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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

'Water drop' painter Kim Tschang-yeul passes away at 91

Artist Kim Tschang-yeul in his studio during the 1990s / Courtesy of the artist and Gallery HyundaiBy Kwon Mee-yooKorean artist Kim Tschang-yeul, best known for his "water drop" paintings, passed away Tuesday at the age of 91.Kim was one of the most influential artists who shaped modern Korean art. His hyperrealistic portrayal of water drops embodies eastern and western values. "Painting water drops is to heal all memories, all anguishes, anxieties by water," the artist once said.Born in 1929 in Maengsan, South Pyongan Province, now North Korea, Kim moved to the South at the age of 16. He entered the Seoul National University Art School via a qualification exam in 1948, but could not continue his studies after he was ostracized for studying Lee Que-de, who defected to North Korea. The 1950 outbreak of the Korean War further interrupted his academic career. He spent a year-and-a-half on Jeju Island as member of the Police Force during the war, which later led him to donate works to the island and open the Kim Tschang-yeul Art Museum there in 2016. Kim began his artist career as part o

Jan 6, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Water drop' painter Kim Tschang-yeul passes away at 91
Arts & Theater

Producers plead for easing social distancing rules in theater

A touring production of the French musical “Notre-Dame de Paris” staged at Blue Square in Seoul closed early, Jan. 3, two weeks short of its original schedule, after the government extended its level 2.5 social distancing measures through Jan. 17. / Courtesy of Mast EntertainmentBy Kwon Mee-yooWith the government's extension of level 2.5 social distancing, Korea's theater industry is struggling to survive, and producers are speaking out in support of those who are losing their jobs. December into January is traditionally a peak season in the theater industry with many holidays, but the recent spike of COVID-19 infections here has shattered the dream for 2020. According to the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System (KOPIS), monthly sales in December 2020 were around 5 billion won ($4.6 million), less than 10 percent of the 56.8 billion won during the same period the year before. The number is close to the record low sales of April last year at 4.7 billion won when the threat level was increased and some shows took a hiatus because of the pandemic.Most of the b

Jan 5, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Producers plead for easing social distancing rules in theater
Arts & Theater

Othoniel's glass work reflects joy, sorrow of life

Installation view of Jean-Michel Othoniel's "New Works" at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of Kukje GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooFrench artist Jean-Michel Othoniel, who interprets delicate and subtle colors of glass into resplendent sculptures, is sharing what he's come up with during the COVID-19 lockdown with Korean audiences.At his solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery in Seoul, Othoniel unveils his latest glass brick works as well as his rose paintings and glass sculptures created in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the glass pyramid of the Louvre."I think the power of art is also to invite us to escape the reality," the artist said in a video message.Works from the Othoniel's latest glass brick series "Precious Stonewall" combining different colors are on display at the gallery's new space with corner windows facing the streets of Samcheong-dong and Gyeongbok Palace.Jean-Michel Othoniel / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery"It is very specific ― I started to draw eight months ago when we were all in our houses alone," Othoniel said, explaining how the new idea popped into his mind dur

Jan 4, 2021By Kwon Mee-yoo
Othoniel's glass work reflects joy, sorrow of life
Travel & Food

Traditional Korean alcohol in heart of Seoul

A new batch of makgeolli is wrung from a cloth sack into a vat at Together Brewing in Yeonhui-dong, Seoul, on Dec. 21. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulMint, star anise spice up makgeolliBy Kwon Mee-yooThere is a makgeolli brewery located in the quiet yet hip neighborhood of Yeonhui-dong, western Seoul, producing the traditional rice alcohol with unlikely flavors of plum blossom, mint and yuzu. Choi Woo-tack, founder and owner of Together Brewing, gave a hint that the next flavor of the newly established brewery would be star anise, or illicium verum.Makgeolli is the oldest alcoholic beverage in Korea, but Choi breathes new life into the milky grain-based beverage."Liquor largely depends on each customer's preferences. It is important to keep customers from losing interest. That's why craft beer breweries produce a diverse range of beer," Choi said during an interview with The Korea Times on Dec. 21. "That's why I'm creating six basic flavors of Together Brewing's first series ― Yeonhui."The naming, label and pricing are intuitive. The Yeonhui series reflects Choi's interpretatio

Dec 31, 2020By Kwon Mee-yoo
Traditional Korean alcohol in heart of Seoul
Trends

Year of Ox highlights longstanding bovine-human relations

"Painting of a Herdsman" from late Joseon era attributed to Noga / Courtesy of National Museum of KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe year 2021 is the Year of the Ox in the Chinese Zodiac. Creatures of the bovine subfamily were among the earliest animals raised as livestock, first domesticated over 10,000 years ago. Bovines and humans have been influencing each other throughout history, including when the first modern vaccine against contagious diseases was invented.The ox is the second animal in the Chinese Zodiac, and represents 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. in terms of time, and north-northeast on a compass. Though slow, the ox is known for doing its job, showcasing its earnest and prudent characteristics. Though commonly called the Year of the Ox in English, though the original Chinese term encompasses all varieties of cattle. Cow as one of the 12 guardians in Chinese Zodiac / Courtesy of National Folk Museum of KoreaChun Myung-sun, professor at Seoul National University's College of Veterinary Medicine, said cattle are one of the largest domesticated animals. The herbivore with four stomachs can eat up

Dec 31, 2020By Kwon Mee-yoo
Year of Ox highlights longstanding bovine-human relations
Arts & Theater

Grad student's traditional flower painting calendar becomes hit

"Aechun's Garden" calendar designed by Kim Min-ji / Courtesy of Cultural Foundation of National Museum of Korea By Kwon Mee-yooWith 2021 just around the corner, a variety of calendars for next year are on sale. One of the big hits is "Aechun's Garden," a wall calendar being sold at the National Museum Shop featuring flowers and plants from Joseon-era literati painter Shin Myeong-yeon (1809-86) whose artistic name was Aechun.Each page of the calendar features different flowers on a paper frame with the remaining part cut out. When layered, the flowers create the scenery of a lush garden and the shape of the garden changes monthly as pages are flipped. The unconventional use of traditional painting received a positive response on social media, resulting in huge sales of the calendar. The Cultural Foundation of National Museum of Korea which operates the museum shop said the first batch was sold out in about 90 minutes in mid-December and it has been restocked three ti

Dec 29, 2020By Kwon Mee-yoo
Grad student's traditional flower painting calendar becomes hit
Arts & Theater

Jenny Holzer rings alarm on political issues through art

An installation view of Jenny Holzer's solo exhibition “It's Crucial to Have an Active Fantasy Life," featuring her latest watercolor pieces, at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul. / Courtesy of Kukje GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooJenny Holzer, the American artist best-known for her text-based LED sign installations, brings a new range of work to her solo exhibition at Kukje Gallery in central Seoul ― watercolors. The exhibition is titled "It's Crucial to Have an Active Fantasy Life.""I believe it is crucial to have an active fantasy life, so it's important to have a title that you believe, that you think is true," the artist said in a video message. A total of 68 artworks are on view and have been created using various mediums ― watercolor, oil painting with metal leaf, marble and LED.Due to the worldwide pandemic, the artist could not come to Korea to install her art pieces at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), Seoul."I've been in isolation in a farmhouse ... We've had to move the studio and it has been very difficult, practically speaking, but the worst was watch

Dec 25, 2020By Kwon Mee-yoo
Jenny Holzer rings alarm on political issues through art
Arts & Theater

'Time in Space' explores change of lifestyle

Joseon-era painter Jeong Seon's "Album of Paintings of the Eight Views in Jangdong Sesimdae" and Kwon Dae-sup's 2019 work "Moon Jar" are displayed with Helena Tynell's delicate "Bubble Glass Pendant Lamp" (1960s) and Danish designer Poul Kjaerholm's "Daybed PK80" at "Time in Space: The Life Style" exhibition at PKM Gallery in central Seoul. / Courtesy of PKM Gallery By Kwon Mee-yooCOVID-19 has changed lifestyles fundamentally ― quarantine and contactless living have become the "new normal." Taking inspiration from the prolonged time people spend at home, PKM Gallery's new exhibition "Time in Space: The Life Style" explores the expanded function and meaning of residential space."The exhibit aims to provide insight into the time we spend at home. As we spend more time in our living space working, video conferencing and enjoying leisure time, we might be able to look back on our lives and create a vision for the future," said Park Kyung-mee, founder and president of PK

Dec 24, 2020By Kwon Mee-yoo
'Time in Space' explores change of lifestyle
Arts & Theater

President's son criticized for receiving artist relief funds

A visitor experiences Moon Joon-yong's media art on view at his solo exhibition at Keumsan Gallery in Seoul. News1Moon Jun-yong's AR exhibition causes controversy over COVID-19 relief fundBy Kwon Mee-yooMedia artist Moon Joon-yong, the son of President Moon Jae-in, has become embroiled in a controversy after receiving COVID-19 relief funding for artists, in preparation for his solo exhibition. The exhibit "Beyond Your Eyes, Somewhere In Between" is running from Dec. 13 through Wednesday at Keumsan Gallery in central Seoul. Moon presents five media pieces using augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies in his first exhibition in Korea in eight years. Moon majored in visual design at Konkuk University and graduated from Parsons School of Design and worked as a designer and media artist specializing in AR and VR. Keumsan Gallery said Moon is one of the leading artists using AR and VR in Korea and the exhibit showcases his experimental works using a variety of media technology. At first, Moon's exhibition caused a stir for opening amid the spike of COVID-19 cases. The

Dec 23, 2020By Kwon Mee-yoo
President's son criticized for receiving artist relief funds
Arts & Theater

Jonathan Roxmouth to unveil personal side at concert

Jonathan Roxmouth will hold his first concerts in Korea at the Lotte Concert Hall, Jan. 2 and 3. / Courtesy of Onyx Entertainment By Kwon Mee-yooJonathan Roxmouth, the South African musical actor who captivated Korean theatergoers with his breathtaking portrayal of the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera," returns to Seoul despite the pandemic to hold his first-ever solo concerts here. Roxmouth was announced to take on the role in October 2019 and toured three cities Busan, Seoul and Daegu, delivering the tale of the masked figure living under the Paris Opera House and the innocent young soprano, Christine, who captures his heart, from December 2019 through September 2020. While other productions of The Phantom around the world, including the Broadway production which holds the record for the longest-running show on Broadway, were shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea was the only place where the show still went on. Through the difficult times, Roxmouth pre

Dec 23, 2020By Kwon Mee-yoo
Jonathan Roxmouth to unveil personal side at concert
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