Jaha Koo's 'Haribo Kimchi' Blends Korean and European Cultures at Festival d'Avignon 2026
At the 2026 Festival d'Avignon, South Korean artist Jaha Koo presents 'Haribo Kimchi', a performance that combines cooking, storytelling, and video. The show runs from July 11 to 15 at the Gymnase du Lycée Mistral. Koo transforms the stage into a pojangmacha, a Korean street food tent, where he prepares a meal while sharing his personal history of migration from Korea to Europe. Two audience members are invited to join him at the table, blurring the line between performer and spectator. The title juxtaposes Haribo, a European candy brand, with kimchi, a staple of Korean cuisine, symbolizing the fusion of cultures. Koo uses popular Korean cultural references, such as a singing snail and a robotic eel, to evoke childhood memories without sentimentality. After the performance, Koo offers the audience a cold soup and a pancake, extending the theatrical experience into a communal meal. The work explores themes of exile, identity, and hospitality, arguing that identity is not a choice between two worlds but an assemblage of influences. Photos by C. Raynaud De Lage.
Key facts
- Jaha Koo is a South Korean author, director, composer, and performer.
- The performance 'Haribo Kimchi' is staged at the Festival d'Avignon 2026.
- It runs from July 11 to 15, 2026, at 18:00 at the Gymnase du Lycée Mistral.
- The set is designed as a pojangmacha, a Korean street food tent.
- Two audience members are invited to sit at the table with Koo during the show.
- The title combines Haribo (European candy) and kimchi (Korean fermented cabbage).
- Koo uses a singing snail and a robotic eel as props.
- After the show, Koo serves cold soup and a pancake to the audience.
- The performance explores themes of exile, roots, and identity.
- Photos of the performance are by C. Raynaud De Lage.
Entities
Artists
- Jaha Koo
Institutions
- Festival d'Avignon
- Gymnase du Lycée Mistral
- Haribo
- Inferno Magazine
Locations
- Avignon
- France
- Korea
- Europe
- Paris
- South Korea