Cuckoo

By Jaha Koo

 

Jan 16—18

Perelman Performing Arts Center: 251 Fulton St. NYC

Presented in partnership with Under the Radar

 

 

A journey through the last 20 years of Korean history told by a bunch of talkative rice cookers.

One day when his electric rice cooker informed him that his meal was ready, South Korean artist Jaha Koo experienced a deep sense of ‘Golibmuwon’ (고립무원). Twenty years ago a major economic crisis hugely impacted Jaha Koo’s generation of South Korean youth. ‘Golibmuwon’ is the untranslatable Korean word for the feeling of helpless isolation that arose for many. In bittersweet and humorous dialogues with Jaha’s clever rice cookers, Cuckoo takes you on a journey through the past two decades of Korean history, combining Jaha’s personal experiences with political events and reflections on happiness, economic crises, and mortality.

Run time: 55 minutes

 

Jaha Koo – Concept, Direction, Text, Music, and Video

Hana, Duri, Seri & Jaha Koo – Performance

Idella Craddock – Cuckoo Hacking

Eunkyung Jeong – Scenography & Digital Support

Dries Douibi – Dramaturgical Advice

Bart Huybrechts – Technique

Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek – Production

CAMPO – Executive Producer

Bâtard Festival – Co-production

Support provided by CAMPO, STUK, BUDA, DAS, SFAC & Noorderzon/Grand Theatre with the support of the Flemish Community.

 

*Jaha Koo, the visionary creator and performer of Cuckoo, sits down with celebrated South Korean playwright and Whiting Award recipient Hansol Jung to discuss the creative process, themes, and inspirations behind the show.

 

JAHA KOO

Jaha Koo (he/him, born in 1984) is a South Korean theater/performance maker, music composer and videographer who lives and works in Gent (BE). His artistic practice oscillates between multimedia and performance, encompassing his own music, video, text and robotic actors joining him on stage. Koo is well known for his ambitious Hamartia Trilogy, on which he worked over six years. This trilogy of solo works includes Lolling and Rolling (2015), Cuckoo (2017), and The History of Korean Western Theatre (2020). The trilogy represents a long-term exploration of the political landscape, colonial history, and cultural identity of East Asia. Thematically, it focuses on structural issues in Korean society and how the inescapable past tragically affects our lives today. In personal stories about family, growing up, migration, combined with political and societal-historical issues, he touches universal themes that find resonance in different countries and contexts all over the world. Currently, Jaha Koo is travelling with his new creation, Haribo Kimchi, that premiered in June 2024.

https://gujaha.com

 

구자하

음악, 영상, 로보틱 오브제 등 다양한 매체를 다루며, 동시대 연극의 미래에 대해 모색한다. 2014년부터 ‘하마티아 3부작’이라는 프로젝트를 시작해 동아시아의 정치적 지형과 식민지 역사, 그리고 문화적 정체성에 대해 탐구하고 한국 사회의 구조적 문제에 대해 고민해 왔다. 3부작의 첫 번째 작업인 「롤링 앤 롤링 (Lolling and Rolling)」(2015)은 언어 제국주의와 그에 대한 문화적 침묵에 대해, 두 번째 작업 「쿠쿠」 (2017)는 박탈된 경제적 주권과 배제된 사회적 구성원에 대해, 마지막 작업 「한국 연극의 역사」 (2020)는 타율적 근대화와 문화적 폐허에 대해 집중하고자 했다.  

https://www.yes24.com/24/AuthorFile/Author/441162

 

TICKET

Under 30 Discount

Guests 30 and under are invited to purchase $30 tickets for most events, subject to availability. Proof of age will be required at the time of ticket pick-up at the Information Desk. Guests can purchase one ticket per production, and applicable transaction fees will be applied to each purchase. To purchase, select an Under30 ticket when choosing your seat, then enter the promo code UNDER30 to receive the discount.

 

Guests who are unable to verify their age or do not meet the age requirements when picking up will be required to pay the difference in cost for a full price ticket. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

 

Group Discount

Groups of 10 or more receive 10% off and 20 or more receive 15% off. Please call 212-266-3011 or fill out our Group Sales Request Form to reserve today.

 

The following discount is currently available by calling 212-266-3000:

 

Educator Discounts

Full-time teachers are invited to purchase $30 discounted tickets, subject to availability. A current school ID (elementary through high school; college/university) must be presented at the time of ticket pick-up. One school ID is valid for up to four tickets per event, and applicable transaction fees will be applied to each purchase.

 

In English & Korean, with English surtitles.

Supported by Flanders State of the Art.

Photo: Eunkyung Jeong

https://pacnyc.org/whats-on/cuckoo  

 

쿠쿠 Cuckoo

몽고메리카운티(버지니아주, 1/31, 2/1), 미네아폴리스(2/6-8), 칼리지파크(메릴랜드주, 2/12-13)

❥ Cuckoo ❥

Blacksburg (US) / JAN 31 & FEB 1

Presented by Moss Arts Center 

 

❥ Cuckoo ❥

Minneapolis (US) / FEB 6 - 8

Presented by The Walker Art Center

 

❥ Cuckoo ❥

College Park (US) / FEB 12 - 13

Presented by The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

https://gujaha.com