Lifestyle - The Korea Times

WEEKENDER AROUND TOWN 2

Traditional ‘Sin-si’Sejong Center for Performing ArtsOct. 27 to 28“Sin-si, the Festival of the Sun” will be held at Sejong Grand Theater on Oct. 27 and 28. / Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts“Sin-si, the Festival of the Sun” will be held at Sejong Grand Theater for two days on Oct. 27 and 28.This performance is a ballet themed upon the mythology of Dangun, featuring exaggeratedly elaborate dance moves which are choreographed by Kook Su-ho, a renowned director of historical dances. “Sin-si” will focus on the story of Hwanwoong, the son of Heaven: as he descends to Earth, he embraces two warring tribes, the Woong tribe and the Ho tribe, and establishes a city of reconciliation and coexistence called Shinsi.Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 399-1766.  ‘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 represent

Oct 6, 2016

WEEKENDER AROUND TOWN 1

Classical Concerts‘SAC 11am Concert’Seoul Arts Center*Until Dec. 8On every second Thursday of each month, an 11am Concert is performed at Seoul Arts Center./ Courtesy of Seoul Arts CenterOn every second Thursday of each month, an “11am Concert” will be performed at Seoul Arts Center. Chong Park will host the shows with commentary, and coffee will be provided for free. With distinct soloists for each concert, the Korean Symphony Orchestra will perform at all of the concerts.Tickets cost 20,000 to 25,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300. ‘La Traviata’Sejong Center for Performing ArtsNov. 8 to 13 “La Traviata” directed by Henning Brockhaus and conducted by Sebastiano De Filippi will be performed at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Nov. 8 to 13.“La Traviata” is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave, and is known as one of opera’s greatest romances. The November performances will feature baritone Carlo Guelfi

Oct 6, 2016

Olafur Eliassion brings rainbow to art museum

An installation view of Olafur Eliassion’s “The Shape of Disappearing Time,” left, and “Your Unpredictable Path” at his solo exhibition “The parliament of possibilities” at Leeum / Courtesy of LeeumBy Kwon Mee-yooDanish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliassion brings nature to the art museum. Light, wind, water and stone all become art at his hand.His new solo exhibit "The Parliament of Possibilities" at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in central Seoul, features 22 major works from Eliasson's oeuvre, ranging from early works from the 1990s to new pieces created for this exhibit."Atmosphere outside has influenced mankind. It is not nature anymore. It is culture," Eliasson said. The artist's exploration and interpretation of how nature and human influence and be influenced by each other is unraveled through this exhibition.“Rainbow Assembly" basically consists of a water mist curtain and spotlights in a darkened room, but it magically creates rainbows in front of the viewer's eyes. The illusion constantly changes every moment.Eliasson said three el

Oct 5, 2016

Olafur Eliassion brings rainbow to art museum

Artist Jesse Chun explores poetics of transculturalism

Jesse Chun / Courtesy of Rehan MiskciKorean native brings visual rhetoric on meaning of homeBy Lee Hyo-wonNEW YORK ― In this age of hybrid identities and transcultural mobility, "where are you from?" is an increasingly tricky question to answer.One Korean-born, Hong Kong-raised artist with a Canadian residency who is mostly based in New York has to provide a slightly longer response to the seemingly simple query. In her latest solo show "On Paper," Jesse Chun explores such themes of displacement, transit and immigration -- and, in the larger scheme of things, the boundless human longing for home and a sense of belonging.The Korea Times revisited Chun five years after the now-32-year-old artist collaborated with the newspaper's 2011 "Portrait of an Artist" series sponsored by the Korea Press Foundation."On Paper" presents 37 conceptual pieces at Soho's Spencer Brownstone Gallery, through which she harnesses bureaucratic documents and symbols to poetic ends. Immigration papers become text-free grids that metaphorically map out new identities in “Blueprints,” while a pa

Oct 4, 2016

Artist Jesse Chun explores poetics of transculturalism

Ham Kyung-ah's restless pursuit of novelty

A view of the installation “Needling Whisper, Needle Country / SMS Series in Camouflage / Big Smile C01-01-01” at the Taipei Biennial 2016 in the Taipei Fine Arts Museum / Courtesy of Kukje GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooTAIPEI ― Artist Ham Kyung-ah's colorful image grabs the eyes of visitors to the 10th Taipei Biennial held at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taiwan. At first glance, they just look like bright-colored abstract patterns, but when examined closely, the canvas is jam-packed with woven stitches in various colors, constituting an elaborate embroidery design.Titled "Needling Whisper, Needle Country / SMS Series in Camouflage / Big Smile C01-01-01," these are part of Ham's famed embroidery series.But behind the flashy colors, abstract patterns and seemingly random texts, the embroidery pieces embody Ham's attempts to share artistic messages between the two Koreas. "What you see is the unseen," Ham said at an interview with The Korea Times.The "politically abstract" works ― defined by the artist ― includes North Korean hand embroidery, silk threads on cotton

Oct 2, 2016

Ham Kyung-ah's restless pursuit of novelty

Seoul invites visitors to enjoy Sunday's 'Eco Walking Tour'

The “2016 Discover Seoul (Eco Walking Tour)” invites foreigners to Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park in Hangang River Park on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. / Courtesy of korean.visitseoul.netBy Hong Dam-youngAutumn in Korea brings pleasant weather to enjoy the outdoors.If you are searching for a place to walk and enjoy the natural environment, Seoul’s “Eco Walking Tour” could be for you.The “2016 Discover Seoul (Eco Walking Tour)” invites foreigners to Yeouido Saetgang Ecological Park in Hangang River Park on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.Co-hosted by Seoul City and the Seoul Tourism Marketing Office, the festival welcomes participants to enjoy the natural environment of Saetgang Ecological Park. Starting from Hanwha 63 City building, participants will walk about five kilometers through the park to Seoul Marina Club and Yacht.The highlight of the event is the “Saetgang AR activity,” where participants “collect” animals and plants in the park with an augmented-reality smartphone app like “Pokemon Go”. A gia

Sep 30, 2016

Seoul invites visitors to enjoy Sunday's 'Eco Walking Tour'

Around Town 1

Classical Concerts ‘SAC 11am Concert’Seoul Arts Center*Until Dec. 8On every second Thursday of each month, an “11am Concert” will be performed at the Seoul Arts Center. Chong Park will host the shows with commentary, and coffee will be provided for free. With distinct soloists for each concert, the Korean Symphony Orchestra will perform at all of the concerts.Tickets cost 20,000 to 25,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300. ‘La Traviata’Sejong Center for Performing ArtsNov. 8-13“La Traviata” directed by Henning Brockhaus and conducted by Sebastiano De Filippi will be performed at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Nov. 8 to 13. / Courtesy of Sejong Center for Performing Art“La Traviata” directed by Henning Brockhaus and conducted by Sebastiano De Filippi will be performed at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Nov. 8 to 13.“La Traviata” is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave,

Sep 29, 2016

Around Town 2

Traditional  ‘Sin-si’Sejong Center for Performing ArtsOct. 27 to 28“Sin-si, the Festival of the Sun” will be held at the Sejong Grand Theater on Oct. 27 and 28./ Courtesy of Sejong Center for Performing Art“Sin-si, the Festival of the Sun” will be held at Sejong Grand Theater for two days on Oct. 27 and 28.This performance is a ballet themed upon the mythology of Dangun, featuring exaggeratedly elaborate dance moves which are choreographed by Kook Su-ho, a renowned director of historical dances. “Sin-si” will focus on the story of Hwanwoong, the son of Heaven: as he descends to Earth, he embraces two warring tribes, the Woong tribe and the Ho tribe, and establishes a city of reconciliation and coexistence called Shinsi.Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 399-1766. ‘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

Sep 29, 2016

Tale of Orpheus reinterpreted in changgeuk

 By Kwon Mee-yooThe Greek tale of Orpheus is well known in Korea. The talented musician descends to the underworld to bring his wife Eurydice, who encountered an unexpected death, back to this side. His music softens the heart of Hades, the god of the underworld, and Orpheus obtains permission to return with his beloved Eurydice. However, he breaks his promise with Hades and looks at his wife before reaching the world of the living and loses her again.The tragic love story inspired many artists, providing motifs for music, paintings, plays and films, including Claudio Monteverdi's opera "L'Orfeo," one of the earliest works in the form of operatic music.The National Changgeuk Company of Korea (NCCK) also drew inspiration from the tale of the lovers and interpreted the Greek legend in the form of "changgeuk," a Korean style of traditional musical theater.Staged at the grand Main Hall Hae of the National Theater of Korea on Mount Nam, the huge set symbolizing a traditional Korean kite is overwhelming.Director and playwright Lee So-young added depth to the tale of Orpheus and Eurydi

Sep 27, 2016

Tale of Orpheus reinterpreted in changgeuk

AROUND TOWN 2

[Traditional]‘Sin-si’Sejong Center for Performing ArtsOct. 27 to 28“Sin-si, the Festival of the Sun” will be held at Sejong Grand Theater for two days on Oct. 27 and 28.This performance is a ballet themed upon the mythology of Dangun, featuring exaggeratedly elaborate dance moves which are choreographed by Kook Su-ho, a renowned director of historical dances. “Sin-si” will focus on the story of Hwanwoong, the son of Heaven: as he descends to Earth, he embraces two warring tribes, the Woong tribe and the Ho tribe, and establishes a city of reconciliation and coexistence called Shinsi.Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 399-1766. ‘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 J

Sep 22, 2016

Arts & Theater