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Kwon Mee-yoo

Korea Times Politics & City Reporter

Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.

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Arts & Theater

Busan Biennale 2020 goes to Chicago

A poster for "Busan Biennale: Words at an Exhibition The Chicago Chapter" / Courtesy of Busan Biennal By Kwon Mee-yooThe 2020 edition of Busan Biennale, which garnered positive reviews for interweaving visual art with literary elements, heads to Chicago for a year-long project with artists, musicians and writers.Organized by Danish artistic director Jacob Fabricius, the 10th edition of Busan Biennale was titled "Words at an Exhibition ― an exhibition in ten chapters and five poems." Fabricus invited 11 authors, 67 visual artists and 11 musicians from 34 countries to unravel the port city's charms in the context of metropolitanism.Busan Biennale partnered with the University of Chicago's Richard and Mary L. Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry and the Center for East Asian Studies Committee on Korean Studies to present "The Chicago Chapter" of the biennale.Fabricius and Chicago-based curator and art critic Stephanie Cristello, who served as curatorial adviser at the Busa

Feb 15, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Busan Biennale 2020 goes to Chicago
Arts & Theater

'Bernarda Alba' captures women's struggle for freedom

A scene from musical "Bernarda Alba" at Jeongdong Theater in central Seoul / Courtesy of Jeongdong TheaterBy Kwon Mee-yooThe musical "Bernarda Alba" is a rare phenomenon in Korean theater. The 10-woman show, which revolves around a domineering mother and her five daughters in an Andalusian household in Spain, is a hot ticket despite the pandemic.The Michael John LaChiusa musical is based on Spanish writer Federico Garcia Lorca's 1936 play "The House of Bernarda Alba." LaChiusa incorporated elements from indigenous Spanish folk songs and rhythm and percussion coming from hand-clapping and foot-stomping. Combined with flamenco-influenced choreography, the musical eloquently tells of the struggle between freedom and oppression within the house of Bernarda Alba and women's rights, which has advanced yet stays the same in some ways.The musical is set some 90 years ago in a faraway country, but the themes of violence and people resisting brutality are still relevant in modern-day Korea.The musical premiered in Korea back in 2018 at Wooran Foundation's Art Scape 2 and enjoyed a short but so

Feb 15, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Bernarda Alba' captures women's struggle for freedom
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Park Yoo-ah's adoptee portrait series resonates in consulate-turned-museum building

Park Yoo-ah's solo exhibition "Candid Essence: 51 Lives" is being held at the Nam-Seoul Museum of Art in southern Seoul / Courtesy of Seoul Museum of ArtBy Kwon Mee-yoo"73/74 SDN" (2020) in Park Yoo-ah's "Ubermensch" series / Courtesy of the artist and Seoul Museum of ArtNew York-based artist Park Yoo-ah presents her adoptee portrait series "Ubermensch," exploring identity and family issues, in her solo exhibition "Candid Essence: 51 Lives" at the Nam-Seoul Museum of Art.Nam-Seoul Museum of Art is located in the former Belgian Consulate building that was originally built in Hoehyeon-dong near Deoksu Palace back in 1905. After going through changes of ownership, the building was dismantled and relocated to its current location near Sadang Station on Seoul Metro Lines 2 and 4 in southern Seoul in 1983. "The history of this building resonates with Park's adoptee portrait project as both have the experience of being migrated by others," the exhibit's curator Kim Hye-jin said. The title Candid Essence comes from Cho Hae-jin's 2019 novel "Simple Truth," which revolves around Korean adoptee

Feb 12, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
[INTERVIEW] Park Yoo-ah's adoptee portrait series resonates in consulate-turned-museum building
Trends

Joseon era ancestral rites offerings were simpler than today's, research shows

An ancestral rites table at the home of the family of the first son of Joseon Era scholar Toegye Yi Hwang / Courtesy of Korean Studies InstituteBy Kwon Mee-yooThe charyesang (ancestral rites table) is an important part of Lunar New Year in Korea. One might immediately associate it with all sorts of delicacies laid out on the table, typically seen these days. However, research suggests that the food on the Joseon era charyesang was much simpler, yet with the same respect for ancestors.According to the “Jujagarye” (The Family Rituals of Zhu Xi), a manual of rituals in daily life, Seollal, or Lunar New Year, is a day for giving New Year's greetings to one's ancestors with light foods. Compiled by Chinese Neo-Confucian philosopher Zhu Xi, the Jujagarye formed the guidelines for rituals during the Joseon Kingdom from 1392 to 1910. "In the Jujagarye, you should serve a glass of liquor, a cup of tea and a dish of fruit, and you offer your ancestors a drink once, without reciting a ritual prayer, for the memorial service on Lunar New Year," Kim Mi-young, a researcher at the Korea

Feb 10, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Joseon era ancestral rites offerings were simpler than today's, research shows
  • PHOTOS On way to grandmother for Lunar New Year holiday
Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Dominique Hamilton carries on mother's legacy in 'Cats'

Dominique Hamilton, left, as Rumpleteazer in the 40th anniversary production of "Cats" in Korea / Courtesy of S&COBy Kwon Mee-yooActress Dominique Hamilton / Courtesy of Dominique HamiltonAndrew Lloyd Webber's joyous musical "Cats," revolving around a clan of cats and their annual celebration of the Jellicle Ball, commemorated its 40th anniversary last year with an international production in Korea.Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the show, opening last September at the Charlotte Theater, has been delivering Lloyd Webber's exuberant musical numbers as well as Gillian Lynne's energetic choreography portraying some 20 unique cat characters across the country from Seoul to Daegu and Busan. Among actors of this production, Dominique Hamilton, who plays the mischievous burglar cat Rumpleteazer, has a special connection to the show as her mother Laura Bishop performed the same role in the popular show's Australian premiere in 1985.Coming from a family of entertainers, Hamilton made her professional debut with Barbra Streisand at the age of 10. After graduating from Jason Coleman's Ministry

Feb 9, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
[INTERVIEW] Dominique Hamilton carries on mother's legacy in 'Cats'
Arts & Theater

'Pensive Bodhisattva' to represent National Museum of Korea

Two "Pensive Bodhisattva" statues, National Treasure no. 83, right, and National Treasure no. 78, are displayed together during a 2015 Buddhist sculpture exhibition at the National Museum of Korea. The museum will open a new permanent gallery to display the two major artifacts side by side in November. Courtesy of National Museum of Korea By Kwon Mee-yooThe two "Pensive Bodhisattva" statues from the Three Kingdoms era in the collection of the National Museum of Korea (NMK) will be displayed side by side at a new gallery space as the “face” of the museum from November. "People visit the Louvre to look at the Mona Lisa and I believe that people will come to the NMK to see the two Pensive Bodhisattva," Min Byoung-chan, director general of NMK, said during a press conference announcing the museum's annual plan, Wednesday. Min, an old hand at the museum, said the statues are currently located in the museum's Buddhist Sculpture Gallery on the third floor and are often mis

Feb 5, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Pensive Bodhisattva' to represent National Museum of Korea
Travel & Food

'Little Haenyeo' exhibition sheds light on female divers, artists and writers

Installation view of the haenyeo exhibition at Little Haenyeo on Jeju Island, featuring Kim Jae-yi's "Magazine" on the left / Courtesy of Little HaenyeoBy Kwon Mee-yooLittle Haenyeo, a guesthouse on Jeju Island, is holding an exhibition introducing art and literature inspired by the culture of haenyeo, female divers of the island who have been designated as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.Kim Jae-yi, who moved to Jeju in 2011, portrays young and confident haenyeo on her canvas, defying the typical notion of the divers as elderly. The illustrator-turned-artist also presented her haenyeo paintings at a solo exhibition in the U.S. in 2017, garnering positive reviews for being sensual and bold. Na Gang works with various mediums to portray the life of haenyeo and images of Jeju in her art. From her paintings of the sea to sculptural works using shells and the haenyeo's taewak buoy, Na captures the energy and spirituality of the island and the female divers who became its symbol.An installation at a haenyeo exhibition, featuring haenyeo-related books, at Little Haenyeo on Jeju Islan

Feb 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Little Haenyeo' exhibition sheds light on female divers, artists and writers
  • Russian author and illustrator imagines haenyeo as ballerina
  • Polish novel 'Koreanska Syrena' tells modern haenyeo fantasy story
Books

Polish novel 'Koreanska Syrena' tells modern haenyeo fantasy story

Oliwia In, author of Polish novel "Koreanska Syrena," or “Korean mermaid” in English, about "haenyeo," or female divers, of Jeju Island / Courtesy of Oliwia InBy Kwon Mee-yooOliwia In, a Polish citizen having lived in Korea for over 12 years, is about to publish her first book "Koreanska Syrena," or “Korean mermaid,” in English, in her home country.In, who studied art history and Korean studies in Warsaw, obtained a Korean government scholarship to come to Korea and major in fashion at Yonsei University.In fell in love with Korea's southern resort destination of Jeju Island and even got married there back in 2016. That's when she first saw haenyeo making a dive, which mesmerized her. "They dive without any breathing equipment and stay underwater for quite a long time. I immediately thought of mythical mermaids when I saw the haenyeo," In said. "They could wear diving gear, but instead they get closer to nature without artificial equipment. They seemed like mystic sea creatures to me."As a fashion major, In is also much interested in the unique fashion of haeny

Feb 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Polish novel 'Koreanska Syrena' tells modern haenyeo fantasy story
  • Russian author and illustrator imagines haenyeo as ballerina
  • 'Little Haenyeo' exhibition sheds light on female divers, artists and writers
Books

Russian author and illustrator imagines haenyeo as ballerina

Nika Tchaikovskaya's illustrations for "Haenyeorina," a book about the "haenyeo," or female divers, of Jeju Island / Courtesy of Nika TchaikovskayaBy Kwon Mee-yoo"Haenyeo," or female divers on Jeju Island, are symbols of strength and tenacity. They make a living by diving to depths of up to 10 meters without oxygen masks to harvest seafood such as abalone and sea urchins around the island.In 2016, haenyeo were recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, in recognition of their unique culture as well as their contribution to the advancement of the status of women in the community and promotion of environmental sustainability through their eco-friendly fishing methods.Many of them are in their 60s or even older, but spend up to seven hours a day in the water, holding their breath for one full minute during each dive. Nika Tchaikovskaya, a Russian author and illustrator living on the island, which is located off the southern coast of the Korean mainland, compared the nimble movements of haenyeo underwater to the graceful moves of ballet dancers. This comparison ins

Feb 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Russian author and illustrator imagines haenyeo as ballerina
  • Polish novel 'Koreanska Syrena' tells modern haenyeo fantasy story
  • 'Little Haenyeo' exhibition sheds light on female divers, artists and writers
Arts & Theater

Solbi's controversial cake artwork draws international attention, invited to Barcelona art fair

Kwon Ji-an's "Just a Cake" (2020) / Courtesy of M.A.P CrewBy Kwon Mee-yooSinger-turned-artist Kwon Ji-an, better known by her stage name Solbi, has been invited to the Barcelona International Art Fair later this year for a cake artwork that was accused of plagiarizing a Jeff Koons sculpture. The artist's agency, M.A.P Crew, announced that Kwon was invited to the Fira Internacional d'Art de Barcelona (FIABCN), slated for Dec. 3 and 4 in the Spanish city. FIABCN's founder and director Natal Vallve invited Kwon to the sixth edition of the international art fair, which will be held at the Maritime Museum of Barcelona, and will showcase an exciting selection of international emerging and established contemporary artists and galleries.Kwon took part in another international art event, La Nuit Blanche Paris, in 2019 and presented a performance painting to her song "Violet," combining contemporary art and K-pop.Vallve paid attention to Kwon's works afterwards and recommended the singer-turned-artist to the art fair's committee. Kwon was embroiled in a controversy at the end of last year, as

Feb 3, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Solbi's controversial cake artwork draws international attention, invited to Barcelona art fair
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