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Abby

@beeaqueen

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The here-and-there diaries of life as a stroke caregiver and the precious things that catch my eye.
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“Pungmul, also known as Pungmulnori or Nongak, is a vibrant traditional Korean folk performance art. It seamlessly combines driving percussion music, energetic dancing, acrobatics, and theatrical elements.”

That’s exactly what it was. An entire street of performers, performing as they bounced down the streets, skipping in a circle as they performed, and making various formations as they made their act. It made me wish I had gone for those traditional dance classes haha, and learnt to dance with the janggu. It was my first time playing the drum while standing, and my first time prancing around with a drum slung on one shoulder 🤣 and my first time doing a “skip to my lou” with a bunch of others who have their drums on them too. As my classmate Chiu, puts it, the keywords are “impromptu”, and “formations” 😆!!!!!

To say the energy was infectious is an understatement. There were feelings of awe, and disbelief that we were even there among all of these Pungmul practitioners. I could feel their drive. I could feel a genuine sense of pride, and happiness.

Unfortunately, I do not have videos of the continuous-performing parade, because we were involved in it and moving and drumming at the same time, but I can say, the Bupyeong Pungmul Festival is something that is to be felt and appreciated in-person.

There is something about discipline and dedication that I’m seeing and feeling here. The structure and the spirit that makes it all a marvel. It’s about rhythms, and sounds, and energy in beat and movement, and also everything unspoken and unheard that stands behind all of this. There is a togetherness, there is a joy, as much as there is structure, discipline and dedication.

What an experience.

It also hit me that Pungmul is for any one, of any age. It carries us through and though I don’t know for how long I’ll be doing this, at this point, I’m wishing it’ll take me through 80 😆!

I mean, just look at all of those people, old and young (yes, there were many, many kids among us), enjoying and feeling the performances!

There were also contemporary ones on the main stage, which we caught throughout the day, and after dinner. 🤤I’m so wanting that Minari again. taken in 부평풍물대축제 by @beeaqueen

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15 days ago

The unofficial recording, in full, taken from the crowd ❤️

#영남사물놀이 #samulnori taken in 부평풍물대축제 by @beeaqueen

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13 days ago

One of the many good times we’ve had while practising Yeongnam Samulnori. We’ve had about 7 months of practice before we got to this point, and there’s just so much of joy and energy playing together as a group, along with some jittery times (when we have to play alone 😆!), though there are many, many more of laughter, pretty much like the start of this video.

Samulnori is performed with four traditional Korean musical instruments: a small gong Kkwaenggwari, the larger gong Jing, an hourglass-shaped drum Janggu; and a barrel drum called Buk. The Jing isn’t in this video though.

It’s my first time learning how to play the drums. I’ve never had any experience with it prior to this - an instrument where we beat rhythm without melody, that somehow feels and even sounds melodic eventually. For me, picking up technique was much more challenging than learning new rhythms, so it feels like my effort is discounted when people say “aiya, why need to learn? It’s so easy”. Then again, it actually felt more like an insult to the art of Samulnori 😅

True that I might’ve started off and am still at a very basic level, but it’s somewhere to me. The Saturday nights that we have dedicated to picking up the Janggu and Buk are priceless - we feel happy, and tired yet energised all at the same time. I can’t even believe we made a choice to go every Saturday and felt glad about it every time 😂, considering that’s usually a time for dinner with family and friends.

Well! Onward to Samdo Samulnori we go. We’ve been warned that there will be greater challenges with it, but we know our dear 선생님s will be right there with us 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻!!! (Has anyone seen their arm muscles? 😂 My jaw dropped when they were revealed)

#사물놀이 #영남사물놀이 #samulnori by @beeaqueen

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a year ago

The next day brought us to Tosokchon, a Samgyetang restaurant that was raved about by the taxi driver who took us there. He said the Ogolgye (black chicken) version was a must-order, and so we did. I think I still prefer the white meat chicken better 😄

Opposite Tosokchon is a chocolatier, and we tried one of their creations. It was really good ☺️ A sweet treat I wouldn’t mind having on repeat.

We were then back in a cab, where I spotted my fav fruit stall (I zoomed in and took a photo from my window to check if they had my favourite oranges, even though I knew they weren’t in season) lol. It was then back to our lodging for some luscious grapes (I finish a bunch in 2 days). They’re so good I popped them before giving them a wash 🤣 (pesticides and wax can’t be washed off with water alone anyway). taken in 토속촌 by @beeaqueen

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15 hours ago

J and I got decked out in @naraesol_hanbok ，and went off to Gyeongbokgung for the Royal Culture Festival.

Since the stroke, I’ve avoided the palaces even though I love them so much, for their history and museums. Indeed, Gyeongbokgung was a challenge for Jason. The terrain was rocky and uneven, and we walked what is a long way to him, from Gwanghwamun to the side entrance where registration was. It was also dark, so we used our phones as flashlights to help guide his steps. He made it to Geunjeongmun, but not Sujeongjeon, where the stage was. As such, he did not did not catch the performances and a talk about royal court fashion that was on. Despite being tired (it’s mentally tiring to move when you can’t feel your steps and when your weaker leg weighs a ton), he still managed a few funny faces.

As tickets for foreigners were sold separately on a different platform from tickets for locals, I thought this was an edition solely for foreigners 🤣. However, it wasn’t, so everything was spoken solely in Korean. Still, we were curious about the festival and its happenings.

We got tickets to attend the next night, and J did not give up. We decided to try again, to make it to the stage the next day, at least.

💕. taken in 경복궁 - Gyeongbokgung Palace by @beeaqueen

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16 hours ago

Even the MMCA’s gift shops deserve a post 🥰 taken in National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art by @beeaqueen

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17 hours ago

Final looks at Suh Do Ho’s works and his process for Rubbing. Just when we think the scale is magnificent, I think the discipline, determination and dedication towards the process is even more so.

I sometimes wonder if it’s discipline that drives artists, or if it’s a motivation that comes simply from that feeling of needing to carry out and complete an idea - a feeling that one cannot help but do it, almost like an insatiable, insane itch.

Also, that pink door is possibly the prettiest, dreamiest door I ever did see. taken in National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art by @beeaqueen

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17 hours ago

Life in uniforms taken in 국립현대미술관 서울관 National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul by @beeaqueen

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a day ago

Bits and Bobs taken in National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art by @beeaqueen

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a day ago

Pop Art (meant to be taken literally as art that pops).

This was so cute! 🥰 taken in 국립현대미술관 서울관 National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul by @beeaqueen

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a day ago

In awe of the details, the technique, the sheer size, and the thought of capturing a home, a hanok, in this manner.

A life-size, real home, in paper, with the marks of time rubbed onto paper, and the use of time, to rub onto to paper. How much of time is a gift? And how much of a gift is time?

((Videos of Seo Do Ho’s process will be in an upcoming post)). taken in National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art by @beeaqueen

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a day ago

Threads and rubbings.

Isn’t the human mind an amazing tease? taken in National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art by @beeaqueen

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a day ago