Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Around Town 2

Clubs The Octagon Nonhyeon-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 No. 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847. Club Volume Itaewon Offering the finest venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong subway 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. Dojo Kyoungridan 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. Listen Samcheong-dong This cafe reinterprets

Oct 18, 2012

Around Town 1

Classical concert Mariss Jansons & Bavarian Radio Symphony Seoul Arts Center Nov. 20-21 One of the greatest maestros, Mariss Jansons and his radio symphony orchestra will perform their first concert in Korea. The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1949, and has been led by Mariss Jansons since 2003. The orchestra will play classics by Beethoven in two concerts. Tickets cost 70,000 to 350,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Yo-Yo Ma Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 13 Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma is a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. His Seoul recital will be accompanied by pianist Kathryn Stott. Tickets cost 50,000 to 180,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Lang Lang Piano Concert Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 28 Chinese pianist Lang Lang will perform with one of Korea’s best orchestras, the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets cost 90,000 to 160,000 won. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway

Oct 18, 2012

Beauty of Goryeo celadon revealed

By Kwon Mee-yoo From diversely shaped vases to an openwork incense burner supported by three little rabbits, the essence of Goryeo celadon or “cheongja” is on display at the National Museum of Korea (NMK). “The Best under Heaven, the Celadons of Korea” is the first exhibition dedicated to Goryeo celadon at the Nation Museum in some 20 years. “This exhibition is based on the progress of studies on celadon in recent months. It provides a comprehensive view on Goryeo celadon from its origin to techniques used to make it,” said Kang Kyeong-nam, curator of the NMK. >More than 350 celadon pieces are on exhibit, including 18 National Treasures as well as 11 treasures and two important cultural assets from Japan, to elucidate the three characteristics of Goryeo celadon — its jade-green color, “sanggam” inlay technique and hieroglyphic celadon. The exhibition begins with the origin of Goryeo celadon and explains how the luminous green color was developed by applying glaze. Pottery shards from kiln sites and those salvaged from sunken ships also gives a peek into the hist

Oct 17, 2012

Enter ‘Garden of Learning’ in Busan

By Cathy Rose Garcia BUSAN — The Busan Museum of Art (BMA) can be easy to miss, next to the enormous BEXCO, department stores and towering buildings. The facade, which has been covered in black fabric squares, may even make one wonder if the museum is open. But yes, it is open and the building’s eye-catching transformation is part of the Busan Biennale. The biennale’s main exhibition “Garden of Learning” is at the BMA, while special exhibition “Outside of Garden” is found at different venues, namely Busanjin Station, Busan Cultural Center and Gwangalli Meworld. This year’s event feels much smaller, more contained, and with less buzz than previous years. Perhaps this is a good thing, since it focuses more on the quality of the art rather than the quantity. Still, there are 330 pieces by 106 artists in the biennale but around 200 are at the BMA. Artistic director and German curator Roger Buergel says the theme “Garden of Learning” started with his “relative ignorance.” “What do we wish to know about Korea and about the general audience’s many needs when i

Oct 15, 2012

around town 2

Clubs The Octagon Nonhyeon-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 No. 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847. Club Volume Itaewon Offering the finest venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong subway 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. Dojo Kyoungridan 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. Listen Samcheong-dong This cafe reint

Oct 11, 2012

around town 1

Classical concerts Rogers and Hammerstein Cinema Orchestra Series II Sejong Center Oct.12 “The Sound of Music,” “The King and I” and “Oklahoma!” are musicals featuring the work of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The world renowned stage music will be performed by Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by George Daugherty. Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3991-700 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr. Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica Seoul Arts Center* Oct. 16 Gidon Kremer, a Latvian violinist and conductor, will perform with Kremerata Baltica, a chamber orchestra he founded that consists of young musicians from Baltic countries. The orchestra won a Grammy Award in 2002 for its recording of Mozart. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line No. 3. For more informaion, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr/eng. Yo-Yo Ma Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 13 Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma is a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts and the U.S. President

Oct 11, 2012

Chaplin's daughter brings 'Murmures des Murs'

By Kwon Mee-yoo Victoria Thierree-Chaplin, the daughter of Charlie Chaplin, will direct “Murmures des Murs” at LG Arts Center next weekend. The piece is a unique combination of pantomime, dance, magic and circus acts. Thierree-Chaplin is the eighth daughter of the legendary comedian and appeared in her father’s movie “A Countess from Hong Kong” (1966) when young. But she was more interested in theater than movies and created contemporary circus performances after marrying French actor Jean-Baptiste Thierree. Aurelia Thierree, daughter of Thierree-Chaplin, created “Murmures des Murs” with her mother and also appears in the show. Thierree-Chaplin and her daughter first presented “Oratorio” together in 2003 and it received critical acclaim. The two presented their second joint work “Murmures des Murs” in 2011. The title can be translated as “Murmuring Walls” in English and as it indicates, the show is about walls. A wall appears on the empty stage and one story begins from there while another starts when another wall is seen. “Murmures des Murs” revolves around a beautif

Oct 9, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Autumn getaways at temples

By Do Je-hae Autumn is considered the best time to visit Buddhist temples in Korea, most of which are nestled in the mountains, providing a refreshing retreat for both body and soul. The Jogye Order, running many of Korea’s oldest and most prominent Buddhist temples, recently published a list of temples that run programs that combine meditation, exercise and rest for templestay visitors. One of the special features of the season’s templestay programs is the opportunity to enjoy the fall foliage while trekking in the nearby mountains and valleys. Templestay programs usually include monastic formal meals with healthy vegetarian dishes, tea ceremonies, morning and evening chanting and “Seon” or Zen meditation. The communal Buddhist meal, or “balwoo gongyang,” is a unique ritual eating that requires eating in absolute silence without wasting a single grain of rice. This year, the Joyge Order is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the introduction of the templestay program ahead of the 2002 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan. Here are some suggested destinations

Oct 9, 2012By Do Je-hae

Czech museum director seeks cultural exchange

National Gallery in Prague aims to be window of European art By Kwon Mee-yoo Vladimir Rosel, general director of the National Gallery in Prague, visited to attend a symposium hosted by Korea’s National Museum of Contemporary Art (NMOCA) and discuss cultural exchanges with the local art scene last month. Rosel was inaugurated as general director in June 2011. He has an extraordinary career having worked as an investment banker based in London with Bankers Trust, Fieldstone Private Capital Group and Babcock & Brown. He was then appointed as a fine arts lecturer for the National Gallery in the 1980s and maintained contact with the gallery as an active member of the Society of Friends of the National Gallery in Prague. The National Gallery in Prague is the largest art museum in the Czech Republic with a collection of more than 400,000 pieces, attracting about 500,000 visitors a year. The director post was previously held by art historians and critics and Rosel brought a wind of change to the museum despite the objections he faced. “The public was requesting change in h

Oct 8, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

‘Remember Me’ links memory to present

By Joon Soh Art exhibition “Remember Me” is at the Hyundai Gallery featuring six artists, showcasing a range of media and artistic styles. It will run until Oct. 14 at Hyundai’s four exhibit spaces in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. The theme revolves around how memories relate to present realities, according to the exhibition’s pamphlet. However, most of the works tackle the idea broadly and indirectly, which allows visitors to take each artist on their own merit. Visitors will see works by artists from China, Korea, Italy and Denmark. There is no uniform allocation of space. Danish artist Simon Dybbroe Moller has three floors within the main gallery and does not disappoint. Moller offers three installations that come off as stylish, curious and clever. On the first floor, an overturned beer vending machine is enigmatically tied to a life-sized ceramic horse. The sound-video installation on the second floor features an argument between a loudspeaker and a young woman. The beer theme returns on the third floor, where a series of colorfully kitschy photographs of the a

Oct 7, 2012

Arts & Theater