Haribo Kimchi: A Multisensory Journey into the Heart of Home
Food has long served as a powerful storyteller, capable of evoking cherished childhood memories, representing deep cultural roots, or introducing new experiences. In Haribo Kimchi, a startling and innovative work presented at the Perth Festival, food transcends mere sustenance to become a profound metaphor for the taste of home. This multimedia theatre piece delves into themes of immigration, displacement, and the enduring quest for belonging, all while weaving in elements of Korean culture and unexpected whimsy.
A Simple Stage with Complex Narratives
The set is deceptively minimal: a humble food cart flanked by two banks of screens that project vivid images of various locales. The journey begins on the bustling streets of Seoul, with a soundtrack of distant traffic rumbles immersing the audience in the ambiance of a street-side stall. Here, Korean comfort foods like kimchi pancakes, seaweed soup, Soju, and beer are evoked, inviting two lucky audience members to sit and dine as chef and narrator Jaha Koo unfolds his tale.
Koo starts with his childhood in a small village near Seoul, where he watched his grandmother meticulously prepare kimchi. This village, however, was eventually destroyed, replaced by modern apartment buildings that smothered the earth where his grandmother's kimchi pots were once buried. This loss sets the stage for a deeper exploration of how modernity can erase cultural touchstones.
The Journey of Kimchi and Identity
As an adult, Koo leaves South Korea for Berlin, carrying 10 kilograms of kimchi lovingly made by his grandmother—a tangible reminder of home. But the journey raises poignant questions: Can the kimchi survive the trip? And can Koo navigate his new life in Europe while holding onto his sense of home, along with all that cabbage in his baggage? This central story, while simple on the surface, probes deeper issues of displacement and the struggle to maintain cultural identity in foreign lands.
The work is told primarily in English and Korean, with subtitles ensuring accessibility. Despite the single set, deft use of screens transports viewers from South Korea to Germany and Belgium, and back again, all without ever leaving the food cart. This technical ingenuity enhances the narrative's themes of travel and rootlessness.
Unexpected Elements and Profound Reflections
Haribo Kimchi is gloriously weird, adding layers of surprise and humor to its thought-provoking core. At one point, a snail named Gona narrates a history of kimchi dating back to the Middle Ages, all set to a thumping electro beat. This quirky interlude underscores the work's innovative approach to storytelling.
Koo's gentle narration captures a growing sense of alienation from home after years abroad. Ultimately, the piece reflects—via a surprising metaphor involving eel—that no matter which path one takes, there will always be a yearning for one's roots. This message resonates deeply in an era of global mobility and cultural exchange.
A Must-See Theatrical Experience
Surprising, funny, and deeply thought-provoking, Haribo Kimchi boasts a great soundtrack and delivers the unexpected. Audiences can expect to walk out with a hankering for Soju and beer, but more importantly, with a renewed appreciation for the complexities of home and heritage. Rated 4 stars, this work is a standout at the Perth Festival, running at The State Theatre of WA, Studio Underground, from February 18 to 22.
