Performer Hwang Gina playing the Korean geomungo, a 6-stringed Korean zither.
The Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. hosted its first OnStage Korea performance featuring artists SaaWee and Hwang Gina on April 16 at Union Stage, The Wharf. The stage was also part of a series of cultural events marking the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance.
This was the first showcase of the KCCDC’s performing arts series OnStage Korea since the pandemic, and aimed to showcase recent trends in Korean creative music—often inspired by but not bound by tradition—including music by Latin Grammy-winning artist Sita Chay of SaaWee.
Audience members wait in line to check in before the performance.
The performance was a full house with nearly 200 people in attendance. The first act was Hwang Gina's performance Scene: Geomungo Universe and the second act was SaaWee's original work The Ritual of Le Sac. SaaWee's performance included an international collaboration with keyboardist Jason Lindner and contemporary dancer Sidra Bell.
The duo SaaWee and keyboardist Jason Lindner perform 'Ritual of Le Sac.'
SaaWee was formed in 2018 with the goal of manifesting the spiritual aspects of Korean traditional music through the language of contemporary performance art. They have performed in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Amsterdam, Bogota, and Seoul. SaaWee intends each occasion to be unique, symbolizing the ephemeral nature of the moment and leading to creative collaborations with world artists.
Hwang Gina performs her original work 'Scene: Geomungo Universe
Hwang Gina has been reinterpreting the Korean geomungo zither as a modern solo instrument since 2017. Capitalizing on the instrument’s unique sound and vibrating physical presence, she expands the infinite possibilities of traditional music by crossing genre boundaries of post-rock, neo-classical, and techno.
(From left to right) Jason Lindner, Sita Chay, Sidra Bell and Jihye Kim.
OnStage Korea seeks to discover brilliant Korean and Korean-inspired artists and groups performing around the world, giving them an opportunity to showcase their creativity on stage for the American public in the Capital region. The program also fosters international cultural exchange by expanding the visibility of Korean performing arts and artists in mainstream America. OnStage Korea presents unique, exceptional performances free to the public in and around Washington, D.C.
The audience enjoys the performance on April 16 at The Wharf DC's Union Stage.