Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Exhibition shows shamanism of Jeju, Himalayas

The late Korean shaman Lee Jung-chun (1937-2011) designated as Jeju Intangible Cultural Property No. 13, is featured in an exhibition at the Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum that runs through Dec. 23./ Courtesy of National Folk Museum of KoreaLegendary pianist to make Korean debutBy Chung Ah-young The National Folk Museum of Korea and the Jeju Folklore and Natural History Museum are holding a joint exhibition to feature shamanism of Jeju Island and the Himalayas.It focuses on the lives of the islanders and those in the Himalayas and their dependence on shamanism. It is displaying 225 items related to shamanism from the two areas. Video clips of folk rituals conducted by the late shaman Lee Jung-chun (1937-2011) designated as Jeju Intangible Cultural Property No. 13 and Himalayan shaman Brikha Bahadur Rai, along with their tools such as drums and bells are on show. After becoming a shaman, following his family’s tradition, Lee was recognized as a master shaman excelling in almost all kinds of rituals conducted all around the island. The Himalayan sham

Nov 11, 2012

Exhibition shows shamanism of Jeju, Himalayas

Korean 'Les Miserables' brings timeless tale

Enjolras (Kim Woo-hyung), center, and the ensemble of the firstr Korean production of “Les Miserables” sing “One Day More.” The musical runs through Nov. 25 at Poeun Art Hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province and will travel to Keimyung Art Center in Daegu, Sohyang Art Center in Busan and Blue Square in Seoul.  / Courtesy of Les Miserables KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe curtain went up on the first all Korean production of “Les Miserables” on Nov. 3 at Poeun Art Hall in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, some 27 years after the English production opened at London’s Barbican Centre in 1985.Based on French author Victor Hugo’s eponymous novel, the entirety of “Les Miserables” is sung.The Korean lyrics tried to put as much meaning in the constrictive medium but they sometime failed to convey the delicacy of the rhymes or maintain coherency with the music as with the original lyrics.The actors were generally good but did not surpass expectations. Instead of embodying their roles, they seemed rather consumed by the epic of the musical. Con

Nov 9, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korean 'Les Miserables' brings timeless tale

Around Town 2

ClubsThe 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 VolumeItaewonOffering 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. DojoKyoungridan-gilWork hard, play hard, sleep later! Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyoungridan neighborhood, Dojo is the latest edition to the clubbing nightlife in Seoul. Popular local DJs offer nonstop tunes for energetic dancing until dawn with weekday drink specials and enthusiastic crowds of longtime expats. For more information, call (02) 790-1334. W.E. ListenSamcheong-dongThis cafe reinterprets traditional Korean desserts

Nov 8, 2012

Around town 1

Classical ConcertsAndrei Gavrilov & St. Petersburg State SymphonySejong Center for the Performing Arts*Nov. 27St. Petersburg State Symphony and pianist Andrei Gavrilov will perform under the direction of Vladimir Lande in their Seoul concert. They will perform Glinka’s “Rouslan & Ludmilar Overture,” Tchaikovsky’s “Piano Concerto No. 1,” and “Symphony No.5.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 200,000 won. Yo-Yo Ma Seoul Arts Center*Nov. 13Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma will have a recital with pianist Kathryn Stott, with whom he has performed for the last 35 years. The program will cover a variety of pieces from Astor Piazzolla’s “Oblivion” to Brahms’s “Sonata No. 3.” Tickets cost from 50,000 to 180,000 won. Radu Lupu Piano RecitalSeoul Arts Center*Nov. 17Romanian piano virtuoso Radu Lupu is noted for his performances of works by great 19th century composers. Though he studied at the Moscow Conservatory and is influenced by the Russian school, he is also known for his excellent reinterpretation of Sch

Nov 8, 2012

Van Gogh exhibit opens today

Participants listen to an explanation about Vincent van Gogh's “Pere Tanguy” by Seo Soun-jou, commissioner of the "Van Gogh in Paris: A Dialogue with Modernism” exhibition at an opening reception at the Hangaram Design Museum of the Seoul Arts Center, Wednesday. From left in front row are Chang Jae-ku, chairman of the Hankook Ilbo; Ahn Cheol-soo, independent presidential candidate; Kang Chang-hee, National Assembly speaker; and Rep. Han Sun-kyo of the Saenuri Party who heads the Assembly Committee on Culture and Tourism. Hosted by the Hankook Ilbo, the exhibition displays 60 works of the painter featuring his Paris period from March 1886 to February 1888. / Korea Times photo by Choi Hung-sooBy Kwon Mee-yooSome 60 works from post-Impressionist Vincent van Gogh’s oeuvre, including nine acclaimed self-portraits, will be on exhibition at Hangaram Design Museum of Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. The exhibit runs through March 24, 2013.The gallery is rather dimly-lit to protect oil paintings. This exhibition provides a rare chance to appreciate the Dutch master

Nov 7, 2012

Choe U-ram's kinetic world comes alive

Choe U-ram stands next to “Pavilion,” a new piece of work on display at GalleryHyundai in Sagan-dong, central Seoul. / Courtesy of the artist and Gallery HyundaiBy Kwon Mee-yooChoe U-ram is a kinetic artist, who makes moving sculptures. He imbues life into his mechanical sculptures which breathe, wriggle and flap limbs. Eight of Choe’s works, including his latest, are on exhibit at Gallery Hyundai in Sagan-dong, central Seoul.Since the mechanical work is time-consuming, the 42-year-old artist produces only a few pieces a year and he is popular overseas. This is his first solo exhibition in Korea in a decade.A seal-like mechanical being breathes in and out at the basement of the gallery. Named “Custos Cavum,” meaning “Watchman Hollow” in Latin, this skeletal sculpture is inspired by seals in Antarctica. Choe christens his works in Latin as if they are scientific names.“Custos Cavum” (2011) are part of the artist’s solo exhibition going on at Gallery Hyundai through Nov. 30. / Courtesy of the artist and Gallery Hyund

Nov 6, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Moon, Jeon win 2012 Korea Artist Prize

Artist duo Jeon Joon-ho, left, and Moon Kyung-won are the winners of the 2012 Korea Artist Prize. / Courtesy of NMOCABy Kwon Mee-yooArtist duo Moon Kyung-won and Jeon Joon-ho won the 2012 Korea Artist Prize, Monday.Hosted by the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea (NMOCA) and the SBS Foundation, the Korea Artist Prize aims to support Korean artists advancing overseas and the winners will have priority in the NMOCA’s overseas exhibitions.Moon and Jeon presented “Voice of Metanoia — Two Perspectives” at the 2012 Korea Artist Prize exhibition along with three other candidates, Gim Hong-sok, Yee Soo-kyung and Lim Min-ouk.The duo questions what art is and its role in society through installation and video works. Video piece “AVYAKTA” follows detective William Guest, who is sent from the future to investigate the role of art in society, while “Voice of Metanoia” reviews artistic discourses going on in the world by removing texts from posters from art biennales and triennials.Moon and Jeon also participated in this year’s dOC

Nov 5, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Wooden figurines reborn from scraps to artworks

Han Myung-chul, a wood sculptor, holds an exhibition titled “Ho Ho Ho Tigers” at Kokdu Museum in Daehangno, Seoul, through Dec. 30. / Courtesy of Kokdu Museum“A Smiling Tiger”By Chung Ah-youngTigers in traditional Korean folk tales are portrayed either as evil animals that threaten children or dim-witted creatures often fooled by people. For Han Myung-chul, a wood sculptor, tigers are adorable and humorous beings. He imbues humor and wit, instead of fear, into his wooden tigers which smile or have wings on their backs. “An Angel Candidate”Not only tigers but also various kinds of animals, children and angels are expressed in the artist’s imagination in the ongoing exhibition “Ho Ho Ho Tigers” at Kokdu Museum in Daehangno, Seoul.Featuring some 150 pieces of wooden figurines Han crafted over the past decade, the exhibition will run through Dec. 30. “I took a careful look at my precious ones again before showcasing them. They are what I have dreamt, watched and loved through my life. I found the materials on

Nov 5, 2012

Wooden figurines reborn from scraps to artworks

'Opening Night' blurs inter-genre borderline

“Opening Night” by Flemish director Ivo van Hove was staged at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul from Thursday to Sunday. / Courtesy of LG Arts CenterBy Kwon Mee-yooTheater and film were blended together by Flemish director Ivo van Hove in “Opening Night” at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul from Thursday to Sunday.Presented by Toneelgroep Amsterdam and NTGNT, the piece revolves around Myrtle, an actress going through a midlife crisis, convincingly portrayed by Elsie de Brauw, who performs the lead role in the play-within-a-play “The Second Woman.”The sensitive actress is worried that her image might stick as an old woman and becomes confused because the resemblance to her character Virginia is blurring the line between her real self and the role. Consumed by this internal chaos, she calls the director at 4 in the morning to confess her anxiety and confronts the playwright as she cannot understand her character.Then, Myrtle meets a girl named Nancy. Nancy asks for Myrtle’s autograph saying she is a big fan. However, the girl is killed

Nov 4, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

'Opening Night' blurs inter-genre borderline

around town 2

Clubs The OctagonNonhyeon-dong Near 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 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. DojoKyoungridan-gil Work hard, play hard, sleep later! Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyoungridan neighborhood, Dojo is the latest edition to the clubbing nightlife in Seoul. Popular local DJs offer nonstop tunes for energetic dancing until dawn with weekday drink specials and enthusiastic crowds of longtime expats. For more information, call (02) 790-1334. W.E. ListenSamcheong-dong This cafe reinterprets traditional Korean desserts. The me

Nov 1, 2012

Arts & Theater