Jaha Koo / CAMPO: Cuckoo – Sophiensæle | Independent Theater in Berlin
Jaha Koo / CAMPO:
Cuckoo
A journey through the last 20 years of Korean history told by a bunch of talkative rice cookers.
A society under pressure: South Korea is among the major national economies in the world - but who pays the price? Under the performance pressure of an overachieving society, South Korea's suicide rate globally ranks very high, especially among young people. Jaha Koos' best friend also took his own life. Shortly afterwards, Koo emigrated to Amsterdam with a Cuckoo brand rice cooker in his bag. With a unique sense of humour and in dialogue with the three talking rice cookers Hana, Seri and Duri, the performer creates a touching personal engagement with a society that disregards its losses while working on its gross domestic product.
concept, direction, text, music + video Jaha Koo performance Hana, Duri, Seri & Jaha Koo cuckoo hacking Idella Craddock scenography + media operation Eunkyung Jeong dramaturgical advice Dries Douibi production Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek executive producer CAMPO coproduction Bâtard Festival support CAMPO, STUK, BUDA, DAS, SFAC & Noorderzon/Grand Theatre.
Cuckoo was realized with the support of de Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie.
Jaha Koo is a South Korean theater/performance maker, music composer and videographer. His artistic practice oscillates between multimedia and performance, encompassing his own music, video, text, and robotic objects. His most recent project, the Hamartia Trilogy, 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. Koo’s newest creation, Haribo Kimchi, premiered in 2024.
Koo majored in Theatre Studies (BFA, 2011) at Korea National University of Arts and earned a master's degree (MA, 2016) at DAS Theatre in Amsterdam.
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© Radovan Dranga -
© Radovan Dranga -
© Radovan Dranga -
© Radovan Dranga -
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