Lifestyle - The Korea Times

U Sun-ok pursues ultimate inaction

 U Sun-ok’s “Untitled” (1989/2016) / Courtesy of the artist and Kukje Gallery By Kwon Mee-yooCitizens of modern cities live fast-moving, busy lives, but they are often aimless at the same time. Artist U Sun-ok questions the dreary prospects of modern life, asking where it is that people are rushing to."In this era of excessive competition and desire, tired people dash at full speed, without knowing where they are heading to. I want to reflect on if we are living well," U said at a press conference earlier this month.The 58-year-old artist found the key to the answer in inaction."'Inaction' ironically means 'to achieve everything by doing nothing,' and to me is a practice of the way of existing and an ethical attitude in my hope of achieving ultimate value in harmony with nature," U stated in an artist's note.Placing work created in her 20s, 30s alongside recent ones altogether, U found "inaction" running through all of them. "Painting of Time" (1983/2016) represents the theme through accumulation of time."When I headed to Dusseldorf, Germany back in 1985,

May 22, 2016

Is assisted painting fraud?

Singer-and-painter Cho Young-namCho under criticism for concealing outsourcingBy Kwon Mee-yooPopular singer-and-painter Cho Young-nam’s belated admittance that he used an assistant for his paintings is stirring controversy as to whether this is customary or a fraud.Cho, known for his “hwatu” (traditional Korean card game) paintings, has been accused of hiring a ghost painter to create his works. His art works fetch high prices, more for the singer’s popularity than for their artistic quality.The controversy erupted after an artist, whose name is being withheld, claimed that he ghost painted Cho’s works for many years for 100,000 won per painting. Cho responded by saying he thinks out the ideas and his “assistant” then copies them into paintings, which he then puts the finishing touches to.In fact some contemporary artists use assistants and these anonymous helpers in the world of art have been a long-standing controversy.Back in the 1960s, pop artist Andy Warhol hired assistants to mass produce artworks through silk screens. Warhol nicknamed

May 19, 2016

Around Town 2

 ‘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 representative original Korean music, utilizing 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 cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit www.fanta-stick.co.kr or call (02) 3143-5959. ‘YOULL’Jeongdong TheaterUntil 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

May 19, 2016

Around Town 1

 ‘SAC 11am Concert’Seoul Arts Center*Through Dec. 8On every 2nd Thursdays of each month, an “11am Concert” will be staged at Seoul Arts Center./ Courtesy of Seoul Arts Center On every second Thursday of each month, an “11am Concert” will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center. Chong Park will host performances 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, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr. ‘Yang Sung-won’s Chamber Story’Sejong Center for the Performing ArtsJune 9-10Cellist Yang Sung-won will perform at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, June 9 and 10. / Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts On June 9 and 10, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will hold concerts that will allow people to experience chamber music. Sejong’s chamber music series featuring Yang Sung-won is

May 19, 2016

Platform-L Art Center vows to embrace artistic diversity

Platform-L Contemporary Art Center in Nonhyeon-dong, southern SeoulBy Kwon Mee-yooPlatform-L Contemporary Art Center, which opened in southern Seoul on May 12, aims to be an incubator for diverse art forms.The center is run by the Taejin Culture Foundation, founded by Taejin International which owns global fashion brand Louis Quatorze.Park Man-u, director of Platform-L who formerly led the Nam June Paik Art Center, said the Platform-L will focus on maintaining sustainability for young artists."There are many good creators in their 30s. However, public museums or art policies do not live up to their expectations. We will put more budgets into supporting young artists, designers and architects," Park said. "Platform-L's mother company is not just a manufacturing business. The creative energy coming from Platform-L could be turned into the mother company's brand Louis Quatorze."Park organized two exhibits for the opening of the space ― Bae Young-hwan's "Pagus Avium" and Chinese artist Yang Fudong's "The Colored Sky: New Women II." A scene from Yang Fudong’s video “

May 17, 2016

Platform-L Art Center vows to embrace artistic diversity

13-meter scroll reflects Buddha's mercy

“Gwaebul Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple”  / Courtesy of National Museum of KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooBuddha's Birthday falls on Saturday this year and the National Museum of Korea (NMK) exhibits a special Buddhist hanging scroll known for granting wishes to commemorate the 2560th birthday of Buddha.Titled "Buddhist Hanging Scroll at Bukjangsa Temple: The Buddha listens to prayers," the thematic exhibition is a part of the NMK's series shedding light on large Buddhist hanging paintings, known as Gwaebul.The centerpiece of this year's exhibit is the 13.3-meter-high painting from Bukjangsa Temple in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province. The painting, dating back to 1688, is one of the largest of its kind in Korea and the largest painting to be displayed at the museum.The hanging painting was created with donations and support from Buddhist believers in the late 17th century and depicts Shakyamuni Buddha preaching on Yeongchwisan Mountain.In the painting, Buddha is in a standing position, unlike the more common seated image, the first example of such a pose in Korean

May 13, 2016

Around Town 2

  ‘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 representative original Korean music, utilizing traditional Korean instruments to create fusion gugak.Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit www.fanta-stick.co.kr or call (02) 3143-5959. ‘YOULL’Jeongdong TheaterUntil 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 cost 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-1500 or visit www.jeongdong.or.kr.  ‘Music Travel of the King Sejong’Sejong Center for t

May 12, 2016

Around Town 1

 ‘SAC 11am Concert’Seoul Arts Center*Through Dec. 8On every second Thursday of each month, an “11am Concert” will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center. Chong Park will host performances 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, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr. ‘Yang Sung-won’s Chamber Story’Sejong Center for the Performing ArtsJune 9-10 The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will hold “Yang Sung-won’s Chamber Story” concerts on June 9 and 10. / Courtesy Sejong Center for the Performing Art On June 9 and 10, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts will hold concerts that will allow people to experience chamber music. Sejong’s chamber music series featuring Yang Sung-won is offered six times with four themes on a yearly basis along with top artists from Korea and abroad, such as Trio Owon, Enrico Pac

May 12, 2016

Welcome to 'Xijing'

A scene from “Welcome to Xijing — Xijing Olympics” (2008), a project of the Xijing Men, which consists of Gim Hong-sok of Korea, Tsuyoshi Ozawa of Japan and Chen Shaoxiong of China / Courtesy of the artistsThree Asian artists construct fictitious western capitalBy Kwon Mee-yooKANAZAWA, Japan ― In Asia, there is Beijing, which means northern capital, Nanjing, southern capital, and Tokyo, eastern capital. Then where is the continent’s western capital? Three Asian artists from Korea, Japan and China built it at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan.Xijing Men is a collaborative project of three Asian artists ― Gim Hong-sok, also stylized as Gimhongsok, of Korea, Tsuyoshi Ozawa of Japan and Chen Shaoxiong of China.The project began in 2006, around the time when preparations for the 2008 Beijing Olympics were underway. The three artists contemplated the transformed status of Asia over the past decade and explored identity and the relationships between their respective home countries through the fictitious city-state Xijing.“We

May 8, 2016

Around Town 2

  ‘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 representative original Korean music, utilizing traditional Korean instruments to create fusion gugak.Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit www.fanta-stick.co.kr or call (02) 3143-5959. ‘YOULL’Jeongdong TheaterUntil 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 cost 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-1500 or visit www.jeongdong.or.kr.  ‘Music Travel of the King Sejong’ Sejong Center

May 5, 2016

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

U Sun-ok pursues ultimate inaction

Is assisted painting fraud?

Around Town 2

Around Town 1

Platform-L Art Center vows to embrace artistic diversity

13-meter scroll reflects Buddha's mercy

Around Town 2

Around Town 1

Welcome to 'Xijing'

Around Town 2

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