A positive, dynamic and exciting exhibition of contemporary art by forty Korean Artists, reflecting on the Korean War and its legacy. This exhibition thanks the men and women of Britain who came to Korea’s defence in the name of liberty in 1950.
 

Exhibition Dates: 16 June – 17 July 2010
VIP Private Viewing: Tuesday 15 June 2010 (6.30pm)
Charity Auction Supported by Sotheby’s: September 2010 (TBC)
 

From 16 June to 17 July 2010 the exhibition PRESENT FROM THE PAST marks sixty years since the Korean War began on June 25 1950. It also offers forty artists an unique opportunity to express their gratitude to British veterans of the war. Some 58,000 British men and women served in Korea and helped to secure the independence and liberty millions of Koreans have today.
 

PRESENT FROM THE PAST sees forty newly commissioned works from forty Korean artists working internationally. The exhibition pays particular attention to the ways artists deploy their own history – whether through a reinterpretation of the Korean War or its legacy for the people of Korea.
 

After the exhibition, all the exhibited art works will be donated to the Royal British Legion and will be auctioned in September 2010, with the support of Sotheby’s. The auctioneer Lord Dalmeny of Sotheby’s will auction the lots and all proceeds will be donated to the British Korean Veterans Association Relief Fund. In addition, as a Thank You present, 80,000 special edition postcards of the artworks on show have been printed so that each member of the British Korean Veterans Association may have a set.
 

As with every Korean, the contributing artists each fully appreciate the importance of 25 June for the people of the Korean peninsula. Korea's contemporary art scene is indebted to the sacrifices of the Korean War veterans and the honour of marking this anniversary with an exhibition and auction is such that not one of the artists approached turned down the invitation to contribute.

The artworks encompass sculpture relief, oil on canvas, print, drawing and photography, with many artists creating new works especially for this unique event. Each artist was asked to produce a piece of work reflecting one of the following four themes:
I.   'Connections that transcend Time and Space'
II.   'Destruction and Creation'
III.   'Forgotten War, Unforgettable People'
IV.   'My Korea and its Fragile Peace'
 

The Exhibition PRESENT FROM THE PAST is brought to you by the Korean Cultural Centre UK. The auction is organised by the Royal British Legion in association with the British Korean Veterans Association. This exhibition is curated by Stephanie Seungmin Kim of the Korean Cultural Centre UK. 
 

The contributing artists for the exhibition PRESENT FROM THE PAST: The 60th Commemoration of the Korean War: are, in alphabetical order:
Je BAAK, Seung Woo BACK, Chan-Hyo BAE, C Gene, Francesca CHO, Young-Jin CHOI, Sen CHUNG, Shan HUR, Yun Kyung JEONG, Eemyun KANG, KANG Yong Suk, Ayoung KIM, Hayoung KIM, Kira KIM, Dae Hun KWON, KWON Kyung-hwan, Changwon LEE, LEE Lee Nam, Sang Youp LEE, Sea Hyun LEE, Suejin LEE, Yongbaek LEE, NA Hyun, NANDA, Jae woo OH, Junggeun OH, Hyung Jin PARK, Jinhee PARK, PARK Jongha, PARK Jongwoo, PARK Sungsil, PARK Young Geun, SEO, Gunwoo SHIN, Meekyoung SHIN, Bada SONG, Yun-Hee TOH, Seungho YOO, YOO Hye-Sook, Jungu YOON
 

NOTES TO EDITORS
 

I. For the VIP opening and events please RSVP to info@kccuk.org.uk or phone 020 7004 2600.
 

II. Additional Events
  -   Curator Talk on 18 June 2010, 17:00 (Free)
  -    Meet the Artists! on 9 July 2010, 16:00 – 17:30
 

III. Auctioneer Sotheby’s Lord Harry Dalmeny
With the kind support of Sotheby’s Lord Dalmeny will be auctioneer for the Charity event to be held in September 2010, raising funds for the British Korean Veterans Association Relief Fund. Lord Dalmeny was born in Scotland, read Art History at Cambridge and joined Sotheby’s in 1990 to work in the Country House sale department, gaining wide experience in organising auctions of all types and sizes.  He became a Director of Sotheby’s in 2000, and was Chairman of Sotheby’s Olympia from 2003-2007.  In 2006 he took responsibility for the single-owner sales department, and in 2007 became Deputy Chairman, Sotheby’s UK.  Harry is Sotheby’s premier Charity auctioneer, wielding the gavel at events which have raised over £30 million for good causes in the last year.  For the last four years he has been the auctioneer at the annual ARK dinner which in 2007 made a record £26M.  He lives between London and Scotland and is married to Caroline with five children under the age of five, and relaxes by riding the Cresta Run or playing bridge.
 

IV. The Royal British Legion                            
In Association with The Royal British Legion safeguards the welfare, interests and memory of those who are serving or who have served in the Armed Forces. They are one of the UK’s largest membership organisations and recognised as custodians of Remembrance most notably with the annual Poppy Appeal.
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
 

V. British Korean Veterans Association
The BKVA was formed at an inaugural meeting held at Imphal Barracks, York, in September 1981, through the amalgamation of the National Association of Korean war Veterans (UK) and the British Korean Veterans Association. We are members of the International Federation of Korean War Veterans Associations (IFKWVA), whose headquarters are in Seoul, South Korea, and which promotes the interests of all who fought in the Korean War.
The prime objective of the BKVA is to organise, develop, enter into and carry out or co-operate in any endeavour for the benefit of men and women of all ranks who served in the Korean War 1950-1953, and subsequent Peacekeeping Forces, or for the benefit of their widows and dependants, and generally to promote their welfare and the relief of distress. The BKVA is non-political and offers comradeship to all those who served.
The BKVA has a Relief Fund and a national welfare policy, which incorporates all branches when the needs of veterans are made known they can be acted upon quickly.
The Patron of the Association is, Major General Sir Peter Downward KCVO CB DSO DFC, The President is Major General G M G Swindells CB and the current Chairman and President of IFKWVA, is Col GM Gadd OBE
http://bkva.co.uk/

For queries relating to the Korean Cultural Centre UK and its exhibitions, or to request images please contact:
Stephanie Seungmin Kim (Exhibition Manager)
Korean Cultural Centre UK
1-3 Strand, London, WC2N 5BW
Tel: 020 7004 2600
Email: seungmin.kim@kccuk.org.uk ,
Web: www.kccuk.org.uk