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Van Gogh revisited (20)

This is the 20th in a series on Vincent van Gogh’s works that are on display at the exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED.Vincent van Gogh painted on various materials during his stay in Paris from 1887 to 1888. He mostly used ready-made canvases and also often used ready-primed cardboard (a cheaper alternative to canvas). Sometimes, he cut the canvas to make better use of it. "Sunset in Montmartre" (1887) from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, is painted on a horizontally wide canvas, which is actually cut to a nonstandard size. The Dutch painter captured the sun setting in Paris. He painted the sky first, then the middle plane and finished the foreground to capture the scenery. The painting was wrongly reputed to be a moonlit scene, but experts say since there is no reflection of the moon on the ground and the sun is on the left side of the painting, it is more likely to be an evening glow.

Dec 12, 2012

Van Gogh revisited (19)

This is the 19th in a series on Vincent van Gogh’s works that are featured at the exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED."Ploughed Field," or "The Furrows," is one of the wheat field paintings Vincent van Gogh made while he was in Arles from 1888 to 1889. The painting, which came from the collection of the Van Gogh Museum, is estimated to be painted around September 1888.This artwork showcases Van Gogh's mastery in impasto technique, which refers to thick paint on canvas with visible strokes. Van Gogh mentioned about this painting in a letter to his brother Theo with a sketch; "A blue sky with white clouds. An immense expanse of ground of an ashy lilac, furrows, innumerable clods of earth, the horizon of blue hills and green bushes and small farmsteads with orange-colored roofs. This is another one that will take a long time to dry; pictures that are thickly painted must be treated like the stronger types of wine; one must let them mature."However, "ashy lilac" is not visible in the current painting, which su

Dec 11, 2012

'Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily' returns

Kim Sun-young, left, playing Aerang in the musical “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily,” holds hands with Patti Kim, the original Aerang in 1966. A revival of “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily,” the first Korean homegrown musical, will be staged at CJ Towol Theater of Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from Feb. 19.                                                                                          / Courtesy of CJ E&MKorea's first musical brought back to life with modern twistBy Kwon Mee-yooForty-seven years ago, a musical “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” raised its curtain at Seoul Citizen Center, now the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.The first Korean homegrown show opened on Oct. 26, 1966, starring pop diva Patti Kim as the leading lady Aerang. The show received rave reviews from the audience and even ticket touts

Dec 11, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Van Gogh revisited (18)

This is the 18th in a series of Vincent van Gogh’s works that is featured as part of the works on display at the exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED.Vincent van Gogh acquired diverse new skills by means of trial-and-error during his two-year stay in Paris. He then moved to Arles in southern France in early 1888 and “A Crab on its Back,” one of his paintings at that time, is a result of those two crucial years of study in Paris.The painting shows nothing is more beautiful than dynamic and rhythmically applied brushstrokes in his later oeuvre, which exerts a fascination of its own but at the same time represents a coarse field or cloud. “A Crab on its Back” is a work that is rather difficult to date precisely.

Dec 10, 2012

'Magnet' portrays loneliness of modern life

A scene from the play “Our Bad Magnet,” which is on stage at Art One Theater in Daehangno, central Seoul. The play revolves around four friends, from left, Paul, Gordon, Alan and Fraser.                   / Courtesy of Aga CompanBy Kwon Mee-yooDouglas Maxwell’s play “Our Bad Magnet,” is one of the hottest plays in Daehangno, Korea’s small theater cluster in central Seoul, this winter. Currently at Art One Theater it is attracting full houses most days.It revolves around four boys — Fraser, Paul, Alan and Gordon, more frequently called Giggles. They first met when they were 9 and form a rock band when they are 19. When they are 29, three of them gather for a reunion to tie up the details of what happened to Gordon 10 years earlier.The play portrays the boys as they grow up and the loneliness of modern people as they push each other away like magnets of the same polarity. The title of the piece comes from the story about Gordon.It premiered in Korea in 2005 and was staged three times between 200

Dec 7, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

'Magnet' portrays loneliness of modern life

Van Gogh revisited (17)

This is the 17th in a series ob Vincent van Gogh’s works that are on display at the exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED.Vincent van Gogh left Paris This is the 17th in a series ob Vincent van Gogh’s works that are on display at the exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED.and moved to Arles in southern France in early 1888 and "View of a Butcher's Shop," one of his earliest paintings in Arles, shows the progress he achieved during his two-year stay in Paris. Van Gogh painted a view from Hotel-Restaurant Carrel at 30 Rue Amedee-Pichot, then called Rue de la Cavalerie, where he rented a room when he arrived in Arles. The building on the opposite side is a butcher's shop as the lettering "Reboul (Cha) rcuterie" indicates. The artist produced harmonious combinations of colors in this painting, probably a result of his study of color and influence from other artists in Paris. Van Gogh created a luminous effect in "View of a Butcher's

Dec 6, 2012

Controversial Korean history museum to open late this month

Korea's long-awaited first national museum dedicated exclusively to the country's turbulent contemporary history will open its doors on Dec. 26 despite lingering debate over the ideological partiality of its exhibits, the government said Thursday.The 45 billion won ($41.3 million) National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is the culmination of a project begun four years ago by President Lee Myung-bak to turn the former culture ministry building in Seoul's central Gwanghwamun area into a history museum.The new museum covers the period from the year 1876, when the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) opened its doors to the outer world, to present day, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.Visitors can view about 1,500 items that can give a glimpse of Korea's history of development in the political, social, economic and cultural fields, the ministry said.There are six exhibition rooms, storage facilities, a seminar room, a lecture room, a cafe and a shop in the eight-story museum building constructed through the remodeling of the former ministry building.The museum has be

Dec 6, 2012

Clubs, Traditional, Art Exhibition, Kids, Sports games

Clubs The OctagonNonhyeon-dongNear the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong 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-dongOffering 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-dong 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 the Galleria department stores in the posh district of Apgujeong-dong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr. Club Ans

Dec 6, 2012

Classical Concerts, Big Tickets, Museum, Pop and Jazz, Plays and Musicals

Classical Concerts Glinka Boys ChoirSeoul Arts Center*Dec. 11The Boys Choir of the Glinka Choir College, one of the oldest musical institutions in Russia, will hold a concert in Seoul. The concert will feature Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” hymns from Christian liturgy, carols, and Russian folk songs. Tickets cost 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3463-2466 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Jo Su-miSejong Center for the Performing Arts*Dec. 30Soprano Jo Su-mi will hold a concert in  Seoul. With the Western Symphony Orchestra and Gwangmyeong City Choir, she will sing pieces from her albums, “Missing You,” “Ich Liebe Dich,” “Liberia,” and her latest album “La Luce.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 170,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr. Christmas Carol FestivalSejong Center for the Performing Arts*Dec. 10The Seoul Metropolitan Chorus (SMC) will hold a Christmas carol festival for its 130th regular concert. The SMC and Christmas Civic Choir, which is comprised of 1

Dec 6, 2012

Van Gogh revisited (16)

This is the 16th in a series on Vincent van Gogh’s works that are featured on display at the exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED.One of the most eye-catching works in this van Gogh exhibit is "Pere Tanguy" (1887) from the Rodin Museum in Paris because of its complementary use of colors and swift brushstrokes.This is one of three paintings by van Gogh using Julien Tanguy as the model; Tanguy was an art supplier and dealer who had a shop at 14 Rue Clauzel, Montmarte, Paris.Van Gogh tried to capture the dealer's kind nature by using bright colors that contrasted with the background. He set up a collection of Japanese prints, or ukiyoe, in the background as if Tanguy was a sage from the East.The brushstrokes are influenced by post-impressionism, but van Gogh adopted his own style, more refined from previous experiments.Van Gogh gave paintings to Tanguy as payment for paints, and this one was sold to sculptor Auguste Rodin by Tanguy's daughter and is now a part of the Rodin Museum's permanent collection.

Dec 5, 2012

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Van Gogh revisited (20)

Van Gogh revisited (19)

'Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily' returns

Van Gogh revisited (18)

'Magnet' portrays loneliness of modern life

Van Gogh revisited (17)

Controversial Korean history museum to open late this month

Clubs, Traditional, Art Exhibition, Kids, Sports games

Classical Concerts, Big Tickets, Museum, Pop and Jazz, Plays and Musicals

Van Gogh revisited (16)

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