Lifestyle - The Korea Times

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Yuhki KuramotoBupyeong Arts CenterSep. 11Yuhki Kuramoto, famous Japanese New Age pianist, will hold a concert at Bupyeong Arts Center on Sept. 11. / Courtesy of the Bupyeong Arts CenterYuhki Kuramoto, a famous Japanese New Age pianist born in 1951, will perform a concert at Bupyeong Arts Center on Sep. 11. He released his first album “Lake Louise” in 1986 and it was a megahit. His music was introduced to the Korean public during the mid-1990s, and widely used in many forms of media, such as movies and advertisements. Over the past 10 years, his album has sold more than a million copies. Since his first concert in Korea at the Seoul Arts Center in 1999 sold out, he has been adored by Korean fans. This concert will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of his first album. Ticket prices range from 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (032) 500-2000 or visit www.bpart.kr. Kammer Symphonie BerlinSeoul Arts CenterSep. 16Kammer Symphonie Berlin will hold its first concert in Korea with violinist Emil Chudnovsky at the Seoul Arts Center on Sep. 16. F

Sep 10, 2015

Taiwan's Lin Hwai-min to present 'Rice'

A scene from Cloud Gate Dance Theatre’s “Rice” / Courtesy of Cloud Gate Dance TheatreBy Kwon Mee-yooTaiwanese choreographer Lin Hwai-min brought his troupe Cloud Gate Dance Theatre to present a monumental dance piece "Rice," the crop that defines life and culture across Asia and represents the theme of humanity and nature.Staged at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul on Friday and Saturday, "Rice" premiered in 2013 celebrating the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre's 40th anniversary and was staged in the United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore before heading to Korea.Rice is obviously the most important crop in Korea and many other Asian countries, including Lin's home Taiwan, and it inspired the 68-year-old choreographer to go back to his roots."I live in Taiwan," Lin said during a press conference at LG Arts Center, Wednesday. "People define my work as contemporary Asian dance. I am not a museum. I dance and choreograph what I feel now in Taiwan."Lin Hwai-min of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan explains his work “Rice” to Korean media during a press conf

Sep 9, 2015

Museum tells history of Sillim-dong

Seoul Museum of History is hosting an exhibition featuring the history of the gosiwon village of Sillim-dong from Sept. 11 through Nov. 8.Titled "Sillim-dong Youths, Toil today, Success Tomorrow," it outlines the history of the area in southern Seoul known for gosiwon, or accommodation facilities with small single-rooms, mainly occupied in the past by young tenants studying for state examinations.Up until the early 2000s, the area was packed with test takers from across the country, who came to live in rooms as small as 3.3 square meters to save on lodging costs.Sillim-dong was also subject to forced removal in the 1960s as Seoul underwent dramatic economic development. After the prestigious Seoul National University campus nested in the area in 1975, it became a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism as well as hope for success.The exhibition tells of the daily lives of test takers living in tiny rooms, residents who were forced out for redevelopment, students who fought for democracy, desperate job seekers and low-income workers.Hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays an

Sep 9, 2015By Kim Bo-eun

Take your first piece of art home

Kim Yul-hee, director of Affordable Art Fair SeoulCourtesy of Affordable Art FairBy Kwon Mee-yooEverybody has to start somewhere. Now is a good time to start gathering an art collection in Seoul because galleries are offering reasonably priced fine art for the duration of the first Affordable Art Fair (AAF) in Seoul.Held from this Friday until next Sunday at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in downtown Seoul, the AAF Seoul will feature some 2,000 artworks from over 80 galleries located in 14 countries. Prices will range from 500,000 won ($420) to 10 million won ($8,400). The AAF was founded by Will Ramsay and aims to make contemporary art more accessible.Kim Yul-hee, the fair director of AAF Seoul, shared tips for beginners on how to start an art collection."The Korean art market has been steady for a while, and is neither dull nor on the rise. There are many art fairs in Korea, but most of them are similar ― the same art galleries participate with similar sorts of artworks. The AAF is an addition to the market which needs a change," Kim said.The Ramsay Fairs researched the Korean

Sep 8, 2015By Kwon Mee-yoo

Other side to Empress Myeongseong

A scene from “The Last Empress”By Kwon Mee-yooEmpress Myeongseong (1851-1895) is one of the most intriguing figures in Korea's modern history. Also known as Queen Min in her time, she is the wife of King Gojong, the 26th king of Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) and the first emperor of the Korean Empire (1897-1910).Interestingly, two theatrical acts centering on the last queen of Joseon are staged simultaneously at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul ― "The Last Empress" at the Opera Theater and "Lost Face 1895" at the CJ Towol Theater, which share the same building. "The Last Empress" is truer to historical facts, while "Lost Face 1895" spices up the story with imagination.She was a woman of controversy in a chaotic age as Joseon faced foreign intrusion on its way to modernization during her reign. Empress Myeongseong was judged in many different ways historically. She was the woman who sent Joseon to its doom for personal greed and drew in the foreign influences of China, Japan and Russia, meddling with politics. At the same time, she was the queen who tried to defen

Sep 4, 2015

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 Club OctagonNonhyeon Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The venue offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. Near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847. Club VolumeItaewon Offering a venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station. Club Volume was listed by Time magazine among the "10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul." For more information, call 1544-2635. Once in a Blue MoonApgujeong Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best-known and well-established jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong intersection and Galleria department stores in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr. Club AnswerCheongdam Club Answer, c

Sep 3, 2015

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 Quatuor EbeneLG Arts CenterOct. 29 QuatuorEbène, a French string quartet founded in 1999, will hold a concert at the LG Arts Center on Oct. 29. The group, which is comprised of members and long-time friends Raphaël Merlin, Pierre Colombet, Gabriel Le Magadure, and Mathieu Herzog, is known chiefly for its musical versatility, performing a variety of genres equally deftly, such as classical and contemporary music and jazz. Indeed, some of QuatuorEbène’s most popular performances stem from crossover, such as their rendition of the music from the score of iconic film “Pulp Fiction” and arrangements of classic hits of The Beatles. Ticket prices range from 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com. Kenny GJangchung GymnasiumOct. 10American saxophonist Kenny Bruce Gorelick, professionally known as Kenny G, will hold a concert on Oct. 10 at the Jangchung Gymnasium. / Courtesy of Jags Entertainment CompanyAmerican saxophonist Kenny Bruce Gorelick, professionally known as Kenny G, will hold a conc

Sep 3, 2015

'Manhwa' museum sheds new light on history

A visitor looks at cartoonist Park Gun-woong’s works at the Korea Manhwa Museum in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo by Baek Byung-yeulBy Baek Byung-yeulWhen it comes to teaching history to young people, there is nothing better than using a rich variety of pictorial materials. In that sense, “manhwa” or comics are a great tool.Located in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, the Korea Manhwa Museum provides an opportunity to learn about modern Korean history through its special exhibition, featuring 16 manhwa works from 13 cartoonists and two animated feature directors.Titled “Echoes of Cartoons: War and Family,” the exhibition sheds light on historic moments from the past 70 years ranging from the 1950-1953 Korean War to a 2009 incident known as “The Yongsan Disaster,” which resulted in the deaths of six people in a fire during a raid to evict protesters from a building in Yongsan, Seoul, that was going to be torn down for redevelopment.The exhibition was a part of last month’s Bucheon International Comics Festival (BICOF)

Sep 2, 2015

Modern Korea seen through contemporary art

Joo Myung-duck’s "Document — Under the Youngdo Bridge in Busan" (1971)/ Courtesy of MMCA By Kwon Mee-yooKorea’s modern history cannot be defined with a single word, and the "Uproarious, Heated, Inundated" exhibit at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul (MMCA) attempts to represent the various sides of Korea's history.Subtitled "Commemorative Exhibition of the 70th Anniversary of Liberation: the Great Journey with the Citizens," the exhibit sheds light on Korea's contemporary history after the nation’s liberation from Japan in 1945 summarized in three words ― uproarious, heated and inundated ― covering the division of the Korean Peninsula, the Korean War (1950-53), industrialization, democratization and globalization.The exhibit features some 270 pieces from 110 artists, about three-fourth of which came from the museum's collection. The types of artwork vary from painting, sculpture and photography to calligraphy and installations.Choi Jeong-hwa’s "Flowers of Tomorrow" (2015) / Courtesy of MMCAThe space is designed by artis

Sep 2, 2015

DDP hosts Affordable Art Fair

Affordable Art Fair / Courtesy of Navi CommunicationThe Dongdaemun Design Plaza will host the "Affordable Art Fair 2015" from Sept. 11 through Sept. 13.The fair takes a casual and easy approach to modern art.With a docent, visitors will be able to tour galleries of 14 countries around the world, including one of Korea.Part of the fair's efforts to be family-friendly, it is also setting up a corner where children can participate in art programs, together with social enterprise Can Foundation.Art-lovers can purchase affordable pieces under 1 million won at the "art home" corner. In partnership with lifestyle magazine Maison, the corner offers around 50 pieces of art, along with tips on how to place them in homes.There will also be an art concert where various lectures including ones of modern art will be hosted.In addition, the fair will host a "young talent" program which supports emerging designers. The works of 12 designers that have been selected through a competition held in advance will be on display.Finally, there will also be an exhibition titled "Elephant Parade" which shows s

Aug 31, 2015By Kim Bo-eun

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

AROUND TOWN 1

Taiwan's Lin Hwai-min to present 'Rice'

Museum tells history of Sillim-dong

Take your first piece of art home

Other side to Empress Myeongseong

AROUND TOWN 2

AROUND TOWN 1

'Manhwa' museum sheds new light on history

Modern Korea seen through contemporary art

DDP hosts Affordable Art Fair

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