Jang Ki-ha to Debut First Solo Album as Film at Jeonju International Film Festival
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Singer-songwriter Jang Ki-ha will release his first full-length solo album, 'Scattered Pieces,' in September.
- The album will be previewed as a short film at the 27th Jeonju International Film Festival in May.
- The project uniquely combines music and film, with Jang Ki-ha creating a silent film based on his poetry before composing the music.
After 24 years in the music industry, the celebrated singer-songwriter Jang Ki-ha is set to unveil his first full-length solo album, titled 'Scattered Pieces.' This highly anticipated release, scheduled for a formal launch in September, will receive its world premiere in a unique cinematic format at the 27th Jeonju International Film Festival.
From May 1st to 3rd, the festival will screen a short film adaptation of 'Scattered Pieces.' This innovative project breaks new ground by presenting Jang Ki-ha's musical vision through a visual medium before the album's official release. Adding to the excitement, Jang Ki-ha himself will participate in post-screening Q&A sessions on May 1st and 2nd, offering insights into his creative process.
The album's creation process is as unconventional as its presentation. Jang Ki-ha adopted a sequential approach: poetry, silent film, then music. He first penned poems that delve into his inner world, which were then translated into a silent film by director Mo Geosu. The music was subsequently composed to match the film's runtime, creating a deeply integrated artistic experience.
This project represents a significant evolution for Jang Ki-ha, an artist known for constantly exploring new musical territories since his early days with bands like 'The Black Skirts' and 'Kiha & The Faces.' As programmer Moon Seok of the Jeonju International Film Festival described it, the result is 'somewhat complex, bizarre, experimental, and unbelievable.' The film features distinct characters like 'White Ki-ha,' 'Black Ki-ha,' and 'Pillowmon,' visually embodying Jang Ki-ha's unique worldview. This boundary-pushing endeavor solidifies Jang Ki-ha's reputation as an artist who defies genre conventions, offering a truly distinctive artistic statement.
Somewhat complex and bizarre, experimental, and unbelievable.
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.