Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Gustav Klimt's artwork presented as media art

The “Klimt Inside” exhibition is held at the S-Factory in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. / Courtesy of Hash CompanyBy Yun Suh-youngFamous Viennese artist Gustav Klimt's works are being presented in modern media art in Seoul.The "Klimt Inside" exhibition at S-Factory in Seongsu-dong, eastern Seoul, takes a new approach to introducing Klimt's artwork, mixing it with electronic music and lighting.The exhibition is divided into six sections: End of Century, Ver Sacrum, Women, Stoclet Frieze, Later Colors and Kiss. Klimt is best known for his fantastical pieces painted in gold, which include "The Kiss" and the "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I."When entering the exhibition hall, the first exhibit that greets visitors is a black hall with lighting on the carpet showing the philosophers and artists who influenced Klimt in small picture frames moving in sync with the lighting.The next exhibition shows three paintings ― “Philosophy,” “Medicine” and “Jurisprudence” ― that Klimt was commissioned to create in 1894 to decorate the ceiling of the Grea

Dec 21, 2016

Gustav Klimt's artwork presented as media art

Chun's family rebuts prosecution's appraisal result

“Beautiful Woman” by the late artist Chun Kyung-ja /  Korea Times file photoArtist Chun Kyung-jaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe prosecution declared the late artist Chun Kyung-ja’s “Beautiful Woman” is genuine, but the largest forgery scandal in Korean art history is not likely to end soon as the family of the deceased strongly opposes the investigation result.The defense counsel for Chun's family released a statement rebutting the prosecution's claims.The counsel said the provenance of the painting says it was owned by Kim Jae-gyu, the head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) who assassinated President Park Chung-hee in 1979, but it does not prove "Beautiful Woman" is authentic.The attorney said Chun said she gave a painting to a KCIA executive, but it was smaller than "Beautiful Woman." "Many pieces in Kim Jae-gyu's antique and art collection turned out to be fake, so being owned by Kim is not evidence of a genuine painting," the counsel said in a statement.The painting in question was mounted by Dongsanbang, Chun's exclusive mounter, but the

Dec 20, 2016

Chun's family rebuts prosecution's appraisal result

Chun's artwork is genuine: prosecution

Chief prosecutor Bae Young-won, left, announces at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office in southern Seoul, Monday, that “Beautiful Woman” by the late artist Chun Kyung-ja is genuine after an investigation. YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yoo Chun Kyung-jaThe late artist Chun Kyung-ja’s “Beautiful Woman” was appraised as genuine by the prosecution Monday, putting an end to the largest forgery scandal in Korean art history since the painting surfaced in 1991.The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office announced the results of the investigation, concluding that the techniques correspond with Chun’s style based on scientific methods, expert’s discernment and provenance.Chun’s family, led by her second daughter Kim Jeong-hee, filed complaints against National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA) officials, including director Bartomeu Mari, in June, claiming the museum assessed the artwork as authentic despite the artist’s denial.The prosecution cleared five of them including director Mari of suspicion and c

Dec 19, 2016

Renoir's paintings celebrating beauty on display in Seoul

“Child with Toys – Gabrielle and the Artist’s Son, Jean” (1895-1896)By Kwon Mee-yooFrench Impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919) once said "Why shouldn't art be pretty? There are enough unpleasant things in the world." An exhibition in Seoul sheds light on the artist's devotion to female beauty."Renoir ― Images of Women" held at Seoul Metropolitan Museum of Art (SeMA) features some 47 of the French painter's works celebrating beauty and feminine sensuality with his soft palette. The exhibition also commemorates the 130th anniversary of diplomatic ties between France and Korea and the 70th anniversary of the Korean daily Kyunghyang Shinmun.Renoir is an Impressionist, but his indoor paintings and portraits are better known than his landscapes. The exhibit is divided into four sections ― "Children & Young Women," "Women in Family," "Women in All Aspects" and "Bathers and Nudes.""Young Girls by the Sea" (1894) represent how Renoir reflected his ideal in his paintings. "Some of the most famous Renoir paintings are those of two girls. He once

Dec 18, 2016

Renoir's paintings celebrating beauty on display in Seoul

'Improv is powerful tool for self-improvement'

Members of the Korea Improv Society perform on stage.By Kwon Mee-yooAlex Park of Korea Improv SocietyWhen asked what improvisational theater is, Alex Park and Hellena Jang of Korea Improv Society (KIS) just headed to the stage without hesitation."Give us a word, phrase or sentence and we will improvise. It could be your favorite movie quote or something you want for Christmas," Park said.With the word "hat," Jang and Park immediately transformed themselves into an old couple. Jang was sewing a hat, of which the couple bought when they first traveled together 50 years ago and they squabbled over the old hat, complete with a short flashback to their first encounter which also involved a hat."In Korea, it takes some time for audiences to come up with suggestions, whereas Westerners are more comfortable with giving out their ideas. It is not wrong because Koreans are trained to think and filter before making remarks in public. We want to open that up. Improv is fun and comedic, but we want to achieve more than that ― being more creative and communicating better with each other. Impr

Dec 16, 2016

'Improv is powerful tool for self-improvement'

Around Town 2

Traditional‘Fanta-Stick'Seoul Fanta-Stick TheaterThroughout 2016"Fanta-Stick" is performed daily at Seoul Fanta-Stick Theater on an open-ended run. The performance presents original representative Korean music, using traditional Korean instruments to create fusion gugak.Park Ji-hoon, Lee Seok-jae, Kwon Hyun-soo and Na Jung-suk play the main roles of Jangdan and Saemachi. The show also features Yang Ye-rim, Kim Jee, Kim Sae-jin, Yoon Sung-hwan, Kim Byung-soo and Shin Kwang-hee.Tickets are from 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit fanta-stick.co.kr or call (02) 3143-5959.‘YOULL'Jeongdong TheaterThrough Dec. 31"YOULL," a dance performance mixed with drama, will be staged at Jeongdong Theater until the end of 2016.The performance will bring a wide range of traditional modes of expression together, including Korean dance, theater, music and martial arts. By applying the heroic fantasy genre to this production, Jeongdong Theater hopes to broaden its popular appeal. Actors Jeon Jin-hong, Lee Hyuk, Park Ji-yeon and Cho Haneul will play the main roles.Tickets are from

Dec 15, 2016

Around Town 1

Classical Concerts‘Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra: Beethoven's Choral Symphony'Seoul Arts CenterDec. 28 to 29The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Beethoven's famous 9th Symphony, "Choral" on Dec. 28 and 29.Since 2008, the orchestra has performed the Choral Symphony at every year-end. Through this piece, the orchestra aims to send the audience messages of peace, harmony and love for all mankind. Globally renowned German conductor Christoph Eschenbach will lead the orchestra.Tickets cost 10,000 to 90,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call 1588-1210‘2016 SAC New Year's Eve Concert'Seoul Arts CenterDec. 31Welcoming the New Year, Seoul Arts Center holds its New Year's Eve Concert on Dec. 31.The Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, men's voice orchestra I Maestri, violinist Shin Ji-ah, and musical singer Jung Sun-ah will take part. The concert will be directed by Jang Yun-sung, one of Korea's representative conductors. Famous opera and musical numbers will be performed, as well as classical pieces by Piazzolla and Wieniawski. After the concert, there will be firew

Dec 15, 2016

Revamped 'Jekyll & Hyde' eyes world stage

Bradley Dean as Jekyll in the new production of musical “Jekyll and Hyde” / Courtesy of OD Musical CompanyBy Kwon Mee-yooDAEGU ― Korean's favorite musical “Jekyll &  Hyde” returns once again, studded with a Broadway cast this time.Currently on stage at the Keimyung Art Center in the southern city of Daegu, the new production is being well-received by Korean audiences.The musical, with music and lyrics by Frank Wildhorn and book by Leslie Bricusse, made its Broadway debut in 1997 and landed in Korea in 2004. Since then, the show has been staged over 1,000 times here, attracting over 1.1 million ticket sales, despite lukewarm reviews from Broadway.Set in 19th century London, the show revolves around Dr. Jekyll, who believes the good and evil in a person can be separated. In this production jointly produced by Korea's OD Musical Company and Work Light Productions of the U.S., Bradley Dean plays Jekyll and Hyde, Diana DeGarmo as Lucy Harris, a prostitute, and Lindsey Bliven as Emma Carew, Jekyll's fiancee.Dean effectively contrasts the gentle Jekyll

Dec 12, 2016

Revamped 'Jekyll & Hyde' eyes world stage

Actor's challenges continue on stage

Kang Pil-suk, left, in “Me, Natasha and a White Donkey” / Courtesy of Insight EntertainmentBy Kwon Mee-yoo Stage actor Kang Pil-suk, 38, had a busier-than-ever year in 2016. He greeted the New Year playing successful author Thomas Weaver in a two-hander "Story of My Life." His journey continued to play King Gaero in the musical "Arangga," based on the Korean folk tale of Arang and Domi's ardent love, and powerful entrepreneur Kang Man-shik in the stage version of "Save the Green Planet."In autumn, he worked on three musicals ― reformist activist Kim Ok-gyun in "Gone Tomorrow" set in the late Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), Janitor/Priest in Michael John Lachiusa's "See What I Wanna See" and poet Baek Seok in "Me, Natasha and a White Donkey." Kang closes the year playing the beloved Korean poet while reprising Thomas in "Story of My Life."Among these, "Arangga," "Save the Green Planet," "Gone Tomorrow" and "Me, Natasha and a White Donkey" were all premieres, which gave Kang plenty of experience in developing new characters."All actors prefer premieres, if possib

Dec 11, 2016

'Juliet is suicidal from the beginning'

Elijah Moshinsky, director of the opera “Romeo et Juliet” which will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center through Sunday   / Courtesy of Korea National OperaOpera 'Romeo et Juliette' director says 'truest love is like death'By Yun Suh-youngRenowned opera director Elijah Moshinsky said he was fascinated how Juliet of "Romeo and Juliet" resembled the characteristics of teenagers committing suicide in England at one time. "It's like a suicide pact. I don't know how it is in Korea, but there was a time in England when university students made pacts to commit suicide together and it fascinated me," said Moshinsky during an interview with The Korea Times after a rehearsal for the opera "Romeo et Juliette" Tuesday. The French opera version of the Shakespearean play is staged from Dec. 8 through 11 at the Seoul Arts Center. Its music is composed by Charles Gounod, who was heavily influenced by the 19th century German composer Richard Wagner."Juliet feels doomed from the beginning. She's always desperate and her emotions are always in conflict. She's a character with a lot

Dec 9, 2016

Arts & Theater