July 2025
The Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong is presenting an exhibition of Lee Ungno & Park In-kyung, two influential figures in Korean abstract art and a couple who made significant contributions to its development. This exhibition commemorates the 120th anniversary of Lee’s birth (as of 2024) and anticipates Park’s 100th birthday (in 2026).
Visitors can explore 30 works by Lee Ungno from the 1960s to the 1980s, along with over 20 recent ink-wash abstractions by Park In-kyung. The exhibition highlights both the shared artistic sensibilities and distinctive styles of the two artists. Through Lee Ungno’s “Abstract Letters” and Park In-kyung’s “Writing Painting,” as well as Lee’s “People” series and Park’s “Ink-wash Abstractions,” viewers can observe the artists’ mutual interest in nature and their exploration of the visual forms of letters and script. While their techniques differ, the exhibition reveals their shared use of fully composed canvases and the dynamic interplay between figuration and abstraction.
Although Lee Ungno passed away in 1989, his artistic vision and pioneering spirit—expanding the boundaries of East Asian painting—live on. Following his passing, Park In-kyung devoted herself fully to her practice and, even at the age of 100, continues to observe nature and paint with unwavering dedication. This exhibition offers a valuable opportunity to encounter two masters who, after settling in France in 1959, remained rooted in the tradition of East Asian painting while embracing contemporary Western art, each forging a distinctively Korean form of abstraction.
The exhibition at the Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong is free and open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The center is closed on Sundays, Mondays and public holidays. For further details, please visit https://hk.korean-culture.org/en.
From June 20 to 22, the Korean Cultural Center in Austria successfully hosted the fourth edition of its Korean culture festival, “Inspire Me Korea,” as part of Donauinselfest—Europe’s largest open-air music festival. With a significantly expanded lineup including Song So-hee, Kai, and W24, the festival captivated tens of thousands of attendees through vibrant showcases of Korean music and culture across two major stages.
The main event, held on June 21 from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., began with a dynamic performance by the improvisational jazz band “Yonglee & the DOLTANG.” At 5 p.m., Song So-hee ignited the crowd of 10,000 with her viral hit “Not a Dream” and original tracks.
At 6 p.m., DJ HYUNY took over the “Electronic Music” stage with a high-energy K-pop DJ set, while on the “Tourismus Insel,” Lim Jisoo delivered powerful renditions of “Up & Down” and “Dynamite” by BTS, captivating the audience with her husky vocals and striking stage presence.
At 7 p.m., the first part of the “K-Pop World Festival 2025” Austrian preliminaries unfolded, featuring passionate local fans performing dance covers and vocal acts. At 8 p.m., Korean musical theatre star Kai took to the stage with commanding charisma, presenting dramatic performances.
Starting at 8:30 p.m., part 2 of the “K-Pop World Festival” continued with the announcement of finalists, an awards ceremony, and encore stages, drawing enthusiastic responses from the audience. At 9:30 p.m., pop band W24 ignited the final act with their latest song, electrifying the venue with raw energy. The festival ended in spectacular fashion by 11 p.m.
Throughout the festival, attendees were invited to explore various cultural experiences, including a Hanbok (Korean traditional clothing) try-on booth and a Korea travel information stand. Additionally, a K-food zone allowed visitors to enjoy authentic Korean flavors, further enriching the overall experience.
