On the smallest of stages, a lone performer stands—empty-handed—and begins to tell a story. Without a single word, the story gently reached into the hearts of the audience, delivering comfort and emotional resonance. This piece traced the journey of life, invited us to reflect on what kind of world we are living in, how we treat others, and how we are treated in return. With both hands open, the artist offered a silent stage filled with authentic emotion, warmth, and deep human insight.
Artist Introduction:
Taikun Lee
A graduate of the École de Mimodrame de Paris Marcel Marceau in France, Taikun Lee has performed on numerous stages, including the Chuncheon Mime Festival and Via Festival, continuing the tradition of Korean mime. He is actively working to share the artistic beauty and significance of mime with wider audiences.
Sunggook Ryu
Widely recognized as one of Korea’s leading mime artists, Sunggook Ryu captivates audiences with his delicate technique and rich expressiveness, revealing the full essence of classical pantomime. Through sincere performances that evoke deeper emotions than words can, he creates silent stories that touch the heart. In 2023, he performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where he received an enthusiastic response from audiences around the world.
When the Korean Culture Center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, sent me the invitation, I was blown away. I've never seen mime performed live before, and this Korean performer is even more impressive. The character in Mr. Bean, an English comedy series, was always an expression of empty hands, and I have always seen mime acts on television. The Korean Mine event lasted two days and included a workshop. I was there on May 24th, the first day. The show lasts for sixty minutes. For the purpose of showcasing their various acts, each artist performed simultaneously. In all, eight acts were performed. SungGook Ryu performed the first act, Wall. Through this act, a person's story of persistent controversy, breaking through, and overcoming obstacles is told. In Taikun Lee's second act, From Seeds to Apple Trees, a farmer sows a seed. Water causes it to germinate, grow, bloom, and produce fruit. SungGook Ryu's Korean Subway series, which consists of a number of comedic episodes that could occur on a subway, is included in the third act. Unexpected and humorous interactions take place in everyday situations.
The Love Story of a Boy in Mountain Village, a mime version of the song "A Love Story of a Boy in Mountain Village" by Ye-Min, which was inspired by the Korean novel "Sonagi," is the fourth act performed by Taikun Lee. SungGook Ryu's photograph from the fifth act shows a person opening an old picture album. They go on an emotional trip through memories as they delve into the photos. Taikun Lee's Sixth Act Flight portrays an electric doctor's aspirations to fly. The next one, "Raise Up," by SungGook Ryu, tells the tale of a person getting back up after falling. The spirit and the drive to life rise along with the body. Taikun Lee performed the final act. This painting depicts the entire life cycle, from birth to childhood, youth to love, motherhood to independence, and finally old age, culminating in a quiet farewell.
My favorite act is Taikun Lee's "From Seeds to Apple Trees," which goes beyond simply illustrating fruit bearing. Even the crowd participated in the performance, and we all started to bear fruit. However, I like SungGook Ryu's two performances. The first, Koreans Subway Series, was a comedy act that made me laugh a lot. It hilariously depicts the individuals we meet in subways. With only an empty hand and a blank smile, this act conveyed every feeling associated with laughter. SungGook Ryu's second act is called Photographs. It was the exact antithesis of his subway series and made me think of our travels up to this point, when the only enduring memories are photos.
I appreciated each act, laughed, was intrigued, and felt emotional, and I wondered how we could grasp each gesture and message through a mime show without using words. After the show, I had the opportunity to photograph the artists and have a lovely talk with them about their journeys and expertise of mime acts, which I will share in my next article.
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