Art, Indie Music Bloom at Sangsangmadang
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Fresh artwork and indie music are blooming this spring with the ``Seogyo Sixty 2010'' exhibition and ``Real Jukebox'' concerts at KT&G's Sangsangmadang in Hongdae, western Seoul.
Young artists are given the chance to show their works at the ``Seogyo Sixty 2010: The Imaginary Archive - The Gaze of 120,'' held at Gallery Sangsangmadang.
Sixty curators and art critics recommended 60 artists who they felt deserved the opportunity to be featured in this exhibition.
The exhibition, now on its third year, is meant to introduce newly emerging contemporary artists to the audience.
``The Imaginary Archive - The Gaze of 120' has brought 120 people's points of views and opinions into one place and we believe it will be an opportunity to see the talents of newly emerging artists and follow up on everyone's endeavors. In a time where globalization has been exerting a big influence on contemporary art, the opinions and views of art critics and curators are much needed and in such a sense this event aims to be a meaningful one,'' Kim Noam, Gallery Sangsangmadang exhibition director, said in the exhibition catalogue.
The title of the show ``The Imaginary Archive" was inspired by the book ``Le Musee imaginaire de la sculpture mondiale" (The Imaginary Museum of World Sculpture) by French author and former Minister of Cultural Affairs Andre-Georges Malraux.
``Malraux understood the museum as a mystical sacred site of boundless possibilities, unhindered by the limits of time and space, not as some sort of burial place for dead or defunct objects. This exhibition follows up on Malraux's thoughts and attempts to reflect upon Seogyo Sixty as a creative `archive,''' Kim said.
The first part of the exhibition runs through April 20, while the second part runs from April 27 to May 25. Also being organized is a seminar on public art sponsor program and a series of workshops for trainee curators, critics and artists.
Meanwhile, ``Real Jukebox'' is a series of concerts by independent bands, which runs through April 30. Musicians and bands will be performing different genres from rock to hip-hop every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Sangsangmadang Live Hall.
The first ``Real Jukebox" started last year, with performances by indie acts for 34 straight days. ``It was a `real time' version of a jukebox. It became a big success since the show did not limit itself to one type of music genre but rather provided an opportunity to experience rock, jazz, classic, folk, and even Korean traditional music,'' organizers said.
From April 2 to 4, jazz performances will be held by Shin Jae-jin, Lee Young-hoon, Nabizam, Asra IG, M-Vurtain, Teuk Byul, Nabi, among others.
Korean traditional music will be in the spotlight April 9 to11, with Jang-gu Ensemble, Sonagi Project and Lee Jung-pyo.
Rock out from April 16 to 18 to music by such acts as Sultan of the Disco, Monni and Jun-Too-Hyung, Dal-Bit-Yo-Jung-Yuk-Jun and Manroo.
Hip-hop fans can enjoy indie acts from April 23 to 24, with a freestyle rap battle, as well as performances by Uni-Fi-GLV, B-Free, Double Deck, Jungigo, Nuk-Up-Shan and Cloudancer.
Top indie bands Galaxy Express and Tobacco Juice will perform for indie label Ruby Salon's ``Must Turn the Volume Up'' party on April 25. The final night April 30 will celebrate the release of metal acts Zihard's third album.
Special awards will be given to musicians the audience voted as the best performers. Visit www.sangsangmadang.com.