighborhood. The three wooers are well-known actor-directors riffing on their own films. Yang Ik-june plays a vagabond gangster (as in Breathless), Park Jung-bum is a defector from North Korea (as in The Journals of Musan), and Yoon Jong-bin’s character is reminiscent of the army private he played in Unforgiven. From this clever conceit, director Zhang Lu spins what Variety’s Maggie Lee called a “whimsical, frequently poetic urban rhapsody buoyed by its deadpan dropout protagonists.”
Yourself and Yours (당신자신과 당신의 것) SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017 | 5 PM Dir. Hong Sang-soo, 2016, 86 mins., DCP
With Kim Joo-hyuk, Lee Yoo-young. In Korean with English subtitles. The prolific Hong Sang-soo boldly and wittily continues his ongoing exploration of the painful caprices of modern romance that was inspired by Luis Buñuel’s That Obscure Object of Desire. Painter Young-soo (Kim Joo-hyuk) hears secondhand that his girlfriend, Min-jung (Lee Yoo-young), has recently had (many) drinks with an unknown man. This leads to a quarrel that seems to end their relationship. The next day, Young-soo sets out in search of Min-jung, while she—or a woman who looks exactly like her and may or may not be her twin—has a series of encounters with strange men, some of whom claim to have met her before. Yourself and Yours is a break-up/make-up comedy unlike any other, suffused with sophisticated modernist mystery.
Bamseom Pirates Seoul Inferno SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017 | 7 PM Korea, Jung Yoon-suk, Korea, 2017, 120 min., DCP
An audience favorite at the recent Rotterdam and New York Asian Film Festivals, Jung Yoon-suk’s appropriately irreverent documentary follows the anarchic exploits of the Bamseom Pirates, a politically outspoken, gleefully nonconformist two-man punk band. Performing mainly at street protests and political rallies, their satirical antics, which include blasting through one hundred songs in ten minutes in their first gig and titling one of their songs “All Hail Kim Jong-il,” take aim at the absurdities, inequality, and corruption of South Korean society. But they learn just how far they can go when their manager is arrested for posting allegedly pro-North Korean tweets.
Come, Together (컴, 투게더) SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2017 | 4 PM Dir. Shin Dong-il, Korea, 2016, 122 min., DCP
With Im Hyeon-gook, Lee Hye-eun, Chae Bin. In Korean with English subtitles. An “assuredly executed drama with fiery performances” (Maggie Lee, Variety), Shin Dong-il’s engaging film illustrates the toll Korea’s hyper-competitive society can take on an ordinary family. When middle manager Beom-gu (Im Hyeon-gook) is fired from his job after eighteen years, his violent rage throws his family into turmoil. His wife Mi-young (Lee Hye-eun), now the sole breadwinner, starts cutting ethical corners in her job selling credit cards. Meanwhile, their daughter Ha-na (Chae Bin) frets over her college entrance exam. Shin’s psychologically astute film is a well-crafted combination of social critique and tense drama that movingly makes the case for following one’s passions rather than succumbing to societal pressures.
Okja Followed by live video call with Bong Joon-ho SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2017 | 7 PM Dir. Bong Joon-ho, Korea/United States, 2017, 120 mins., DCP
With Tilda Swinton, Ahn Seo-hyun, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal. In English and Korean with English subtitles. Hailed visionary Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer, The Host) returns with a typically twisted, vegetarian-friendly blockbuster about the friendship between a young girl named Mija (Seo-Hyun Ahn, Monster) and her “super-pig” Okja. In the guise of a family movie, this madcap anti-corporate satire follows the duo’s fight against a villainous corporation—led by the always superb Tilda Swinton, who plays both a hypocrite CEO and her scheming twin sister. En route to freedom, Mija and Okja encounter a plethora of quirky characters, including a cadre of eco-terrorists led by a courteous troublemaker (Paul Dano) and a “Sir Attenborough” from hell (Jake Gyllenhaal).
ABOUT THE KOREA SOCIETY
The Korea Society is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding, and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea.
ABOUT MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE
Museum of the Moving Image (movingimage.us) advances the understanding, enjoyment, and appreciation of the art, history, technique, and technology of film, television, and digital media. In its stunning facilities—acclaimed for both its accessibility and bold design—the Museum presents exhibitions; screenings of significant works; discussion programs featuring actors, directors, craftspeople, and business leaders; and education programs which serve more than 50,000 students each year. The Museum also houses a significant collection of moving-image artifacts.
Major support provided by the Korea Foundation.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in Partnership with the City Council.
G.E.M.iN.Y, short for Gayakeum Ensemble Music in New York, derives from the Korean phrase, “chaeminaji” meaning to have fun while performing. The ensemble, composed of founder, Rami Seo and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation gayakeumists, debuted in the form of a gayakeum orchestra in 2007 with “If This Gayakeum Could Talk.” In addition to performing traditional Korean music on the 12-string gayakeum, G.E.M.iN.Y plays music of all genres, including classical, jazz, crossover, and contemporary, on 18-string and 25-string gayakeums. To celebrate GEMiNY’s 10th year anniversary in 2017, the concert will showcase world music that brings together traditional Korean culture and the diversity of cultures in New York.
Thursday, November 2, 2017 | 6:45 PM
6:45 PM | Registration 7:15 PM | Performance
G.E.M.iN.Y 10th Anniversary Concert: The Nexus of Gayakeum and Generations
Hyo Seon Kim Iris Kim Joanne Booye Kim Sharon Daso Kim Chris Minkyu Park Julia Minji Park Soon Ok Park Dorothea Smith Hyerin Yoon Yeongseo Yoon Inae Yun
Performers from Rami Seo’s World Music Ensemble
가야금: 서라미 Rami Seo 기타: 최호경 Hokyung Choy 피아노: 박상훈 Sanghoon Park 콘트라베이스: 정상욱 Sang ouk Jung 드럼: Peter Manheim
In the course of his career, painter Po Kim worked in three distinct modes, gestural abstraction, realist still-life and symbolist figuration. This talk will examine each of these periods and look at how Po Kim’s work related to the art of the period, especially that of other artists working in New York. I will also seek to understand the motives that sparked his stylistic restlessness, and ask whether his early experiences of war and violence in Korea and Japan may have helped inspire his evident faith in the power of art.
Po Kim: Making Impossible Demands on Art
Gallery Talk with Raphael Rubinstein
Art critic and editor, Art in America Professor of Critical Studies University of Houston School of Art
Chef Hooni Kim, the owner of Danji, a Michelin-starred Korean restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen, and Simon Kim, the proprietor of Cote, a modern Korean steakhouse in the Flatiron district of Manhattan, share their remarkable and challenging experience promoting Korean cuisine in New York City and globally. Marja Vongerichten, host of the PBS TV series “Kimchi Chronicles,” and the author of a companion cookbook titled, “Kimchi Chronicles: Korean Cooking for an American Kitchen,” moderates the evening program.
Bringing the Flavors of Cote and Danji to The Korea Society Wednesday, September 13, 2017 | 6:30 PM
Korea Society Fellow, Patron, and Corporate members, please register HERE for complimentary tickets.
If you have any questions, please contact Kloe Byun or (212) 759-7525, ext. 321.
About the Speakers
Born in Seoul, Korea, Hooni Kim lived briefly in London before settling in New York City when he was 10 years old. He grew up in New York City, but headed west to the University of California at Berkeley to study biology and obtain a medical degree. Hooni eventually changed course to follow his passion for food and returned to the East Coast to attend the French Culinary Institute. He followed up his formal culinary training at two Michelin three-star restaurants, Daniel and Masa.
Now Hooni Kim is the chef and owner of Danji, a Korean restaurant in the Hell’s Kitchen area of New York City. The 36-seat solo venture showcases authentic Korean flavors in a modern setting with a focus on classic techniques and quality ingredients.
In its first full year in business, Danji received a coveted star from the Michelin Guide and has been featured in numerous media outlets in the United States such as The New York Times, New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, New York Post, and The Village Voice.
Simon Kim is the proprietor of Cote, a modern Korean steakhouse in Manhattan’s Flatiron district. Born in Seoul, Korea, Kim began his hospitality career at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, while studying Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada. After graduation, Kim led the front-of-house team at Blue Fin in New York City, then moved on to work with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, at both Matsugen and The Mark. During his time at The Mark, Kim met chef Christopher Cipollone, who he later collaborated with to open Piora, a Michelin-starred new-American restaurant in the West Village. In May 2017, Kim fulfilled his lifelong dream to open a game-changing Korean barbecue steakhouse with Cote. Cote marries the conviviality of Korean barbecue with the top-notch ingredients, stellar service, and sexy interiors of the classic American steakhouse.
Marja Vongerichten (moderator) is a former model and actress, a chef, author and TV personality. Marja was born in South Korea; adopted at the age of three and raised in America. She attended the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, DC, and was crowned Miss Teen USA for the District of Columbia. Marja is the host of the PBS TV series “Kimchi Chronicles” and the author of a companion cookbook “Kimchi Chronicles: Korean Cooking for an American Kitchen.” Along with her husband, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Marja opened a Korean barbeque restaurant named “Chi-Q” in Shanghai, China. Marja established a pop up Korean restaurant called “Kimchi Goddess,” in partnership with ARAMARK, that she features on college campuses, such as American University in Washington, DC. Marja has created her own line of Asian food products under the brand name “Marja’s Original,” which will be on the market this Fall. Marja has been a pioneer in helping to introduce Korean food and culture to America.
