Cuckoo  By Jaha Koo

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.

In English & Korean, with English surtitles. and Run time: 55 minutes

Post-show Discussion: Jan 17
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.

Presented in partnership with Under the Radar and Supported by Flanders State of the Art.

Photo: Eunkyung Jeong