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'Bojagi' bridges Korea, Japan

A table wrapping cloth used in the 19th century on display at the Museum of Korean Embroidery in southern Seoulthrough Dec. 31./ Courtesy of Museum of Korean EmbroideryBy Chung Ah-youngClose in geography but distant in sentiment because of history is the usual summary of Korea and Japan. But the two neighbors undeniably share cultural traits. The tradition of “bojagi,” or wrapping cloth, has existed in Korea, Japan and China throughout history. Now only Korea and Japan have maintained the tradition, mostly as gift covers on special occasions. Furoshiki, a Japanese wrapping cloth of the 19th century, has patterns of a pine tree, apricot flowers and bambooThe Museum of Korean Embroidery is currently holding an exhibition titled “AStory on 500 Years of Korean and Japanese Bojagi” to showcase the differences and similarities in style and usage.“It is the first of its kind to introduce various Japanese wrapping cloths in Korea. It’s a rare opportunity to compare the bojagi cultures of the two nations,” museum curator Lee Hye-ky

Nov 27, 2012
'Bojagi' bridges Korea, Japan

Van Gogh revisited (10)

This is the tenth in a series on Vincent van Gogh’s works that are featured as part of the works on display at an exhibition titled “Van Gogh in Paris: a Dialogue with Modernism” at Seoul Arts Center. ― ED.Vincent van Gogh became acquainted with French painters Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Emile Bernard in the winters of 1886 and 1887. He followed their example by trying to find more modern solutions to his artistic problems. Van Gogh started painting with thin paint, but his art lost some of its roughness and temperament and gained light and also color after he started using stronger pigments.A typical example of his new style is the 1887 painting “Cafe Table with Absinthe,” done with oil on canvas, which is from the collection of the Gemeente Museum in The Hague, the Netherlands. Both the table in the foreground and the street in the background are in pale, watery colors, against which the front of the cafe and the window mullions stands out in the middle ground.

Nov 26, 2012
Van Gogh revisited (10)

Breathtaking Beethoven from Bavarian Radio Symphony

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) performs Beethoven’s Second and Third Symphonies at Seoul Arts Center last Tuesday. Principal oboist Ramon Ortega Quero, third from left, is among one of the top oboists of his generation, and recieved generous applause from the audience for his solos in the third and sixth symphony on Wednesday night.                                                                                                            / Courtesy of Vincero A complete recording of Beethoven’s nine symphonies by the Bavarian Radio Symphony under Mariss Jansons will be released this month in Japan.By Do Je-haeThe Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) concluded their first Korean tour Wednesday with Beethoven’s Seventh Symphon

Nov 26, 2012By Do Je-hae
Breathtaking Beethoven from Bavarian Radio Symphony

Oldenburg turns things upside down

“French Horns, Unwound and Entwined” (2005) by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen is on display at PKM Trinity Gallery in southern Seoul./ Courtesy of the Oldenburg van Bruggen Studio and Pace GalleryBy Kwon Mee-yooTwo French horns bent and intertwined together, a disintegrated collar and bowtie, and a Swiss army knife-shaped ship are part of the witty, surrealistic world of Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen now on show at PKM Trinity Gallery in southern Seoul.For those who are not familiar with their names they need only look at “Spring,” a conch-shaped red and blue sculpture located at the entrance of Cheonggye Stream. This was created by Swedish-born American sculptor Oldenburg, 83, and his now deceased wife and artistic partner Van Bruggen.They are well-known for making solid objects soft in their soft sculpture series and blowing up ordinary objects in large-scale public art pieces such as “Spoonbridge and Cherry,” “Saw, Sawing” and “Cupid’s Span.”The exhibitions at the PKM Trinity Gallery and the Ti

Nov 23, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo
Oldenburg turns things upside down

Van Gogh revisited (9)

This is the ninth 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 said running out of models meant that he hardly had an opportunity to paint portraits of other people. And his large number of self-portraits meant there is no cheaper model than one’s self. Van Gogh depicted himself in his self-portraits as neatly dressed.His 1886 painting “Self-Portrait with Pipe,” done with oil on canvas, from the Gemeente Museum collection, is one of them. It is an excellent demonstration that he had made many great strides in creating space and light around the head since he left Nuenen, the Netherlands.

Nov 22, 2012
Van Gogh revisited (9)

Clubs, Art Exhibitions, Traditional, Kids, Sports and Horseracing

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-dongOnce 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 AnswerCheongdam-dongClub An

Nov 22, 2012

Classical Concerts, Pop&Jazz, Big Tickets, Museums, Plays & Musicals, and Dance

Classical Concerts‘Guitar and Guitar’Youngsan Art HallNov. 24Guitarists Jang Dae-kun and Kim Se-hwang will perform with the Bacau Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Stanislav Ushev in Seoul. They will play Ronald Dyens’ “Tango en Skai,” Glinka’s “Ruslan and Ludmila Overture,” and “Winter” and “Summer” from Vivaldi’s violin concerto “The Four Seasons.” Tickets cost 44,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call (02)585-2934 or visit www.pro-art.co.kr.Pierre-Laurent AimardLG Arts Center*Nov. 25French Pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard will hold his first concert in Korea. He will perform Heinz Holliger’s “Elis” (three night pieces), Robert Schumann’s “Symphonic Etudes,” Claude Debussy’s “Preludes,” and Gyorgy Ligeti’s “Etudes.” Tickets cost 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com.Andrei Gavrilov & St. Petersburg State SymphonySejong Center for the Performing Arts*Nov. 27St. Petersbur

Nov 22, 2012

Van Gogh revisited (8)

This is the eight 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 first attempted self-portraits in the spring of 1886 while studying at Cormon’s studio but did not concentrate on them till the autumn of that year in Paris. When he started painting self-portraits there, he thought the results were promising. He produced a total of 27 self-portraits during his Paris period.In the self-portraits, Van Gogh put red hatchings and green dots in the background, which were his first experiments with the Pointillist technique. His 1887 painting “Self-Portrait with Glass,” done with oil on canvas, from the Gemeente Museum collection, is one of them.

Nov 21, 2012
Van Gogh revisited (8)

Exhibit traces Korean ethnic roots

“Yeolseongjosugyo,” an ancient book, which was produced for the descendants of Kim Yu-shin, a Silla general under the commission of the previous kings, is on display at the exhibition titled “My Name is Ploenchit and I am the Mother of Hyun-su.” The exhibition shows lives and cultures ofimmigrant women who married Korean men at the Jokbo (Genealogy) Museum in Daejeon through Feb. 28 next year.                                                               /Courtesy of National Folk Museum of KoreaBy Chung Ah-youngPloenchit Winthachai, 39, came to Korea nine years ago from Thailand after marrying a Korean man who worked as a travel agent in her country. She is mother of Park Hyun-su and Su-bin and is one of an increasing number of immigrant women who settled here far away from their homes.Many immigrant married women are facing discrimination and homesickness while adjusting to Korean socie

Nov 21, 2012
Exhibit traces Korean ethnic roots

Van Gogh revisited (7)

This is the seventh 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 wanted to continue painting figures after he left Cormon’s studio, but it was impossible to get all the models he needed. In a letter to his sister Willemien, he wrote he had not “had the opportunity to find models” and decided instead “to study the question of color.” He also said in a letter to Theo in August that he “painted almost nothing but flowers,” thanks to helpful acquaintances “who sent him deliveries … every week.”His 1886 painting “Vase with Carnations,” done with oil on canvas, from the Gemeente Museum collection, is one of them.

Nov 20, 2012
Van Gogh revisited (7)
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