Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Pride of Vietnam

This ancient drum on display at the National Museum of Korea (NMK) is an example of Vietnam’s outstanding bronze craftmanship./ Courtesy of National Museum of KoreaRare exhibition highlights Southeast Asian country’s bronze heritageBy Baek Byung-yeulThe National Museum of Korea (NMK) in Seoul has been at the forefront of introducing overseas relics that are unknown to Koreans.The museum’s latest exhibition, “Ancient Civilization in Vietnam, the Early Morning in Red River,” which sheds light on Vietnamese Bronze Age culture, is a product of a joint effort between the flagship museums of the two countries.“With the Vietnam National Museum of History for five years, from 2009 to 2013, the NMK has conducted an excavation project for pre-history relics of Vietnam,” said Lee Sang-mi, museum curator. “Exhibitions focusing on the Vietnamese Bronze Age period have been rare. The items demonstrate excellent bronze manufacturing technology in Southeast Asia 2,500 years ago.”The exhibition shows Vietnamese Bronze Age culture, also called &ldq

May 14, 2014

Exhibition to show returned treasures

Visitors to the National Palace Museum take a look at the 19th century Hwangjejibo (Seal of the Emperor) made by King Gojong, Monday. / YonhapBy Do Je-haeOne of the most visible outcomes for the Korean government of U.S. President Barack Obama's recent Korea trip was the return of ancient treasures previously removed from the country during the Korean War (1950-1953).The public will finally have a chance to have a look at them during a special exhibition at the The National Palace Museum in Seoul from May 18 to Aug. 8."These treasures unfortunately left the country years ago, but have now come back to us through Korea-U.S. cooperation," said Rha Sun-hwa, chief of the Cultural Heritage Administration, in a statement Monday. "The exhibition will hopefully give visitors a chance to rethink the value of our traditional assets."The exhibition includes three state seals used by monarchs of Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) on official documents, and six ceremonial ones used by members of the royal family. The item that holds the most academic and cultural significance is the Hwangjejibo (Seal of

May 13, 2014By Do Je-hae

Play revisits horrors of World War II

A scene from Polish director Jan Klata’s “A Piece on Mother and Fatherland” / Courtesy of LG Art Center LG Arts Center's 'Piece on Mother and Fatherland' on May 16-17 By Kwon Mee-yoo Polish director Jan Klata brings his play, “A Piece on Mother and the Fatherland,” to Korea for the first time for performances at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul May 16-17.The play, based on Polish writer Bozena Keff’s novel of the same name, is about how a mother-daughter relationship is affected by events that occurred during World War II.A Polish Jewish mother, who has survived the Holocaust, is still traumatized by the horrors of her experiences while her daughter, Usia, tries to overcome her mother’s suffering through art.The 42-year-old Klata offers a story about homeland and history, a mother and her daughter, and the tensions between individuals and society in this stunning production. The performance begins with women in black dresses and red heels singing. The interiors of the metal cabinets on stage are filled with flowers in

May 13, 2014

'US will continue returning looted Korean artifacts'

The U.S. government will continue efforts to return stolen artifacts from abroad although the process could be quite arduous, the chief of the Seoul regional office of the primary investigative arm for the U.S. customs authorities said."The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has a commitment between the United States of America and partnering countries like South Korea to combat the illegal trade in stolen art and antiquities," HSI Attache Seoul Cho Taekuk said in an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Friday. "We will continue to investigate and return these priceless treasures whenever possible."  The 42-year-old Korean-American took a decisive role in the U.S. government's recent repatriation of nine ancient Korean seals and other Korean treasures by discovering that they were stolen by American soldiers during the 1950-53 Korean War.In November, HSI agents seized the seals from the family of a deceased U.S. Marine lieutenant who served in the war. Among them is the Hwangjejibo (Seal of the Emperor) that King Gojong of the Joseo

May 12, 2014

'US will continue returning looted Korean artifacts'

Around Town 1

Classical Concerts Joy of StringsSeoul Arts Center*May 10 Joy of Strings, a Korean classical music ensemble led by art director and violinist Lee Sung-ju, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on May 10 with soprano Ahn Soo-kyung. Tickets cost 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3471-6686 or visit www.sac.or.kr Soliall Philharmonic OrchestraSeoul Arts Center*May 12 The Soliall Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul May 12. They will play Mendelssohn’s “The Fingal’s Cave Hebrides,” Bishop’s “Lo, Here the Gentle Lark” and Strauss II’s “Fruhlingsstimmen, Op. 410.” Tickets cost 20,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-0945 or visit www.sac.or.kr. ‘Green Concert’Seoul Arts CenterMay 17 The M4one Chamber Ensemble will perform at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul May 17. Tickets cost 20,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-3150 or www.sac.or.kr. ‘Trio Ludwig Concert’LG Arts

May 8, 2014

Around Town 2

Clubs The 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&nbs

May 8, 2014

Allure of dots

Yayoi Kusama, "With All My Love for the Tulips, I Pray Forever" / Courtesy of Seoul Arts CenterYayoi Kusama's exhibition held through June 15By Kwon Mee-yooColorful dots cover the entrance to Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul, for "A Dream I Dreamed," a retrospective of Yayoi Kusama. The 85-year-old artist is known for her trademark polka dots and the dotty decoration is a tribute to her.Kusama's "A Dream I Dreamed," is a traveling exhibition organized by Daegu Art Museum touring Daegu, Shanghai, Macau, Taipei and New Delhi through 2015. Seoul is the third destination of the Kusama retrospective featuring over 120 works including her paintings, sculptures, videos and installations.The Japanese artist suffered hallucinations and obsessive thoughts since childhood. Her hallucinations included endless polka dots on her body and Kusama sublimated her psychical disorder to the state of fine art. She still commutes to her studio from a psychiatric hospital, but such obsession could not stop her pursuing her world of artThree of her famous "Pumpkin" sculptures filled

May 6, 2014By Kwon Mee-yoo

Ageless charm of toys

Toy designer Lee “Coolrain” Chan-woo explains his works at the ongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Thursday. / Courtesy of Art Toy CultureBy Kwon Mee-yooToys are no longer simply for child’s play - many artists and designers are competing to make figurines, robots and other collectible items targeting passionate adults.Art Toy Culture 2014 (ATC 2014), the first designer toy fair in Korea opened at Dongdaemun Design Plaza Art Hall 1, Thursday. Organized by Space Croft, a subsidiary of Gana Art Center, the event featured the works of 80 artists from Korea and other countries."These are toys, but not for children. These are a platform for artists," Park Geun-hyeong of Space Croft said."There is Comic-Con in the United States and Wonder Festival in Japan, but ATC is the first of its kind in Korea. We want to introduce what an art toy is and expand the market through this first event.’’Korean toy designer Lee "Coolrain’’ Chan-woo presented a series of his figures from NBA players Derek Rose and Kobe Bryant to characters of mobile messenger Line

May 2, 2014

Post-Impressionism's enduring light

Henri Rousseau’s “The Snake Charmer,” above, and Claude Monet’s “The Woman with a Parasol” will be displayed at the National Museum of Korea (NMK) in Seoul through Aug. 31./ Courtesy of Musee d'Orsay and GNC MediaNational Museum exhibits works of Musee d’Orsay through August Guy Cogeval, the director of the Musee d’Orsay, speaks to reporters at the NMK in Seoul, Friday. / YonhapBy Baek Byung-yeulThe National Museum of Korea (NMK) on Friday began a four-month exhibition showcasing works by French Post-Impressionist artists including Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet, on loan from the famed Musee d’Orsay.“Beyond Impressionism: the Birth of Modern Art” features 175 works from the museum, well known for its collections depicting 19th-century Paris.Guy Cogeval, director of the museum, said it is the Musee d’Orsay’s largest overseas exhibition.“On behalf of the museum, I am honored to exhibit our prestigious works in Seoul,” Cogeval told reporters, Friday.“Currently, there are man

May 2, 2014

Around Town 1

Classical Concerts Ah Yeon-jungSeoul Arts Center*May 5Pianist Ah Yeon-jung will hold a piano recital at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul May 5. Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 581-5404 or visitwww.sac.or.kr. Lee Sang-haeSeoul Arts Center*May 6 Violist Lee Sang-hae will perform at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul May 6. Lee will perform Chopin’s “Etude No.7, Op.25,” Bach’s “Chromatic Fantasy” and Brahms’ “Hungarian Dance No.1.” Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-2512 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Fabio Biondi & Europa GalanteSeoul Arts Center*May 7 Italian violinist Fabio Biondi will perform with his own orchestra company Europa Galante at the Seoul Arts Center on May 7. They will perform Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons.” Tickets cost 40,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Kang Eun-jungSeoul Arts CenterMay 7 Flautist Kang Eun-jung will perform at the Seoul Arts Center in souther

May 1, 2014

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Pride of Vietnam

Exhibition to show returned treasures

Play revisits horrors of World War II

'US will continue returning looted Korean artifacts'

Around Town 1

Around Town 2

Allure of dots

Ageless charm of toys

Post-Impressionism's enduring light

Around Town 1

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