Kang Hye-jeong, a prolific South Korean painter known for her fascinating, vibrant abstract art, has created a harmony of colours that takes any art lover into a universe of untamed imagination. Her approach to the Impasto technique, combined with her creativity, paints a very lively picture of mythical horses, flourishing landscapes, and humans. Kang’s artwork…
Jeon Hyunkyung on Her Love for Fine Art, Themes of Femininity, and StART
Represented by CHAMAN Gallery in Seoul, Jeon Hyunkyung is an extraordinary painter. And while presenting her work at this year’s StART Art Fair at Saatchi Gallery in London, I noticed that her stunning canvases are adorned with women whose confident gazes and postures depict various emotions — sometimes flashy and elegant, at other times instinctive,…
Jungkook’s Star Shines Brightly on “Golden” – Album Review
Jungkook is the youngest member of the mega-group BTS and the last to debut as a solo artist. With eleven songs, his debut album, Golden, runs at just under 32 minutes. The album features two pre-release singles, the record-breaking “Seven” (feat. Latto) and “3D” (feat. Jack Harlow) which sees the return of David Stewart (part…
Moon Jong-up: From B.A.P to Solo Stardom
In January 2012, Moon Jong-up was unveiled as a member of the idol group B.A.P, a sextet that would impress many K-pop fans globally. In B.A.P, he served as a sub-vocalist and main dancer, showing off his versatile talent. The group made its official debut just nine days later, releasing the single album Warrior. I…
JUSTB Reflect on Their Fourth Mini-album, “[÷(NANUGI)]” – Exclusive Interview
It’s been a few months since my last encounter with JUSTB in February, and now, the group is back with their fourth mini-album, [÷(NANUGI)]. Beyond the foot-tapping beats and soul-stirring tunes, the group’s new release is quite exciting. Our latest conversation with JUSTB was very interesting, as they gave us an intimate look at the…
n.SSign On Their Debut and Dreams of Becoming Idols – Exclusive Interview
Recently, we found ourselves virtually united with the rising K-pop boy group, n.SSign. Despite the miles that separated us, the privilege of an e-meeting allowed us to talk about their pre-debut, their debut release, and why each of the members wanted to become an idol. Having experienced their musical endeavour from their pre-debut releases, including…
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “Concrete Utopia” Review (Closing Night Film)
The essence of what makes us human is a complex and multi-layered pyramid of emotions, experiences, and moral choices. Human nature contains elements of both light and darkness and is often revealed during times of crisis, when the balance between empathy and selfishness can sway. The pressures of a crisis can bring out our instinct…
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “The Boys” Review (Opening Night Film)
The Boys is the final film in Chung Ji-young’s “true story trilogy” which began in 2012 with Broken Arrow (also known as Unbowed) later followed by Black Money in 2019. The three films deal with social issues and in particular focus on prosecutorial and police misconduct within the South Korean justice system and the ordinary…
8th London East Asia Film Festival: “Life and Death of the Hollywood Kid” Review
Chung Ji-young has carved out a distinguished place for himself in Korean cinema with a unique and versatile filmmaking style that is marked by its dynamism, social commentary, and a keen sense of narrative craftsmanship. The director’s films are often lauded for their social and political relevance, in which he fearlessly addresses pertinent issues and societal…
SE SO NEON Takes Over the Electric Brixton
Sitting in a cafe while pondering what I could write about SE SO NEON’s London show, one thing came to mind: there are not enough adjectives out there to describe how incredible the group was. Consisting of Hwang So-yoon and Park Hyun-jin, the duo bravely breaks the mould, presenting their unique approach to Rock on…
Korea on STAGE in LONDON
Mark your calendars for Korea on STAGE in LONDON, an event commemorating the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the UK. The event is set to take place at the OVO Arena Wembley in London on November 8th at 7 pm local time. The lineup that was revealed last month is beyond stunning….
“Cobweb” Review
The 1970s were a particularly dark period for the Korean film industry. Shortly after South Korean filmmakers began to gain international recognition in the decade prior, a period of intense censorship followed, which hit an authoritarian peak in the seventies – at the time, many speculated there was no country in the world whose government…
82MAJOR’s Majestic Debut “ON” Out Now
Dreams turn into reality through talent, hard work, and the relentless pursuit of one’s passion. For the rising South Korean boy group, 82MAJOR, this journey has finally led to their official debut under GREAT M Entertainment. The group’s debut single, titled ON. “I have so many mixed emotions, so every day feels new to me….
OFTB: Creating a Beautiful Sound in the World of Korean R&B – Exclusive Interview
If you’ve been paying attention to the music scene lately, chances are that you’ve come across K-R&B. The genre itself has been growing in popularity over the years, and while K-pop is still one of the most dominant music genres on the Korean market, K-R&B offers a new listening experience. Kang Juwon, a.k.a. Oceanfromtheblue, is…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 