Kunsthal Rotterdam

Onni Rotterdam is committed to connecting and empowering Asian women. The collective organizes gatherings and themed evenings where Asian women share their perspectives, dreams, and traditions. This time, they are joined by program maker and concept developer Bettina Brunt, who, like the artist Haegue Yang, has Korean roots. Come listen, watch, and connect during Friday Night LIVE x Onni Rotterdam!

Programme

Let yourself be carried away during Friday Night LIVE on a unique journey through Korea: from the traditional, artistic, and spiritual Korea to the vibrant, exuberant life full of energy and color. With this program, ONNI builds a bridge between inner experience and connection with others. Dive into themes such as Asian identity, displacement, belonging, and the search for home through the inspiring panel talk Soul of Korea and sensory performances and rituals. In the K-pop Nightclub, join the popular Random Play Dance, enjoy performances by K-dance crews, and dance like you’re in the heart of Seoul!

Bites en drinks

During Friday Night LIVE, the tastiest bites are back on the menu, like Korean Bibimbap, or you can order your favourite cocktail at de Cocktailfiets (Cocktail Bicycle)! And are you coming to the Kunsthal with your Friday Night LIVE ticket between 17:00 and 19:00 hrs? Then a complimentary welcome drink (wine, beer, or soda) will be waiting for you!

Kevin-Ahn Kwang Soo-Groen | Spoken Word 

Kevin-Ahn Kwang Soo-Groen is a behavioural change expert and spoken word & performance artist who doesn’t shy away from exploring the uncomfortable. As an adopted South Korean boy growing up in The Netherlands ‘identity’ has always been an important question throughout his life that only led to more questions. Today he uses his voice and art to help his clients change their behaviours, make workplaces more humane, and confront audiences with prejudices and unconscious biases you didn’t even know you had.

Panel talk 'Soul of Korea'

In conversation with Korean creators In-Soo Radstake, Jungmin Ryu, Joon Hee Blikman & Bettina Brunt
In Korea, there are important concepts that describe deep feelings and emotions, such as Han, Heung, and Inyeon. These emotions are deeply rooted in Korean culture. As stated in the book Korea, The Impossible Country: “Koreans are known to be an emotional people. This is a country where people wear their heart on their sleeve.” Korean (adopted) creators discuss how these typically Korean emotions—consciously or unconsciously—are reflected in their work. What does this say about the influence of heritage and upbringing for adoptees?

A'MA'NA

A’MA’NA is a movement established by fluid creator Gianna Tomiyama, who creates rituals of remembrance and heartmade experiences, especially for this Friday Night Live x ONNI they invite you to two intimate moments of deepening into belonging, our (inter)connection - coming home into our being. With live music by Dizzi Geetha.
We braid us 
A participatory braiding ritual, communing with the feminine inside and outside of us. Guided by a live created soundscape.
Sori uJu maU
A participatory ritual in which sound becomes the universe, honoring the existence of us, of life - celebrating in dance. Guided by live created music, inviting you to join in this immersive performance.

Kpop NightClub | DJ Phatq

As a K-pop DJ, DJ Phatq brings the energy of Seoul to the club. With his sets, he effortlessly takes you from BTS to ATEEZ, from NewJeans to girl group hits and underground remixes. Since 2018, he has been performing in clubs in the Netherlands and Sweden, where he brings Asian pop to life in a unique and danceable way. Every set is a dynamic journey through the evolution of K-pop. Tonight, you’ll hear genres like K-pop, K-trap, K-hiphop, K-EDM, and K-pop classics that everyone can dance to, such as Gangnam Style.

Random Play Dance | LetZkpop

LetZkpop is a group of young, passionate women with a great love for K-pop. They organize energetic K-pop events, including the popular Random Play Dances (RPDs), where fans come together to dance and enjoy themselves. During Friday Night LIVE, they will bring an exciting Random Play Dance!

Kpop Dance Crew X-Dreamin'

X-Dreamin' is a Dutch K-pop dance cover group that has been active since 2021. Over the years, they have performed at many different events and competitions.

Kpop Dance Crew UNtitled

Based in Rotterdam, UNtitled is a K-pop dance crew made up of dancers who simply enjoy moving together and sharing their love for K-pop. With each performance, they bring fun, energy, and the spirit of K-pop to the stage. No big titles or labels, just a shared passion and lots of teamwork. This is UNtitled.

Workshop Hangul Play | Sona Lee

This workshop is about playing with Hangul, the Korean alphabet, in a visual and intuitive way. It starts by writing names based on how participant’s name sounds in Korean, then reimagining the letterforms using anything from characters and symbols to traditional Korean motifs or simply coulours and shapes that feel right.

Craft workshop 

Join us at the Kunsthal Café and create your own phone charm or keychain with Chuang Yi Club!

About Haegue Yang: Leap Year

Kunsthal Rotterdam presents the first major retrospective of Haegue Yang (1971, Seoul) in the Netherlands. Leap Year will showcase the artist’s wide variety of media, including installation, sculpture, video, text, and audio. Evoking sensorial associations with everyday objects, from aluminium blinds and drying racks to metal bells, her works dissociate well-established dichotomies like abstract versus figurative.

Friday Night LIVE is made possible thanks to the participants of the VriendenLoterij.