By Lee Hyo-won
Lang Lang recently made headlines when a video clip showed the Chinese piano prodigy working his “11 fingers” (as Barenboim put it) on an iPad piano game.
The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea took notice of the pianist’s popular appeal and appointed him Thursday in Seoul as the honorary ambassador for an Asian pop art exhibition, “Made in Popland.”
“Lang Lang is a powerful culture icon and we are very excited to have him represent this exhibition, which features artworks by Korean, Chinese and Japanese pop artists,” Ki Hei-kyung, who curated the event, said during a private ceremony with VIP guests.
“I’m very honored to be honorary ambassador for this great exhibition at this great museum,” said Lang, who came straight from the airport to accept the position, which is only one of his engagements during his recital tour here.
The 28-year-old arrived late due to a delayed flight from China, but fans waited patiently to meet the artist for a sneak preview of his concert Saturday at Seoul Arts Center.
He played snippets of Chopin’s Etude, Op. 25 and Prokofiev’s “Iberia,” showcasing his signature flair for drama and raw virtuosity.
Attendees, moreover, were able to converse with him during a brief Q&A session. “I never really play, the piano just plays by itself — I’m joking,” said the artist when a young girl learning the piano asked about his secret to playing so powerfully. “I think that it’s all about how you use your energy on the keyboard. You don’t really need push too hard; you just need to practice and learn to use different parts of your body,” said Lang who is known for his acrobatic movements.
He also said he travels with his mother, who helps him keep his “feet on the ground.”
“The important thing is to learn from the concerts and learn from other musicians, because music in the end is about communication, how to pass on traditions across generations. Without concerts, without first-class orchestras, I would have never achieved what I have achieved today. But obviously there (needs to be) a balance and not do too much, for me to improve myself,” he said, adding that he is taking summer and winter vacations.
In the meantime, however, he is busy with a packed schedule in Seoul. On Friday afternoon, he took part in a recording session for a cable music program hosted by hip hop artist Bobby Kim and new age pianist Yiruma on cable channel MBC Every1. His performance was open to the public, free of charge, at Konkuk University, southern Seoul. Episode 10 starring Lang will be broadcast at 10 p.m., Dec. 15 on MBC Every1. He is also slated to appear on local news and radio programs.
Meanwhile, he will give his much-anticipated recital at 8 p.m. Saturday at Seoul Arts Center. The program features tracks from his newly released album “Live in Vienna” (Sony Music), including the Chopin and Prokofiev pieces he showcased at the National Museum of Contemporary Art on Thursday, as well as Beethoven’s “Appassionata” sonata. Tickets for the event are sold out but call (02) 541-6239 to see if there are cancellations.
Following the performance, he will also record a promotional video for Playstation game, Gran Turismo 5. The soundtrack for the video game will be released on Dec. 14.
The pop art exhibition ``Made in Popland’’ continues through Feb. 20, 2011. It features some 150 works by 42 contemporary Korean, Chinese and Japanese, as well as British artists. The oldest works date back to the 1980s. The four-part exhibition includes paintings, sculptures and installation works as well as interactive video games and a time capsule. Admission is 5,000 won for adults. For more information, visit www.moca.go.kr.