Exceptional Korean-born musicians Lisa Ullén (based in Sweden) and Okkyung Lee are both currently on an extended stay in Berlin, with Lee as a resident at the DAAD Berliner Künstlerprogramm. At exploratorium berlin, they continue their collaboration, which began more than a decade ago. Together, Lisa Ullén and Okkyung Lee form a dynamic duo, blending their rich backgrounds in improvisation and contemporary composition to create performances that are both innovative and captivating.
Lisa Ullén is a distinguished pianist and composer, renowned for her contributions to experimental jazz and contemporary improvisation. Born in Seoul and raised in northern Sweden, she pursued classical piano studies at the Royal Musical Academy in Stockholm in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Since the late 1990s, Ullén has dedicated herself to improvised music, spanning free jazz, avant-garde, contemporary classical, and experimental genres. Her extensive discography includes over 30 albums, with notable works such as the triple album Piano Works (2018). Ullén’s collaborations extend across a wide range of Swedish artists and dancers, and she has composed scores for various dramatic productions. In 2018, she was honored with the Jazz Composer of the Year award by Swedish Radio.
Okkyung Lee, born in Daejeon, is a versatile cellist, composer, and improviser who seamlessly navigates diverse artistic disciplines. She began her musical journey at the age of six, mastering the classical cello repertoire. Lee holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Writing and Production and Film Scoring from Berklee College of Music, as well as a master’s degree in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music. After moving to New York in 2000, she has become a central figure in the experimental music scene, collaborating with a broad spectrum of artists – essentially a Who’s Who of avant-garde and free improvisation. In recognition of her artistic achievements, Lee was awarded the Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grant in 2010 and the Doris Duke Performing Artist Award in 2015.
Okkyung Lee is a 2025 fellow of the DAAD Artists-in-Berlin-Program.
19:00: soundwalk with Thomas Gerwin
