The second in Wimbledon’s 2016-17 series on Communities and drawing on research by artist and course leader of Wimbledon’s BA Print & Time-Based Media, Richard Layzell, Korea Town at Wimbledon Space will focus on the nearby community of North and South Koreans living in New Malden, just two train stops down the line from Wimbledon.
 
More than 10,000 of the 29,000 people living in this part of London are Korean, and Layzell’s research involves interaction with the public facing elements of these communities: shops, cafes, hairdressers and, particularly,  HAN Karaoke Bar. Kpop Noraebang (karaoke) in Korea is a national obsession, taking place in small rooms that are hired out by the hour.
 
The centrepiece of the gallery, whose walls will be decorated with allusions to Korean popular culture, will be a reconstruction of one of HAN Karaoke Bar’s private rooms: a participatory, interactive structure where audience members can participate in karaoke, with an emphasis on Korean popular songs. Accompanying this will be video projections of documentary and performance works.