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# The Stories of Our Mothers in the performance “Knotting the Time”

Jeolgi divided according to the time interval at which the sun passes 24 times a year, twice a month. The 24 seasonal divisions, called a farming calendar essential to East Asians in agricultural society, are a knot of time in which human life and wisdom coexist according to the principles of nature.

During Ipchun (Beginning of Spring), farmers started farming for a year by sowing seeds in the fields on the 88th day from Ipchun, Mangzhong. On the 210th day in late autumn, Shuangjiang, the harvest paid off as if the hard work had been paid back. Kimchi to be eaten throughout the winter can reach its full flavor only when it is made before and after Ipdong (Onset of Winter), so the scenery of kimchi making from house to house was the scenery of the substantial preparation for winter.

In the East, including Korea, Daehan (the coldest season) regarded as a seasonal end to wrap up the winter, and the last day of Daehan called Jeolbun was known as a seasonal year-end day. In the customs, this night was called sunset, and beans were sprayed on the floor or room to ward off evil spirits and greet the New Year.

ACC Asia Story Creation and Production Performance “Knotting the Time” is full art with the time of one year, 24-jeolgi, as a background. It is the story of our mother and grandmother who knot the time of 24-jeolgi. The stories of women according to the jeolgi became the poems through the creation and production, and those poems became songs through rhythms.

2021 <Knotting the Time> Showcase

Sohan

With a hand shrunk
Try to smash the hard ice
Caw magpie greets us The little ones lying on the ondol floor side by side
On their chapped faces
Only the flowers of dry patches
Are bloomed and bloomed

A mother looking at the little ones who fell asleep with the “chapped faces” at “hard” Sohan was once a woman of Ipchun who had “spring in mind” and was also a child who listened to her grandmother’s old story while eating “cold rice in a fireplace off” on Korean Food Day.

2021 <Knotting the Time> Showcase

The generation of our mother and grandmother who lived in various forms of daily life during the 24-jeolgi. The nodes and knots that weave the stories of them coexisting with nature with poetry, songs, and dances are by far the best in restrained simplicity. The stage attracts the audience’s attention enough just by the combination of black and white. Unnecessary decoration or extravagant decorations are excluded, and the dance movements and the distance in between are as simple as possible. Through the stability caused by the simplicity, the audience can feel the profoundness even better that come from its beauty.

2021 <Knotting the Time> Showcase

Composer Choi U-zong, in charge of the music of the performance, said that the music nodes and knots are “like bibimbap." This is because it was made by mixing classical and popular music with Jeongga, Pansori, and folk songs. However, it is a bibimbap that makes you feel the original taste of the raw ingredients of vegetables harmonious with rice. Clarinet as clarinet, daegeum as daegeum, and piano as piano are well-played with right sounds at right node so that all sounds can be harmonious to the song. You will feel that Pansori and the melody of piano can go well together, and that Jeongaa and the tone of clarinet can go well together.

Song and dance are no different. They have a conversation as they are talking to each other. That is why it is comfortable. No analysis is needed. You just need to get a little excited about the things on the stage. Director Jung Young Doo said, “you need to stop thinking about the meaning or lesson, but instead just watch and have fun.” And his hope is “to deliver the sublime inner beauty of the song” if there is wind.

Poster of <Knotting the Time>

The performance “Knotting the Time” will be played from October 17 (19:30) through October 18 (15:00, 19:00) at the Gwangju Asia Culture Center Theater for 90 minutes. It is very nice to go outside as it is Shuangjiang where the “Hanro,” or that cold dew forms and the fresh weather continue. Think about enjoying the beautiful sounds of Korean words recreated as “new beauty” in this fall.

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