Lifestyle - The Korea Times

‘Phantom of the Opera’ to return in December

By Kwon Mee-yoo Musical fans who have yet to see “The Phantom of the Opera,” one of the most popular musicals in Korea, will have a chance this winter as the Phantom will return to Seoul in December at Blue Square in Hannam-dong. In the Korean segment of the tour, Brad Little will play the role of the Phantom, the tragic, disfigured man living under the Opera Populaire. Little is a veteran Broadway actor who has performed in the Phantom over 2,200 times on Broadway, on a U.S. tour and in Asia. He is also popular in Korea for his previous performance as the Phantom, as well as for playing Jekyll in “Jekyll and Hyde” and Colonel Grayson in the Korean musical, “Tears of Heaven.” Little will again portray the brutal yet delicate sentiment of the musical genius. Claire Lyon from Australia will play Christine, the beautiful and talented soprano who is cherished by the Phantom. Lyon performed the role of Christine in the Australian production of the Phantom sequel “Love Never Dies.” She also appeared in various classical operas including “Aida,” “La Traviata” and “Madame Butte

Sep 23, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Kim weaves life through ‘Thread Routes’

By Kwon Mee-yoo Artist Kim Soo-ja creates a tapestry of her insights on life, nature and the universe through her new work “Thread Routes” at the “To Breathe” exhibition at Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul. Known for her works “A Needle Woman” and “Bottari” series, Kim has explored the universe and nature using a needle, blanket and bottari, or fabric to tie bundles in Korean, for some 30 years. An artist could find one’s theme of a lifetime in an unexpected way and Kim is a clear example. She was inspired by the movements of a needle and thread when she was sewing up a duvet with her mother in 1983. “There was an impact when the needle point touched the fabric and I saw the possibility of needlework from there,” she said. Moving often — at least twice a year — due to her soldier father throughout childhood also affected her creativity. Currently based in New York City, Paris and Seoul, the 55-year-old artist usually wears black and pulls her gray hair back into a tight ponytail, just as seen in the “A Needle Woman” video. Kim’s latest interest is thr

Sep 21, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Clubs

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 7. Call (02) 516-8847 for more information. 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 Kyounglidan Work hard, play hard, sleep later! Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyounglidan 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 r

Sep 20, 2012By Do Je-hae

Classical concerts

Classical Concerts ROTTINI Debut Concert: Hero of Voice Seoul Arts Center* Oct. 7 Four of Korea’s top opera singers, Park Ji-min, Joseph Lim, Lim Chang-ham and Aldo Heo, have come together in a group called Rottini. Rottini has successfully reached out to the international audience, and took first place at the New York Opera Competition. Tickets cost 40,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit 222.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. 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. Yiruma Concert: Stay in Memory Seongnam Arts Center Oct. 6 “River Flows in You”and “Kiss the Rain” are two of Yiruma’s most recognized pieces that gained international popularity. It has been 10 years since the release of Yiruma’s first album, and the concert is for to c

Sep 20, 2012By Do Je-hae

After 38 years, sculptor breaks out in fine arts

By Kwon Mee-yoo Yang Hong-sup, a sculptor for 38 years, is holding his first fine art solo exhibition, “Breaking the Mold” at KOSA Space in Gwanhun-dong, central Seoul. The 54-year-old is presenting some 15 metallic sculptures, in a move toward fine art. Yang made the objects in geometric forms and cast them in molds of harder metals such as stainless and carbon steel. Then the objects were put into a furnace at over 1,700 degrees Celsius, resulting in random shapes created by happy accidents. The sculptures are not in a fixed form but a result of unexpected shapes coming out of the mold. Such a process reflects Yang’s thoughts on art. “In a society, there are people with vested rights and their world. The artistic community is no exception. If you don’t have proper educational background, it is hard to hold an exhibition,” Yang said. He began sculpting in 1974, when he graduated middle school. He is one of the best casters in Korea and has made a replica of a golden incense burner from the Baekje Kingdom (18 B.C.- 668 A.D.) in 1995. He also sculpted a statue of Gen. Wal

Sep 17, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Nature meets pottery

By Do Je-hae GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province — The ultimate pottery creations of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) were “buncheong” ware, traditional works marked by decorative designs and elaborate carvings. Buncheong porcelain (14th-16th century) is characterized by uniquely bold designs deviated from the aesthetic traditions of celadon and white porcelain that originated from China. Its unconventional dynamic expressions and variety of abstract designs appeal to modern tastes. That’s why many of the nation’s first-generation potters like Hwang Chong-rae, 85, have specialized in the tradition for more than 50 years. She is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts in “gwiyal,” one of the six major decorative buncheong techniques in which the brush marks themselves are the decoration. Gwiyal translates to paint brush in English. In adding the gwiyal drawings as final touches to her Joseon-style porcelain, she mainly finds her inspiration in nature. “My brush marks mostly depict grass, the sea, ocean waves, the mountains, and other dynamic features of natur

Sep 16, 2012By Do Je-hae

Biennale finds art in digital media

By Joon Soh Eclectic is the key word to describe the 7th Seoul International Media Art Biennale. This year’s event, titled “Mediacity Seoul 2012,” is ambitious, taking place on all three floors of the Seoul Museum of Art as well as the DMC Gallery in downtown Seoul. A total of 49 artists and groups from 20 countries have contributed to a wide range of installations, videos and interactive media. What encompasses media art is defined quite broadly by the biennale’s organizers. Outside of classic visual art forms like painting and sculpture, pretty much anything goes. Most of the works utilize digital and computerized equipment to varying degrees of sophistication and success. Some are incredibly intricate, while others are simple mechanical components roughly melded to more organic ideas. With every passing biennale, however, the hyper-mediated society described by the participating artists seems to feel more familiar. The language of video art, for example, has become such an accepted part of our lives that it is hard to appreciate it as a separate aesthetic form.

Sep 14, 2012

Clubs

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 7. Call (02) 516-8847 for more information. 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 Kyounglidan Work hard, play hard, sleep later! Lying underground Noxa in the thriving Kyounglidan 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 re

Sep 13, 2012By Do Je-hae

Classical concerts

Classical Concerts ROTTINI Debut Concert: Hero of Voice Seoul Arts Center* Oct. 7 Four of Korea’s top opera singers, Park Ji-min, Joseph Lim, Lim Chang-ham and Aldo Heo, have come together in a group called Rottini. Rottini has successfully reached out to the international audience, and took first place at the New York Opera Competition. Tickets cost 40,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit 222.sac.or.kr/eng. 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 pieces. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. 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

Sep 13, 2012By Do Je-hae

Exhibition on Turkey held at Araart

Country bridging East and West brings artworks to Korea By Rachel Lee Turkey, the country juxtaposing the West and the East, brought a collection of its contemporary art to Korea. Titled “Encounters: Turkish Contemporary Art in Korea,” the works of both the up-and-coming and world-renowned artists in the Eurasian country are on display at Araart, a gallery located in Insa-dong, Seoul. Already underway, the exhibition will run through Sept. 26. The exhibition features a total of 98 works by 54 artists that include Aslimay Altay Goney, Bedri Bayka, Can Kurucu, Kemal Seyhan and Zekine Kundukan. The exhibition is organized by Contemporary Istanbul, an international contemporary art exposition sponsored by Akbank Private Banking and associate sponsor Zorlu Centre. “I chose the theme ‘Encounter,’ because it has been 60 years since Turkey and Korea first encountered each other during The Korean War,” said Hasan Bulent Kahraman, the curator of the exhibition, said Friday during a telephone interview with The Korea Times. “The title also means ‘encountering the two

Sep 12, 2012

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

‘Phantom of the Opera’ to return in December

Kim weaves life through ‘Thread Routes’

Clubs

Classical concerts

After 38 years, sculptor breaks out in fine arts

Nature meets pottery

Biennale finds art in digital media

Clubs

Classical concerts

Exhibition on Turkey held at Araart

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