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PAMS Choice

Introducing outstanding contemporary performing arts
from Korea to the global stage curated by PAMS.

  • Showcase
  • Multidisciplinary/Others
  • traditional performing arts - Yeonhee
Yeonhee Physics: The Quantum Ritual UHEE Company
  • 10-17(Fri) 16:00 ~ 16:40
  • Daloreum Theater, National Theater of Korea
The cosmic rhythm pulsing from the crook of the knee, and the physics of shimmyeong — the ecstatic spirit of Korean tradition.
  • #TraditionalPerformance #ModernPhysics #ArtsAndScience
Introduction to the work

The journey of the sangsoe (lead musician) begins in search of the true essence of ogeum (a rhythmic movement). The resonance of unfinished instruments awakens, and the world of Yeonhee (Korean traditional performance) unfolds through the rhythms of Jwajilgut and Ujilgut, traditional Korean percussion patterns representing the left and right sides in ritual performances.
The sangsoe maintains balance on the tightrope, guiding the flow of energy. Through the principles of symmetry and connection, they come to feel the oneness of nature and the universe. As they overcome inner tension and conflict, the performance builds toward the ecstatic climax of shinmyeong—a euphoric explosion of spirit and energy. Ogum is more than just a movement—it is the core rhythm of the universe that flows through and connects every moment of the performance. This never-ending rhythm drives the heartbeat of Yeonhee (Korean ritual performance), marking each moment as a new beginning.
<Yeonhee Physics: The Quantum Ritual> is a stage performance that sheds new light on the movement and aesthetics of traditional Korean Yeonhee (traditional Korean ritual performance). It blends the imagination of Yeonhee with fundamental questions posed by modern physics—about reality, space-time, and the principles of the universe. The work explores the secret of shinmyeong, ecstatic energy release, from a physics perspective, offering the audience a journey through which they can newly perceive the cycles of nature and the flow of energy.

UHEE Company

UHEE Company is a vibrant and joyful troupe of traditional Korean performers dedicated to creating new Korean-style performances and engaging with audiences. Since its founding in 2011, the company has received enthusiastic responses from audiences both domestically and internationally, showcasing the beauty of traditional Korean music and creative Yeonhee (Korean traditional performance arts). Above all, UHEE Company pursues a contemporary form of Yeonhee that breathes with the public, aiming to highlight the hipness and charm of Yeonhee in a way that appeals to younger generations. The company has gained recognition through performances such as Uheenori, which expresses traditional rhythms and Samulnori (traditional Korean percussion) with a youthful sensibility and interactive participation, and UHEESKA Ninano Pancert, which fuses traditional Korean rhythms with Jamaican ska music to reinterpret it as a unique form of world music. These works have been performed at numerous venues and festivals both at home and abroad, drawing out UHEE’s distinctive energy and excitement. Notably, in 2024, UHEE Company was selected for the New Work of the Year by the Arts Council Korea (ARKO) presenting <Yeonhee Physics: The Quantum Ritual (ver.1)>, which garnered enthusiastic acclaim from critics and audiences alike. Since 2024, UHEE Company has also been an artist-in-residence at Guri Art Hall, where they continue to create new works, organize curated performances, and develop projects aimed at expanding artistic engagement with local communities.

< Key artist introduction>
* Lim Young Ho (Artistic Director)
Lim Young Ho is a performing arts director who serves as the artistic director of UHEE Company and has also served as the artistic director of the Korea Traditional Performing Arts Festival. He is at the forefront of reinterpreting tradition from a contemporary perspective. Lim teaches at the Department of Theater at Dong-Ah Institute of Media and Arts and the School of Dance at the Korea National University of Arts, nurturing the next generation of artists. Through his work, which explores the essence of art and life, he delivers profound messages to audiences by capturing a contemporary sensibility. He is passionate about exploring new possibilities in performing arts through creative directing that bridges tradition and modernity, expressing the essence of art and life in contemporary language to reveal their true value. Beyond his work with UHEE Company, he has directed the Dasi [Rock] Music Festival and Intangible Ceremony in collaboration with the National Intangible Heritage Center, directed Blue Whale of the Jeonnam Provincial Gugak Orchestra, and directed the premiere performance of Prodigy Kim Deok-su. In 2024, he was awarded the Young Artist Award at the Seoul Culture Today Culture Awards.

Here is a table explaining the program details. It consists of direction, cast, composition, music director, showcase time, composition, tour personnel, original work, contact information, and development support.
Director Lim, Young Ho Producer Lee, Rhanhee
Choreographer Yang, Han Bi Music Lim, Yong Ju
Dramaturge Chae, Min Performers Nam Chang Dong, Yang Han Bi, Seong Yugyeong, Kim Heesoo, Jeon Bo Hyun, Kim Hyangsoori, Lim Hosung, Yun Seoni, Lee Han Bi, Lim Yong Ju
Duration(Full-length) 70 minutes Tour Size 23 (10 performers, 13 staff members)
Contact Rhanhee Lee / ludicompany@gmail.com Instagram http://www.instagram.com/yeonheephysics
Review
  • “Yeonhee Physics marks a new era in Yeonhee, highlighting artistic methods through the principles of science.”
    It stood out for embracing the ambiguous space between reason and emotion, the symbiotic relationship between ‘principle and method’ or ‘scientific concepts and theatrical expression,’ and the acceptance of the inherently ambivalent nature of ‘tradition and contemporaneity.’
    “This work has become a key text and reference for Yeonhee in the 21st century.”
    - Yoon Joong-gang (music critic) Monthly The Move

    “The central theme of this work is the “circle.” Physics might well be understood as a means to explain the “circle,” or as a pathway toward reaching it. … Within this piece, the “circle” can also be perceived as the creators’ personal journey in search of their own circle.”
    - Performance columnist, Kim Il-song

    “An experimental deconstruction of traditional Yeonhee gestures, elevating artistic completeness.”
    “The movements, portrayed like black-and-white footage of Talchum (Korean mask dance), are powerfully expressed through tightrope walking, creating a performance full of balanced tension and excitement.”
    - Han Deok-taek (traditional performance planner), Edaily

    “This work most closely aligns with the aspirations of the Creative Arts Studio in performing arts, embodying contemporaneity, diversity, excellence, and experimental spirit.
    - Shin Jeong-hye (Intangible Cultural Asset Pansori Trainee), Monthly The Move

group photo
ⓒUHEE Company
ⓒUHEE Company
ⓒUHEE Company
ⓒUHEE Company
ⓒUHEE Company
ⓒUHEE Company