December 70th

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In this fifth episode of Dance on Film - Season 2, we present December 70th. This story is a survivor’s recollection. An old woman reflects on the concept of survival during the course of her life. In her encounters with 9 children during life journey, she contemplates both life and death.

Date: Friday, 10 March 2023 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

12 Layers of Hanji

- traditional Korean papermaking: a process video by Ravikumar Kashi

Ravikumar Kashi is a Bangalore-based multidisciplinary artist, writer and educator. His work spans painting and drawing to photography, installation and artist books among other mediums, articulating individual and collective experience of contemporary socio-political and cultural identities.

In 2009 Ravikumar Kashi visited the Jang Ji Bang mill in Korea, with InKo Centre's support, to meet Korean National Treasure for paper making Jang Yong Hoon and to learn the art of making Hanji, Korea's incredibly versatile paper. Made from the bark of the mulberry, an intense process results in paper that is as soft as silk or as tough as leather.

The process video outlines Ravikumar Kashi's experience as he learns about the several stages of the process from his master Seong Woo. Informal and conversational, the video captures the love and care with which Hanji, Korea's gift to the world, is made.

Date: Friday, 17 February 2023 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. The films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual, examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In the Fourth episode of Season 2 of this series, we present In the Land of Punctuation.

Date: Friday, 27 January 2023 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique, to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In the Third episode of Season 2 of this series, we present Trace of Time.

Date: Wednesday, 23 November 2022 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Cultural heritage provides both tangible and intangible representations of the values, beliefs, traditions and lifestyles of prior generations, which through careful preservation, continue to have relevance in contemporary times.

In Season 2 of the popular series that focuses on the intangible heritage of Korea, we highlight 'Arirang', the representative folk sing that exemplifies the spirit of Korea.

Arirang, is a much-loved, well-known lyrical folk song from the Republic of Korea. It is the outcome of collective contributions made by ordinary Koreans throughout generations. Essentially a simple song, it consists of the refrain ‘Arirang, arirang, arariyo’ and two simple lines, which differ from region to region. While dealing with diverse universal themes, the simple musical and literary composition invites improvisation, imitation and singing in unison, encouraging its acceptance by different musical genres. Experts estimate the total number of folk songs carrying the title ‘Arirang’ to have some 3,600 variations, with about sixty versions. A great virtue of Arirang is its respect for human creativity, freedom of expression and empathy. Everyone can create new lyrics, adding to the song’s regional, historical and genre variations, and cultural diversity. Arirang is universally sung and enjoyed by the Korean nation. At the same time, an array of practitioners of regional versions, including local communities, private groups and individuals, actively lead efforts for its popularization and transmission, highlighting the general and local characteristics of individual versions. Arirang is also a popular subject and motif in diverse arts and media, including cinema, musicals, drama, dance and literature. It is an evocative hymn with the power to enhance communication and unity among the Korean people, whether at home or abroad.

Date: Friday, 14 October 2022 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

This online exhibition, curated by Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat, brings together 119 contemporary Indian artists from across India, a plethora of techniques, heterogenous images and myriad nuances. Conceptualised during the pandemic, the exhibition has been developed by New Dive Company Ltd., Korea, a technical design company in Korea, to provide viewing rooms for each of the artists along with the curator's note that binds the exhibition together. On view for three months, it allows viewers to visit and re-visit this exhibition at a click of a button, at their own pace.

This online exhibition, curated by Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat, brings together 119 contemporary Indian artists from across India, a plethora of techniques, heterogenous images and myriad nuances.

Curated by Dr Ashrafi S. Bhagat, India.
Designed by New Dive Company Ltd., Korea.
Co-presented by K-Art & InKo Centre.

The link will be active from 6.00 p.m. IST/9.30 p.m. KST on
Tuesday, 20 September 2022.

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique, to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In the second episode of Season 2 of this series, we present Pallae, a production choreographed by Nam Jeongho, which after premiered in 1993, was brought back on stage. A new team of five dancers including the original member who participated in Pallae 15 years ago, spend a night doing the laundry and bathing together at a place that became the stage for Pallae in 2021. Why Pallae again? How does time, space, memory inform or recreate meaning re-arrange the artistic process, when re-visited? The production invites viewers, both first timers and returnees to examine these issues from their own perspectives. Has the process of viewing itself changes post the pandemic? How does dance on film resonate as against dance presented on stage?

Date: Thursday, 8 September 2022 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

InKo Centre is delighted to support the presentation of Trikonanga by Hemabharathy Palani at the New Dance for Asia Festival at Daegu Arts Center in Korea. Trained in Kuchipudi, Bharatanatyam, Ballet, Contemporary Dance, Yoga and Kalarippayattu, Hema is a performer, teacher and the rehearsal director of Attakkalari Dance Company and has performed at renowned festivals and has participated in several prestigious residencies, across the world.

With Trikonanga, Hema explores the navarasas (nine emotional states) through the nine triangles of the body, resulting in an exhilarating journey. In this unique performance which won her Audience First Choice Prize at the Stuttgart International Solo Dance Festival, Hema delivers a visceral performance that engages as well as challenges her audience. Intense focus and daring images are the hallmarks of this captivating performance.

Hemabharathy will present Trikonanga as part of “Asian Solo Dance” at the Biseul Hall at the Daegu Arts Center, Korea on Sunday, 14 August 2022

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

With the pandemic gradually receding, the films presented in Dance on Film: Season 2, provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

Date: Thursday, 14 July 2022 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

ReMidas, comprising geomungo player, Kim Min Young (6-string Korean zither) and gayageum player, Park Ji Hyun (25-string Korean zither), is a talented duo performing creative music with open-mindedness and a strong identity. Since 2015, these two South Korean performers have been exploring the timbres and techniques expressed through improvisation and creating music that is distinctive. The duo create music based on traditional Korean compositions combined with improvisational techniques or what is known as sinawi - a type of improvisational music that is traditionally performed to accompany the rites o Korean shamanism. By embracing various creative methods, they strive to create a new sound and music that break the boundaries between genres and the frameworks of existing music. There is a delicate grace and cinematic storytelling to their renditon which makes their performance both a visual and aural treat.

We are delighted, in partnership with EarthSync/IndiEarth XChange, to present online, the stirring music of ReMidas at CULTURAS 360°, a unique initiative committed to supporting artists, diversity, cultures, and music in partnership with several Festivals across the world.

Date: Saturday, 26 & Sunday, 27 March 2022 | Time: 8.30 p.m. IST

Human Fuga (with subtitles in English)
Director: Yosup Bae | Performance Group TUIDA

Han Kang's novel "Human Act," also known as "The Boy is Coming" in Korean, revolves around one of the most significant events in Korea's modern history - the 1980 Gwangju Uprising in which citizens of the city of Gwangju launched widespread pro-democracy protests.

Director Yosup Bae of Performance Group TUIDA, adapted Han Kang's stirring novel for the stage and this documentary film captures the process of research to develop and present Human Fuga.

Date: Friday, 11 March 2022 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Sleeping Beauty is a new interpretation of the fairy tale and showcases the unconventional choreographic methods of Second Nature Dance Company from Korea. The choreographer pursues a rather different communicative approach from his previous works and with Sleeping Beauty he tries to utilise all spaces of the venue and includes the audiences as part of the performance. The audience is invited to specific spaces - they can hear the music and the lights come on at the entrance, back stage and on the main stage. Everywhere the theatre welcomes the audience to join the party!

Sleeping Beauty will be presented online at the Attakkalari India Biennial on Sunday, 20 February at 4.00 pm IST. A panel discussion with the Artistic Director and team of Sleeping Beauty, follows the presentation.

Date: Sunday, 20 February 2022 | Time: 4.00 p.m. IST

The film can viewed until Saturday, 26 February 2022.

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique, to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledge the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In Episode 5 of this series, we present Structure-Making Bolero based on the visual grammar that combines two apparently disparate processes and elements to show its atmosphere and metaphorical mise-en-scène.

Date: Friday, 17 December 2021 | Time: 5.00 p.m. IST

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique, to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In Episode 4 of this series, we present Three Angles is a dance film that blends music, dance and space.

Date: Friday, 5 November 2021 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique, to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In Episode 3 of this series, we present Untact Impro led by Polarfront, an underground and high-tech music artist and DJ.

Date: Friday, 15 October 2021 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique, to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

In Episode 2 of this series, we present Hiding Place, a production that examines the connection, or indeed the increasingly alarming disconnection, between Man and Nature. The music for this production is scored by Tamura Ryo, a renowned percussionist and sound artist.

Date: Wednesday, 29 September 2021 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Dance on Film is a specially curated series of contemporary dance projects developed by the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company. The series, co-presented by InKo Centre and the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company, will comprise a total of 5 films, varied in theme and technique, to present some of the most exciting choreographers and dancers in Korea today. With the pandemic looming large, the films provide a window to the resilience of the artists in these unprecedented times, acknowledges the march of technology and the blurring of the real and the virtual and examines deeper fundamental questions of co-existence between Man and Nature and of the possibility of transformation and resurgence through art.

The presentation of the films in the Dance on Film series, will be followed by Talking Dance: On Screen, episodic discussions with practitioners and industry experts, curated by the Attakkalari Centre of Movement Arts, a leading organisation that holistically nurtures contemporary dance practice, based in Bangalore, India

We commence our first episode in the series with Beyond Black, a compelling examination of blending Artificial Intelligence algorithms with the movement of 8 dancers. How do dots and lines capture movement and emotion and how does the real catapult into the virtual and vice versa?

Date: Friday, 20 August 2021 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

Of reflection, refraction and transformation, memory and identity - a virtual exhibition at Prism by Myoung Nam Kim.

Myoung-Nam Kim’sWriting in white, is a deeply meditative experience that examines multiple layers in the process of creation, from careful overall observation to the type of material chosen and the inclusion of tacit records like lines and punctuation marks, generated by the protrusion of paper to format visually striking landscapes. Working primarily with hanji and Korean ink, there is in Myoung Nam's work both stillness and restraint through which there pulsates a certain captivating rhythm and powerful energy. The resultant artwork created is, as the art critic Philippe Piguet, eloquently states, ‘an immaculately pure and peaceful spiritual landscape that blocks the visual verbiage of our times, leading us to an extraordinarily meditative space, an indescribable place of isolation. As a poet once lyrically stated, that place is ‘filled with order, beauty, luxury, peace and sensuality’.

While physical doors of gallery spaces remain closed, virtual doors have opened. Following the opening of Prism, InKo Centre's virtual gallery, we are delighted to present Writing in white, a specially commissioned virtual exhibition by Korean artist, Myoung Nam Kim who creates unique artworks that exude both stillness and pulsating energy, harmoniously combining the versatility of hanji and the fluidity of Korean ink.

Comprising a virtual walkthrough, two films about the artist's work process and a comprehensive list of relevant artworks, the exhibition invites you on a journey of discovery of the aesthetic beauty and versatility of Korean hanji and ink.

Date: Wednesday, 28 July 2021 | Time : 6.00 p.m. IST

InKo Centre, in association with Producer Group DOT and supported by Korea Arts Management Service (KAMS), is delighted to present Fever, a spirited, sensory performance - dance, music, fashion counterpointing and reiterating the contemporary relevance of tradition.

'Fever' was produced to commemorate and celebrate the spirit of Korean tradition that is inevitably drifting a way. Beyond the reinterpretation of tradition, the production aims to examine the indigenous traces of Korea that continue to exist as an integral part of Korean society. Ambiguous Dance Company's unique dance vocabulary, aims to capture and convey a special heung (’joy’) which will resonate in the present day and well into the future. While aiming to infuse energy to all who live in the present age, the production aims to convey both passion and han ('deep regret') in order to re-invigorate and sustain interest in the traditions of Korean classical dance, music and fashion, with bold, contemporary strokes.

Date: Thursday, 25 March 2021 | Time : 6.00 p.m. IST
Duration: 36 minutes

Of time and space, presence and absence, memory and identity - an exhibition at Prism by Lim Soosik.

Lim Soo Sik's photographic series constitutes a contemporary version of Chaekgado, which translates in English as bookshelf or bookcase, a genre of still-life painting dating to the Choseon period that was prevalent from the 18 th to the 20 th century in Korea. In his take on Chaekgado, Lim Soosik's begins by photographically documenting various bookcases located at different people’s homes. Even though most of the bookcases look similar to one another, each collection of books vary greatly, depending on the owner’s profession and taste. Alongside the books, the bookcases are adorned with stationery and decorative objects, according to the specific taste of the owner. This results in every bookcase conveying a unique story, while at the same time contributing fascinating visual elements to the project as a whole.

Lim Soosik's Chaekgado project is characterized by the deconstruction and construction of perspective. He photographs the bookcases in several parts and from different points of view. The fragmented images are then printed on Korean traditional paper, Hanji, which the artist assembles by hand-stitching with needles. Through this process of photo-collage the completed artwork not only obtains a particular visual distortion but also turns into a unique piece that a normal reproductive photographic work cannot attain. Just as a bookcase that is being filled, book by book over a long period of time, Lim Soosik's work is assembled piece by piece, carrying a unique value, in terms of time, space, presence and absence, memory and identity.

Date: Friday, 19 March 2021 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST

While physical doors of gallery spaces remain closed, virtual doors have opened. Following the opening of Prism, InKo Centre's virtual gallery, we are delighted to present Landscape of the Heart, a specially commissioned virtual exhibition by Korean ceramicist, Sung Jae Choi who skilfully brings to life the Buncheong style of unbridled painterly expressions in clay. Often looking deceptively simple, Sung Jae Choi's oeuvre combines traditional forms with contemporary processes to create unique artworks that exude harmony.

Landscape of the Heart, an exhibition divided into four thematic sections, will be unveiled on Thursday, 25 February 2021 at Prism - InKo Centre's virtual gallery.

Date: Thursday, 25 February 2021 | Time : 6.00 p.m. IST

BIRD is a series of solo movement propositions where we see the quirky bridging of two anatomies – that of human rootedness and of avian flight. As the performers, one by one, begin to study their newly-estranged bodies, they each experience a metamorphosis of sorts. Walking and flying begin to stand for two different kinds of consciousness which collide and call each other names. And in this fragile, almost absurd doubleness we begin to look at the surveyor and the surveyed as that which co-exists in the male body, beyond the discourses of sexuality and power.

We are delighted to support Korean lighting designer Jeong Hee Kang's participation in this project and to facilitate the virtual presentation of this production following the physical premiere at the Alliance Française of Madras on 13 February 2021.

Date: Friday, 19 February 2021 | Time : 6.00 p.m. IST
Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes

Prism is InKo Centre's newly launched virtual gallery, a boundless space to effectively present artistic intent and to connect with audiences in the most meaningful and sensorial manner possible. It is envisaged as an online platform for representation, refraction and reflection of creative ideas and expressions by artists from India and Korea.

Yeonhee Cheong, Yoonshin Park, and Rina Yoon consistently explore the body in their work. Using printmaking methods, video, sculpture, paper making and craft techniques, they dwell on the body's intersections with Immigrant identities, culture, nature, and materiality in sensitive and powerful ways.

Date: Friday, 29 January 2021 | Time: 6.00 p.m. IST at Prism - InKo Centre's virtual gallery.