RE: KYOTO PROJECT

Dec. 3, 1995

To: Mr. Robert Kowalczyk

Thank you very much for your very thoughtful message and I commend you on the worthy project you have undertaken. I hope you will understand if I am unable to help you with it, other than adding your letter to the "donor's" (for lack of another category) section of our HomePage so others may become informed of it. I am totally focused on helping the flood victims themselves to keep warm and fed through the winter. Other activities on behalf of either Koreas, or both, must be left to others. I am also devoting much time to helping Cambodia in its reconstruction and rehabilitation. While it is tempting to become involved in more and more projects, there is also the danger of spreading oneself too thin.

All the best,

Bernard Krisher

In reply to:

>From kyo794journl@twics.com Sun Dec 3 04:49:42 1995 (John Einarsen)
Subject: Korean Journey East Project in London

Dear Mr. Krisher,

I am writing to you in connection with the "One Korea / One World" project that is scheduled for London in September of next year. Having read your report on the project to aid flood victims in North Korea in the December 1st issue of The Japan Times, I realize that our goals may coincide and hope that we will be able to communicate and assist each other in making steps towards those goals.

Allow me to briefly introduce myself. I am an associate professor of Kinki University (British-American Literature, English education) and the director of Journey East. I first arrived in Asia as a Peace Corps volunteer to Korea in 1969 and in that capacity taught English at the college level in Seoul until 1972. Since that time I have been teaching at universities in Japan. My great affection for Korea and its people led to the publication of Morning Calm: A Photographic Journey Through the Korean Countryside in 1977, which was a black and white photographic document on life in rural Korea. Beginning in 1992, I frequently traveled to Russia with John Einarsen, editor of Kyoto Journal, in order to produce a four-part series of articles that contained interviews and photographs of Moscovites entitled Voices From Moscow (Kyoto Journals Nos. 20-23). This involvement with Russia and its transition led to the establishment of the first Journey East project which was held in Moscow in September of 1993. Currently I am living in Kyoto with my Korean wife (Myong Hee Kim) and my daughter, Kimberlye.

Before proceeding any further, I'd like to input some general information about Journey East and the coming London project:

JOURNEY EAST is a private, non-profit, multi-national association of contemporary visual artists and traditional performers from Japan, Korea, the People's Republic of China, and Russia. The purpose of this association is to foster international understanding and cooperation while presenting an insight into East Asian culture through exhibitions of contemporary art and traditional music and dance. Participating artists of Journey East contribute their efforts and talent to the belief that true international understanding can best be achieved through a synthesis of the creative energies of the human spirit. Since Journey East is a non-profit organization, money earned from the performances or sale of works is not permitted.

"One Korea One World"
Program in London
September 9th-30th, 1996

Journey East is now planning for a "One Korea One World" program of a concert, exhibition and lectures to be held at the Barbican Centre (London), the University of London and Oxford University from September 9th to 30th, 1996.

The main purpose of the project is to promote peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula through the fine arts.

The concert is scheduled for the main auditorium of the Barbican Centre on September 13th. A Japanese shakuhachi soloist will open the concert followed by a Russian folk singer and a Chinese biwa musician. Each of these three performances will be relatively brief and will act as both a prelude to and support for the main part of the concert - a joint performance by traditional musicians and dancers from northern and southern Korea.

An exhibition of contemporary art by leading Korean artists from around the world will be held in the concourse exhibition hall of the Barbican Centre from September 9th to 30th. Two Korean artists will be invited from each of the following areas: southern Korea, northern Korea, Japan, Europe and the United States. A reception party for all participating artists, musicians and performers will be held in the exhibition hall following the concert on September 13th.

Lectures on Korean traditional music and traditional and modern art are being planned at Oxford University and the University of London in conjunction with the events at the Barbican Centre.

Journey East is a non-political, non-profit organization. Therefore, all Korean members of the London program will be referred to as "Korean" without reference to which half of the Korean peninsula, or which country outside the peninsula, they are now residing in. Every effort shall be made in order to insure complete balance and mutual respect among all members of the Journey East program. Furthermore, other than transportation, accommodations and expenses, none of the participating members of the London program will receive remuneration, nor will the sale of art work be allowed. Any funds generated by the event will be used for the support of a unified Korean art movement and to further the cause of peaceful Korean re-unification.

Journey East is now considering plans for future programs to be held in Tokyo (1997) and Pyongyang and Seoul (1998).

"One Korea One World"

General Information

* The Barbican Centre, home of the London Symphony Orchestra and Royal Shakespeare Company, is one of the most important and prestigious venues for the fine arts in Europe.

* An invitation from both the University of London and Oxford University will be offered to all participating artists and musicians for participation in the event.

* Dr. Pak Youngsook, Korean art historian of the University of London, and Ms. Ann Jones, Visual Arts Manager of the Barbican Centre, have agreed to curate the exhibition of Korean contemporary artists for the concourse exhibition hall.

* Professor Hwang Byung-ki, internationally known kayagum composer and performer of Ewha Women's University, has agreed to co-direct the concert. Professor Hwang and Professor Sung Dong-Chun of Pyongyang have previously co-directed joint concerts in Pyongyang and Seoul. It has been suggested that the groups Pyongyang Minjok Umakdan and Seoul Chuntong Umakdan be used for the London concert as they were in the previous events.

* The following artists have agreed to participate in the exhibition: Mr. Paik Nam Jun (New York), Mr. Cho Duck Hyun (Seoul), Madame Bang Hai Ja (Paris), Mr. Son Ah Yoo (Kyoto) and Ms. Kim Myong Hee (Kyoto). Additional artists are now being considered and contacted.

* Dr. Keith Howard, Professor of Korean Studies (Traditional Music) at the University of London, and Dr. James B. Lewis, Professor of Korean Studies at Oxford University, have agreed to arrange a lecture series at each of their respective institutions.

* The Journey East office in Kyoto is arranging for a large group of Korean residents in Japan to travel to London in support of the event. The current goal is to work with both of the Korean residents associations (north and south) to assemble a balanced group of 500 whose birthplaces are in both the southern and northern parts of the peninsula.

* Journey East is interested in hearing from any and all non-political sponsors and supporters of the event.

As is written, the main purpose of the London program is to bring together Koreans artists, musicians and performers from both the northern and southern part of the peninsula (and from around the world) to share their artistic spirits in a non-political act of cooperation that would be one small, yet symbolic, step towards the eventual re-unificiation of the country.

At this point, with so little time remaining to prepare for the event, our main concern is the participation of the northern artists. Towards this end we have been discussing the event with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan in Tokyo. Most recently a meeting was held with Mr. Nam Sung U, the deputy director of the International Affairs Bureau of the Association and Dr. Pak Youngsook of the University of London. Dr. Pak emphasized the "vital meaning" of the project to Mr. Nam while adding that on four previous occasions scholars from the north had attended academic conferences in London through the invitation of the university. Dr. Pak offered such invitations to the artists and musicians for the coming event.

The meeting seemed to activate an interest in the project on the part of the association and Journey East is now preparing the background papers for a formal proposal which the association has promised to send to Pyongyang.

The other major concern is obviously time. The Barbican Centre has generously allowed us until the end of February for the signing of the contract for the event. However, there are many other considerations that need to be decided before this deadline. Therefore, we need to assemble a strong group of non-political forces as soon as possible to create the necessary momentum that will make the plan a reality. Which is the reason for contacting you.

From what you have written in the Japan Times article, it is obvious that you have a deep concern for the Korean people and are non-political in your assessment of the realities of the current situation. Furthermore, I believe that you have been able to establish trust due to your sincere approach to the problems at hand. I greatly appreciate and respect both of these qualities which are unfortunately so rare in today's world. I hope that you understand that Journey East shares your concern and hopes to emulate your approach.

Aside from the information contained here, there are many other aspects of the project which brighten our prospects for success. Among these are the most recent development of dedicating the event to the memory of Mr. Yun I-Sang (famed Korean modern composer who strived for unification in his life and his work, who is revered by Koreans in both the north and the south, and who passed away last month in Berlin), the establishment of a Journey East fund raising office in Kyoto in January managed by two members who have excellent records of gathering the necessary funds, the quickly growing list of supporters and volunteers in Japan, Korea and England, and the recently received request from the BBC for more information concerning the event.

With all this in mind, I think you can understand both the potential scale and significance of our project. We hope that you will be able to assist us in reaching our goal and perhaps combining it with yours.

I would appreciate any advice or assistance that you might be able to offer while appreciating your recent sincere efforts on behalf of Korea.

Robert Kowalczyk
Managing Director
Journey East
December 3, 1995
(Kyoto)

I can be reached by telephone or fax at 075-771-1949. The best time to fax is early morning or late evening for the time being (until the Journey East office opens in January). Alternatively, I can be contacted through Myong Hee Kim at Studio December 075-213-4862 (daytime) Or, if need be, via John Einarsen's E-mail address: kyo794journl@twics.com