Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Seoul Performing Arts Festival to be held in October

A total of 27 foreign and local theatrical works, dances and multi-genre works will be performed during the 12th Seoul Performing Arts Festival to be held at Arko Theater and other venues along Seoul's Daehangno Street from Oct. 5-27. Among the 12 foreign invitational works are "Apollonia," by Poland's Nowy Theatre, and "Soapera" by France's top contemporary dancer-choreographer Mathilde Monnier. Apollonia is a play featuring the history of the Nazis through an ancient Greek tragedy. Krysztof Warlikowski directed the lengthy play with a running time of three hours and 45 minutes, which premiered at Festival d'Avignon in 2009. Soapera is a dance and installation work collaboration between French choreographer Monnier and painter Dominique Figarella, who transform the stage into a big canvas. Dancers fill up the chasms of the canvas with movement. Domestic works will include "Homework18" by JK Project, "Raw material" by Im Ji-ae, "Access I" by Um, "Mars" by Roh Kyung-ae, "Intimate Immensity" by Som Movement and "Nothing for 60 minutes" by Baek Howool and Mathias Erian.

Jul 30, 2012

Daily objects turned upside down

By Kwon Mee-yoo Anti-mosquito coils create funnel-shaped sculptures while enlarged egg-like objects are set on a slope. Wooden fences in the gallery make visitors wonder what is inside. This is a part of the 13th Hermes Foundation Misulsang (art award) exhibition at Maison Hermes Dosan Park in southern Seoul. The three candidates for the 13th Hermes Foundation Misulsang — Koo Dong-hee, Jackson Hong and Lee Mi-kyung — present unusual ways to look at everyday life. The works on exhibit blur the traditional concept of art and daily objects. Koo, who works with multimedia including photo, video, sculpture and installation, experimented with the theme of “Helter Skelter.” The term refers to spiral slide fairground rides, and is also the title of a song by The Beatles. Notorious criminal Charles Manson also referred to the song title in his vision of a race war and it inspired Koo to create four artworks. “Helter Skelter” is a 160-centimeter tall spiral-shaped object made from mosquito coils and a parasol. It looks like a weird parachute and Koo said she trie

Jul 30, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Exhibit maps out modern historical realities

By Joon Soh A work of art is like us, in that it cannot avoid being a product of its times. This remains true for Korean art from the 1970s and ‘80s, when the nation underwent dramatic social and political changes. As years go by, the artworks of this era became a poignant reflection of the historical realities of when and where they were made. An exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA) makes an ambitious attempt at organizing art from this tumultuous political period. Titled “Mapping the Realities,” the exhibition covers two floors of the museum and juxtaposes two very different art movements: Korean Modernist art of the 1970s and the social realist Minjung Art a decade later. “Minjung” refers to people. Aesthetically, no two art movements could contrast more starkly from each other. Taking a cue from its Western counterpart, Korean Modernism of the ’70s was cool, distanced and inscrutable. For the ’80s Minjung artists, on the other hand, the political message was always front and center, often to the point of being didactic. But in their different ways, both art

Jul 29, 2012

'Bungee Jump' tells of complex love story

By Kwon Mee-yoo “Bungee Jumping of their Own,” a popular 2001 film about a love transcending time, space and gender, is being staged as a musical at Blue Square’s Samsung Card Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Composer Will Aronson, who has worked previously with Musical Heaven, the musical’s production company, and lyricist Hue Park told The Korea Times about their work, collaboration and friendship. Aronson studied classical music at Harvard University and the Universitat der Kunste in Berlin and holds a master’s degree from New York University (NYU) Tisch School’s musical theater program. “When I first saw the movie, I thought it has a great story, but I didn’t know I would write songs for it,” Aronson said. When the company asked Aronson to write the music for the musical “Bungee Jump,” he recommended Park for the lyrics. Park, who studied creative writing in Korea, pursued visual art at NYU. He was a K-pop lyricist in Korea and kept it up as a hobby in the States. “Will and I have a lot in common, especially a taste for culture — we like John Brion and Bern

Jul 29, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Humans, machines, nature live through Paik's works

YONGIN, Gyeonggi Province — Scattered in a garden are 25 television sets in the dark and only images from the screens are reflected on the leaves of the plants. There is a path surrounding the work for visitors to walk on as they experience this digital landscape. This is a work by the late artist Paik Nam-june (1932-2006) called “TV Garden,” which encompasses his three main principles — humans, machines and nature. The avant garde media artist would have been 80 if he were still alive and the Nam June Paik (NJP) Art Center here opened an exhibition Friday reviewing Paik’s works and influence on later artists. “Nostalgia is an Extended Feedback” features about 70 pieces by Paik and 12 other artists related to his artwork. Some of the participating artists collaborated with the artist while others wanted to pay tribute to the master. The arcane title comes from a phrase Paik used in an essay written in 1992 to explain that this exhibition is not a plain retrospective but connects his acclaimed works with contemporary artists, emphasizing how his spirit continues

Jul 25, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

From corps de ballet to choreographer

Kim Yong-geol to present 'Life, Love and Death' By Rachel Lee Kim Yong-geol is a man of patience and passion. He knows how to endure and endeavour to pursue what he wants — his love of ballet. Kim, the first Asian soloist at the Paris Opera Ballet, is bringing “Life, Love and Death” to the local scene this weekend. It is seen as the cornerstone of his career as a choreographer. Renowned artists Won Il, art director at the National Orchestra of Korea and Yang Jung-ung, writer and director at the Yohangza Theatre Company also worked on the production. “This work is based on a traditional story from Jeju Island and the already well-known myth Orpheus and Eurydice,” said the 38-year-old dancer during an interview with The Korea Times on Friday. “Orpheus and Eurydice” is one of the best-known Greek myths and has inspired a large number of artists. It is a tragic love story of legendary poet-musician Orpheus who loses his wife Eurydice. He gains a chance to get her back from the deities of the Underworld but is devastated when he loses her again. Kim is to pl

Jul 25, 2012

National museum invites foreigners for day out

By Kwon Mee-yoo The National Museum of Korea is inviting 100 foreigners and their friends to enjoy a summer day with various events and jazz music this coming Saturday. “A Special Saturday with Masterpiece” will feature a variety of programs related to the museum, including tours, cultural experience programs and a jazz festival. The program will begin at 2 p.m. and participants will receive souvenir T-shirts after registration. They will tour the permanent exhibits of the museum, including the special exhibition “Korean Art from the United States.” A quiz with prizes will be held throughout the tour. Participants will also learn to produce a traditional Korean “grass and insect painting” on a paper fan. Midway through there is a break then the program continues with a look around the outdoor exhibits and a tour of “The Civilizations of Turkey: Emperors in Istanbul.” At 9 p.m. the event will wrap up with a concert, “Jazz on a Summer Night” at the Open Plaza. The event is only for international residents and Koreans can participate as the guest of a foreign partner. T

Jul 22, 2012By Do Je-hae

Sneak peek into future of Korean art at 'ArtSpectrum'

By Kwon Mee-yoo From a photo of a man in a ball gown to a watchtower set on the wall of a gallery, the energy and ideas of young Korean artists bursts out at the Leeum in Hannam-dong, Seoul. The exhibition is titled “ArtSpectrum 2012” featuring rising artists and opened Thursday. “ArtSpectrum” is Leeum’s special biennial event shedding light on upcoming artists. Started in 2001, the exhibition provides a gateway to the artists regardless of genre. It was briefly cancelled in 2008 due to a slush fund scandal involving Samsung. The museum is run by the Samsung Foundation of Culture. This year the series resumes and this time eight artists — Kim A-young, Kim Ji-eun, Bae Chan-hyo, Oak Jung-ho, Jang Bo-yun, Jun So-jung, Choi Ki-chang and Han Kyung-woo — were chosen. The characteristics of this year’s “Artspectrum” are clearer when compared to the permanent collection of modern art at Leeum. Reflecting this generation of artists who grew up with visual media and are used to experimenting with various methods, the exhibition has no paintings with most works being p

Jul 20, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Clubs

Clubs The Octagon Nonhyeon-dong This club recently opened near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon-dong. The venue offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area in a hip and modern setting. Leave via exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. Call (02) 516-8847 for more information. Club Volume Itaewon Located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station, Club Volume offers the finest venue for specially themed weekly events and world-class DJs. Club Volume was listed by TIME magazine among the “10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul.” For more information, call 1544-2635. Le Nuit Blanche Cheongdam-dong Formerly Club Answer, Le Nuit Blanche is a posh restaurant, theater and club. Located in front of the Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, Le Nuit Blanche offers Cirque du Soleil-type performances. World-class DJs from all over the world perform at the club. For more information, call (02) 514-4311. W.E. Listen Samcheong-dong This cafe reinterprets traditional Korean desserts. The menu not only offers American-style coffee but also sweet

Jul 19, 2012

Classical Concerts

Classical Concerts Great Mountains Music Festival & School Alpensia Concert Hall Through Aug. 5 The Great Mountains Music Festival & School will be held in Gangwon Province. Renowned cellist Chung Myung-hwa and her sister violinist Chung Kyung-hwa serve as the artistic directors of this chamber music festival to be held at the Apelnsia Concert Hall in PyeongChang. This year’s theme will explore the relationship between dance and music. Tickets cost 40,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 725-3394. 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, 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. Mariss Jansons and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra Se