Wave Korea Wave - Korean Arts Today
2009 Asialink Annual Arts Public Forum
17 July 2009Carrillo Gantner Theatre, Sidney Myer Asia Centre
Swanston St, The University of Melbourne
9.10 am – 5.00 pm
Asialink’s Annual Arts Forum for 2009 focused on Korean arts today. A unique, open to all, free, one-day event, the Forum offered in-depth insights into the culture of Korea today, an extremely dynamic but less known arts practice in our region, and how some of Australia’s leading arts practitioners have successfully worked with Korean colleagues on exciting new projects.
You have heard of Korean New Wave cinema, boy bands and e-games, all of which have taken over much of Asia and Australia. What has made this culture able to do this, what are the major issues and themes, and what is going on now and is likely in the future?
The forum was led by experts in contemporary Korean arts from Korea and Australia. Speakers included Sunjung Kim and Seungwan Kang, leading curators from Seoul who have been behind some of the major international exhibitions of Korean art in recent years, and performing arts experts Byung-eun Min and Mr Jiyoung Jeon spoke on drama and music respectively.
After listening and talking with experts, the forum ended with a Korean dance workshop for all attendees, led by Melbourne-based Soo-yeun Yoo – a chance to think through some new ideas in bodily form!
Korea Wave was supported by the Australia Council for the Arts, Arts Council Korea, the Australia-Korea Foundation, the University of Melbourne and Asialink.
Forum Program [pdf, 616 kb, 2 pages]
Forum Report [pdf, 16.9 mb, 6 pages]
Session transcripts (audio files) - available soon
Recommended outcomes of Australia Korea Strategy Meeting [pdf, 16.9 mb, 6 pages]
An associated meeting of Korean and Australian arts people met after the forum for a general discussion on future exchanges between the two countries.
Media
South Korea unleashed", Rowan Callick, The Australian (online), July 16, 2009
Wave Korea Wave: Asialink Arts Annual Forum 2009, 29 Jun 2009, [PDF, 256.8 kb]
Enquiries: Claire Watson, arts@asialink.unimelb.edu.au, ph: 61 3 8344 3579.