The 49th Hexagram (2020)

The 49th Hexagram (2020) poster

​The 49th Hexagram explores the construction of cultural memory and political narrative surrounding the history of the Korean peninsula. Employing the services of an animation studio in Pyongyang, North Korea, Ho Tzu Nyen’s work reinterprets scenes of political uprising and mass demonstration as depicted in South Korean narrative film and television. The project aims to form a direct relationship between South Korea’s political history and the tensions that still define the country’s relationship with its northern counterpart. The result is, in the artist’s words, a “game of exquisite corpse across geopolitical barriers.” The artist developed the experimental soundtrack in collaboration with Korean artists and musicians Bek Hyunjin, Park Minhee, and Ryu Hankil. Offering two vocal renditions of texts from the forty-ninth hexagram of the I-Ching, an ancient Chinese divination manual, the soundtrack composites historical interpretation with translation to speak of revolution and renewal.

Director: Ho Tzu Nyen
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 30 min
Release Date:
Country: North Korea, Singapore, South Korea
Language: 한국어/조선말
Original Language: ko

Trailer

The 49th Hexagram Trailer
More Films by Director: Ho Tzu Nyen
More Films in Genre: Documentary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The 49th Hexagram about?
​The 49th Hexagram explores the construction of cultural memory and political narrative surrounding the history of the Korean peninsula. Employing the services of an animation studio in Pyongyang, North Korea, Ho Tzu Nyen’s work reinterprets scenes of political uprising and mass demonstration as depicted in South Korean narrative film and television. The project aims to form a direct relationship between South Korea’s political history and the tensions that still define the country’s relationship with its northern counterpart. The result is, in the artist’s words, a “game of exquisite corpse across geopolitical barriers.” The artist developed the experimental soundtrack in collaboration with Korean artists and musicians Bek Hyunjin, Park Minhee, and Ryu Hankil. Offering two vocal renditions of texts from the forty-ninth hexagram of the I-Ching, an ancient Chinese divination manual, the soundtrack composites historical interpretation with translation to speak of revolution and renewal.
Who directed The 49th Hexagram?
The 49th Hexagram was directed by Ho Tzu Nyen.
How long is The 49th Hexagram?
The 49th Hexagram has a runtime of 30m (30 minutes).
What genre is The 49th Hexagram?
The 49th Hexagram is a Documentary film.
Where was The 49th Hexagram produced?
The 49th Hexagram was produced in North Korea, Singapore, South Korea.