myKOREA with Christian “이수” Mata
As part of our myKOREA series, we’ll be asking someone on the local scene to share their journey through Korean culture by naming their favourite musicians, movies, and artists. We’ll also be asking them to tell us about one more thing of their choosing.
Taking part in this week’s myKOREA is photographer and all-around music community man, Christian. Christian is very much the man you’ll see at the front of a show, camera in hand, having a great time. In his own words: “I mainly do photography. My work supports and explores underground cultures and records the overlooked. I recently worked with a team to make an archival book for the senior residents of a neighbourhood that is being gentrified. I’m also a busybody supporting all my various artist friends with staff, booking, translation, event planning, freelance photos, writing etc.”
Here, he shares his favourite things about Korean culture.
Music: LANG LEE
I don’t know how anyone can choose one piece of music to share. Usually, the first thing anyone knows about me is that I’m the biggest Lang Lee fan.
I hadn’t heard any music quite like hers in Korea, and after I saw her live for the first time with the Unnie Choir, cello arrangements and costuming, I was just in awe. Her lyrics are genius, but I also love her spirit. Go look up any of the causes she fights for and supports.
She is pure punk and so strong. I’ve also read her essays/comics/stories and attended her guest visits/marches/talks about various subjects (I think I’ve seen her over a dozen times in the last few years). This also led to me finding various other musicians like Kirara, Seesea, Lee Minhwi, 최미루 (who was recently nominated for best newcomer and best folk song by the Korean Music Awards), etc.
이창동
On-Screen: 이창동
I could probably talk about film all day, and there are so many Korean films that are important to me (I chose to live in Jeonju because it was a film fest I planned to see when I travelled).
My Korean film journey began in middle school when I borrowed a friend’s ID to buy 괴물 ( 봉준호) at a movie shop. However, I am choosing writer/director 이창동 because I coincidentally saw a string of his films in a row without realizing it was all the same director, and each film was raw and gut-wrenching.
All of his films deal with incredible loss and trauma. He tackles different relationships and issues throughout his work, such as stolen youth, masculinity, grief, alienation, abuse of power, gender discrimination, desperation, etc. He captures a full spectrum of despair so directly and in such devastating ways. Characters often reflect on past mistakes or circumstances that led them to rock bottom and are often just common people put into terrible circumstances.
Every film feels like a painful slice of life story, and every character feels so realized, like someone I’ve met before or seen in passing. He was also a producer for directors I really admire, like 윤가은 and 정주리.
Rala Choi: Reason. 2023
Art: RALA CHOI
There are so many Korean artists I like, especially photographers but I will choose Rala Choi.
I actually first saw his work on the cover of Chicano Batman’s album Invisible People, but so much of his work is emotional and stunning. Gum printing is such an arduous process, but the results it produces naturally lean towards something that looks like a painting.
Rala Choi’s compositions already gravitate towards fine art, but the colour/texture that comes from his printing technique puts all of his work in an area between painting and photograph, and his images look so timeless. He shoots delicate and ethereal images so carefully.
One more thing: Seoul Community Radio
SCR is a pillar of the community in Seoul’s DJ scene, but also their various events are wild. I actually first came to SCR because some friends had a set there, but then so many friends showed up, and as I met more people, the more I consistently found myself there because of a friend's set or just because that's where people wanted to hang out before their gig at another venue.
Outside of their main HQ they are going out trying to make everything an interesting venue. Saunas, bowling alleys, a makgeolli factory, DMZ etc.
They are always doing interesting things and are constantly bringing in both legendary musicians and burgeoning talent. Whenever someone is looking for something to do in Seoul, SCR is one of the first names I think of without having to check any schedules.