South African singer-songwriter in Gwangju forges unique art event

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

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Sat, September 23, 2023 | 20:43

Multicultural Community

South African singer-songwriter in Gwangju forges unique art event

Posted : 2021-11-30 21:02

Updated : 2021-11-30 21:02

A previous Creative Social event / Courtesy of Hillel Kim

Lizz Kalo's 'Creative Social' brings music, poetry and a market for artists of all types

By Daniel J. Springer

For most weekend punters, the going out and "clubbing" experience can be rather predictable. Go to a bar, get a few drinks and some snacks, maybe play pool or some darts. Head out to a club, get down to some beats played by the DJ ― and generally pay a premium for it.

However, there is a monthly event called Creative Social going on in Gwangju the first Saturday of every month curated by South African singer-songwriter Lizz Kalo that truly does break this mold in significant ways.

Kalo, explaining the concept behind Creative Social, told The Korea Times that it "is a creative market that brings all kinds of people together, a platform to showcase art in all its forms," including anything from music to poetry to dance to works of art for sale.

Kalo, who originally hails from South Africa's Johannesburg, was concerned when moving to Gwangju two years ago and whether she could find an inclusive community that celebrates art. Explaining further, she stated, "I come from a country that celebrates different forms of art through regular monthly markets."

South African singer-songwriter Lizz Kalo at a previous Creative Social event / Courtesy of Hillel Kim

After making her move here, she found a gap in the Gwangju creative scene and strove to introduce something fresh that could bring together artists of all types from all over the country. Of course, as with everything in the past couple of years, the COVID-19 ghoul loomed ominously above as she began putting together the first Creative Social back in May, so Kalo was a bit apprehensive and not sure what to expect.

There were also practical and logistical concerns due to COVID-19 that had to be addressed, with social distancing having to be built into the event itself along with limited capacity for the venue and rather stringent limitations on audience mobility. Thus, as the days counted down to the very first event, there was a heightened concern amongst Kalo and the organizers that the pandemic would keep a lot of people away.

While she expected to pique some form of interest, the overwhelming positive response was a shock to Kalo, coming from both the Korean and foreign communities in Gwangju and beyond. "I was blown away not only by the fact that we reached capacity for the venue, but also [that we] received so much positive feedback and encouragement."

As the months went by and word spread, artists of all types descended on Gwangju for the event. Musicians from Seoul, Jeju and Busan performed. Local artists and bakers sold their wares in the market area, along with a fashion designer coming down from the capital.

But then Delta reared its ugly head, and the art market had to be put on hold starting over the summer.

Thus all had to be started from scratch, or at least so it seemed when the early fall shows had to be scrapped. However, just like with the first Creative Social in May, the restart on Nov. 5 proved to be equally buzzy, leaving everyone involved more than ready to go for the next event on Dec. 4.

So, with the holidays approaching, one would naturally wonder what's in store for the latest installment of Creative Social, and the answer might give you pause to think a bit.

"The plan is to come together and celebrate the year. It hasn't been easy but we've made it this far and that's a blessing," Kalo explained to The Korea Times. "We're going to have a great lineup, amazing artists, vendors and a mini gift exchange." Most importantly, they'll also be spreading some holiday cheer by raising funds for the M Dream Orphanage in Gwangju.

South African singer-songwriter Lizz Kalo at a previous Creative Social event / Courtesy of Hillel Kim

While Kalo has only been in Korea just under two years, she did discuss some of the impact that the country itself has imparted on her. As a professional singer-songwriter having released her debut album "Y.O.U." last November, it is interesting to hear her making a fresh impact on the cultural scene and reflecting on the direction of that cultural exchange.

"I definitely think it has [had an effect] because I've been exposed to so many new things and experiences that I can write about, and people that I have worked with or hope to. The opportunities to perform here have introduced me to such great talents and continue to help me learn new ways to perfect my craft," she said.

The latest installment of Creative Social happens this weekend at Loft 28 CNU in Gwangju.

Daniel J. Springer is the creator, producer and host of the radio show "The Drop with Danno" on GFN in Gwangju, broadcasting nightly from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.

jdunbar@koreatimes.co.kr