Around Town 2
Traditional
‘Saturday Performance of Korean Music & Dance’
National Gugak Center
Throughout 2017
Every Saturday, Korean music and dance performances will be presented at the National Gugak Center.
For over 30 years, the National Gugak Center has provided audiences with traditional music and dance performances every Saturday. This year, the center aims to present a more profound level of traditional Korean performing arts, through programs such as “Listening to Traditional Korean Music in Depth” and “Traditional Korean Singing and Dancing Performance for the Enthusiasts.” In addition, starting this year, the performances will be staged at the newly renovated Umyeondang Theater, which is designed to convey traditional sounds to audiences without using any speakers or microphones.
Tickets cost 10,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, visit gugak.go.kr or call (02) 580-3300.
Museums
‘Timeless Marvels, the Construction of Palaces in Joseon’
National Palace Museum of Korea
Until Feb. 19
A special exhibition on the construction and renovation efforts for the palaces in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) will be held at the National Palace Museum of Korea through Feb. 19.
Throughout the history of the kingdom, there were many construction and renovation projects for the country’s five palaces. This exhibition presents 180 pieces of records, artifacts, and models of the construction projects in the kingdom. It will include the Royal Protocol, plaques for the palace buildings, wallpaper from a palace hall, and construction tools. From this exhibition the viewers will be able to learn about the whole process of place construction from decision making and planning to the completion.
Admission is free. For more information, visit gogung.go.kr or call (02) 3701-7633.
‘The Great Graffiti’
Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum
Until Feb. 26
Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum is holding the exhibition “The Great Graffiti” through Feb. 26.
This exhibition presents the works of five globally renowned graffiti artists: Crash, JonOne, Nick Walker, Shepard Fairey and Zeus. It is the world’s first exhibition that features the works of all those artists in the same place. Through this exhibition, the Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum aims to introduce Korea to the international trend in art.
Admission costs 10,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300.
‘The Colors in Korean Life and Culture’
National Folk Museum of Korea
The National Folk Museum of Korea is running a special exhibition on the meanings and values associated with colors in Korean culture until Feb. 26.
This exhibition features traditional items and relics from the Joseon Kingdom that are closely related to traditional perceptions and symbolizations of color, as well as modern craftworks that reinterpret the meanings of colors in Korean culture. Around 350 pieces of relics, crafts and video materials will be presented in this exhibition, including a portrait of Heungseon Daewongun, traditional costumes, pottery, furniture and other everyday items.
Admission is free. For more information, visit nfm.go.kr or call (02) 3704-3114.
‘The Opening of Korea in 1876: From Continent to Ocean’
National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
Until March 26
The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History holds a special exhibition that presents the opening of Korea and the transformation it brought to Korean society.
1876 was the year Korea opened itself to international society for the first time and began to form international relations with Western countries. This brought rapid modernization and changes to Korean society. The exhibition features 300 artifacts from this period, including maps, documents of foreign relations, weapons, paintings and medical instruments.
Admission is free. For more information, visit much.go.kr or call (02) 3703-9200.
‘Egyptian Treasures from the Brooklyn Museum’
National Museum of Korea
Until Apr. 9
The National Museum of Korea will exhibit 229 Egyptian treasures from Brooklyn Museum, New York, until Apr. 9.
The exhibition consists of six sections: “Belief in the World After Death,” “Egyptian Mummy,” “Funerals of the Upper Class and Grave Goods,” “Funeral Costs,” “Animals in Ancient Egypt” and “Animal Mummy with the Spirits of Gods.” Each section will include valuable relics such as Egyptian mummies, statues, coffins and masks.
This exhibition will be an opportunity to learn about the ancient Egyptians’ religious beliefs and their attitude towards death.
Admission costs 13,000 won. For more information, visit museum.go.kr or call 1688-9891.
Art Exhibitions
‘Klimt Inside’
S-Factory
Until March 3
Life of Austrian artist Gustav Klimt and his artworks will be exhibited in the form of media art at S-Factory through March 3.
This exhibition reinterprets Klimt’s colorful and distinctive art full of golden glimmers with modern media technology. Visitors will also have an opportunity to take a look at his interior decoration work at the Stoclet Palace wearing virtual reality glasses.
Admission costs 12,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1522-1796.
‘Alphonse Mucha, The Pioneer of Modern Graphic Design’
Seoul Arts Center Hangaram Art Museum
Until March 5
Seoul Arts Center will run a special exhibition featuring the works of Alphonse Mucha from through March 5.
Alphonse Mucha is one of the most-renowned Czech artists, also known as the father of modern graphic design. As a graphic designer and leader of the Art Nouveau movement, he elevated commercial art to the level of fine art. In this exhibition, 230 pieces of Mucha’s art will be presented, including paintings, advertising posters, illustrations and interior decorations. Works of Korean and Japanese cartoonists inspired by Mucha will be presented in the exhibition as well.
Admission costs 15,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 6273-4242.
‘The Queen of Art Deco-Tamara De Lempicka’
Hangaram Art Museum
For the first time in Korea, the Hangaram Art Museum runs an exhibition on the works of Polish-Russian painter Tamara De Lempicka until March 5.
De Lempicka is known for her Art Deco-style paintings. She was born in Warsaw in 1898, spent most of her early days in St. Petersburg, and fled the Russian Revolution to Paris in 1917. In Paris she started her career as an artist and soon became a successful portrait painter, famous for her distinctive Art Deco manner. Her artwork inspired numerous Hollywood stars and fashion designers.
This exhibition consists of six sections, “Introductory Space,” “Beginning of Passion,” “Great Success,” “Frenzied Travel,” “Study of Still Life” and “Discovery,” and presents around 150 pieces of De Lempicka’s oil paintings, watercolor paintings, drawings, photos and videos. It will present De Lempicka’s life and passion, as well as the influence of the Art Deco movement on art and design of the early 20th century.
Admission costs 13,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 784-2117.
‘Look Smithsonian Photo Exhibition — Incredible or Fascinating’
Dongdaemun Design Plaza
Until March 15
For the first time in Korea, photographs from the Smithsonian Museum will be exhibited at Dongdaemun Design Plaza until March 15.
The world’s largest museum institution, the Smithsonian, holds the “Smithsonian Magazine’s Photo Contest” every year. This exhibition provides one place to appreciate the 140 winners of the competition. The exhibition aims to present meaningful moments in daily lives and evoke thoughtful insights.
Admission costs 12,000 won. For more information, visit ddp.or.kr or call (02) 332-8011.
‘Hundertwasser — The Green City’
Sejong Art Museum
Until March 12
An exhibition featuring works of Austrian painter and architect Hundertwasser will be held through March 12, at Sejong Art Museum.
Hudertwasser is one of Austria’s representative artists, who received a wide range of recognition for his colorful and bold paintings and environmentally friendly architecture. He devoted his life to environmental protection and world peace. This exhibition will present around 250 pieces of his art including oil paintings, tapestries and architectural sketches.
Admission costs 15,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 555-3945.
‘Le Corbusier Special Exhibition’
Seoul Arts Center Hangaram Design Museum
For the first time in Korea, works of the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier will be presented in Hangaram Design Museum of Seoul Arts center through March 26.
Le Corbusier is known as the pioneer of modern architecture. He founded the basic theories and principles of modern architecture and city planning, created apartment housing, and strongly influenced the form of housing in cities. 17 of his architecture projects are registered as UNESCO world heritage sites.
In this special exhibition, 500 pieces of his paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and videos will be presented. The visitors will also be able to take a look at one of his representative architectures, “The Chapelle of Notre-Dame-du Haut” through a virtual reality video.
Admission costs 15,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 532-4407
Kids
‘Swan Lake’
Woori Financial Art Hall
Until Feb. 12
A ballet performance for children, “Swan Lake” will be staged at Woori Financial Art Hall until Feb. 12.
“Swan Lake” is an adaptation of a representative classical ballet of the same name. In this performance, professional ballet dancers will wear animal costumes that attract children’s attention. The performance consists of music and choreography produced by some of Korea’s leading artists.
Tickets cost 33,000 to 55,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-3363.
Sports Games
KCC Korean Basketball League
Jan. 28
Seoul Samsung Thunders vs. Wonju Dongbu Promy
Jamsil Indoor Stadium
Seoul SK Knights vs. Goyang Orions
Jamsil Students’ Gymnasium
Anyang KGC vs. Incheon ET Land Elephants
Anyang Gymnasium
Jan. 29
Changwon LG Sakers vs. Jeonju KCC Egis
Changwon Indoor Gymnasium
Ulsan Mobis Phoebus vs. Busan KT Sonicboom
Ulsan Dongchun Gymnasium
Incheon ET Land Elephants vs. Seoul SK Knights
Incheon Samsan World Gymnasium
Horseracing
Let’s Run Park Seoul
Let’s Run Park Seoul holds races from 10:30 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. It is located by Seoul Racecourse Park Station, subway line 4, exit 3. For more information, call (02) 509-1114 or visit kra.co.kr.