my timesThe Korea Times
Lifestyle

Arts & Theater

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Modern Korea captured through Limb’s camera

By Kwon Mee-yoo A black and white photograph depicts ruins of Myeong-dong during the 1950-53 Korean War. The only building in the photo that still exists is the Myeongdong Theater, which served as City Hall at that time. The stark capture of that era is the work of first-generation Korean photographer Limb Eung-sik (1912-2001). The National Museum of Contemporary Art (NMOCA) is holding the exhibition “Limb Eung-sik: Art of Recording, Records of Art” at its Deoksu Palace annex to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the photographer’s birth. It is co-organized by the Research Institute of Photographic Archives. Lee Kyung-min, head of the institute, said he designed the exhibition in the context of the history of photography in Korea. Limb had a close relationship with NMOCA, as he brought in “Family of Man,” a photography exhibition organized by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, to NMOCA in 1957 and the first-ever photography exhibition organized by NMOCA in 1982 was a solo display of Limb’s work. In the first section “From Art Photography to Photographic Art,” Lim

Dec 27, 2011By Do Je-hae

Homegrown musicals advance with diversity

The year 2011 has been another prosperous one for Korea’s musical industry. New works from Broadway and the West End, such as “Next to Normal” and “Zorro,” were staged here, while local creators presented a wide range of shows. According to Interpark, the largest local ticket reservation site, the size of Korea’s musical market was around 250 billion won this year, a 20 percent jump from 2010. “Mamma Mia!” was the most watched musical of the year, closely followed by “Zorro” and “Jekyll and Hyde.” “Mamma Mia!” is one of the best loved musicals by Koreans and currently on stage at the D-Cube Arts Center. “Zorro” is the hottest new work combining the Gypsy Kings’ music and fabulous swordsmanship and magic by such celebrated actors as Cho Seung-woo and Park Geon-hyeong. The West End hit is currently onstage at the Samsung Electronics Musical Hall. "Jekyll and Hyde" set a new record by drawing 350,000 audience members during its nine-month run, the highest number ever achieved in that time period. Homegrown works Local producers and creative staff have continued to

Dec 25, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Seoul Philharmonic concludes Mahler cycle

By Do Je-hae One of the biggest achievements of conductor Chung Myung-whun with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is a Mahler symphony cycle, rarely staged in Korea. It is unlikely that a project of such grand scale is likely to be repeated here in the near future. Being able to deliver all of the Austrian composer's nine symphonies on stage is an agonizing task for any orchestra. The project started in late summer and closed with a performance of his Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major on Dec. 22. Combining voice and symphony ― a trademark of Mahler’s symphonic works ― it is one of the largest-scale choral works in the classical concert repertoire. Because the piece requires huge instrumental and vocal forces, it is known as the “Symphony of a Thousand,” although it is often performed with fewer musicians. The SPO engaged a choir of 320 and eight solo singers for the performance last Thursday. The orchestra consisted of 150 members, which is larger than the normal size of around 100 for a large-scale symphony ensemble. Critics and fans have been divided on the S

Dec 23, 2011By Do Je-hae

Concerts, museums and theater

Classical Concerts Vienna Strauss Festival Orchestra New Year’s Concert Seoul Arts Center* Jan. 18, 2012 The Vienna Strauss Festival Orchestra, founded in 1978 by artistic producer Peter Guth, will perform with soprano Im Sun-hae and hold its fourth performance in Korea, following one last year. The orchestra has been touring throughout Europe, Asia and America with a wide range of repertoire. Tickets cost 40,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743. Min Yoo-kyung’s Mozart Violin Concerto Series II Seoul Arts Center* Dec. 26 Violinist Min Yoo-kyung will perform Mozart’s violin concerto series, following her premier performance in 2009. The audience will have an opportunity to appreciate Mozart’s five violin concertos and the “Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra.” Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 706-1481. Harpist Kwak Chung’s Christmas Concert Seoul Arts Center* Dec. 24 Harpist Kwak Chung’s upcoming concert will consist of “Libertango” by Piazolla, “Concierto De Aranjuez” by Rodrigo

Dec 23, 2011

Clubs, art exhibitions and sports games

Clubs Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that also has a branch in Shanghai, located in the famous clubbing area Hongdae. Located near the main entrance of Hongik University. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Boutique Club 52 Itaewon Once called Function inside Macaroni Market, Club 52 boasts a chic and modern interior with the DJ spinning the beats for the hippest crowd from the center of the dance floor. Featuring top DJs from both home and abroad, two bars inside the club serving the coolest cocktails including some made with Hendrick’s gin, and a high-class interior, Club 52 is always the place for good times. Club Volume Itaewon Located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station, Club Volume offers the finest venue for specially themed weekly events and talented international DJs for unforgettable nights of dancing and debauchery. Reborn after extensive renovations to maintain its reputation as a quality club with a superior sound system, luxurious setting and stylish peop

Dec 23, 2011

Nat’l Museum introduces Japanese Buddhist art

By Kwon Mee-yoo The essence of Japanese Buddhist art is being introduced to Korea through a special exhibition held by the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul. The event, titled “Japanese Buddhist Art from the Lake Biwa District — Aspiring for Rebirth in the Buddhist Paradise,” highlights the exquisite relics of the neighboring Asian country’s Buddhist art, featuring 94 artifacts. The collection includes four national treasures. Upon entering the museum space, “Eight Views of Omi” presents the landscape of Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture in central Japan. It is the largest freshwater lake in Japan at about 673 square kilometers, similar to the size of Seoul. Omi is an old name for Shiga Prefecture and the painting on display has four scenic sites among the eight. “Though Lake Biwa is an unfamiliar name for most Koreans, there is a route along the lake used by ‘tongsinsa,’ or the emissary dispatched to Japan during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) as seen in the lower right side of this ‘Lake View’ painting from Sufuku-ji,” Ryu Seung-jin, the museum’s Asian art curat

Dec 21, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Nature meets science in Laarman’s furniture

By Kwon Mee-yoo Chairs resembling the shape of bones, a bridge-shaped table and tables with tree-shaped legs; these are all created by Joris Laarman, 32, a young designer from the Netherlands. Twenty-three pieces of Laarman’s representative and new works are being exhibited at Kukje Gallery in Sagan-dong, Seoul, for his first solo exhibition here. Fluid yet complicated lines of his furniture might conjure up images of science fiction movies, but Laarman’s futuristic design is practical for its original purpose as well. Each artwork might look similar, but they all have different lines and shapes. “Bone Chair,” which was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Arts’s (MoMA) “Design and the Elastic Mind” in 2008, is not made from bones. However, it is a result of watching the growing process of bones combined with state-of-the-art technology. The Dutch designer calls his studio a “lab.” The Joris Laarman Lab, with seven engineers and 3D technicians, is the home of such digitally crafted works. Laarman uses computer programs to create an algorithm based on the original

Dec 19, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

Clubs, art exhibitions and sports games

Clubs Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that also has a branch in Shanghai, located in the famous clubbing area Hongdae. Located near the main entrance of Hongik University. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Boutique Club 52 Itaewon Once called Function inside Macaroni Market, Club 52 boasts a chic and modern interior with the DJ spinning the beats for the hippest crowd from the center of the dance floor. Featuring top DJs from both home and abroad, two bars inside the club serving the coolest cocktails including some made with Hendrick’s gin, and a high-class interior, Club 52 is always the place for good times. Club Volume Itaewon Located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station, Club Volume offers the finest venue for specially themed weekly events and talented international DJs for unforgettable nights of dancing and debauchery. Reborn after extensive renovations to maintain its reputation as a quality club with a superior sound system, luxurious setting and stylish peo

Dec 15, 2011

Concerts, museums and theater

Classical Concerts Chung Kyung-wha Violin Recital ‘She is Back’ Seoul Arts Center* (See ‘Venues’ on the right for more information) Dec. 26 Violin virtuoso Chung Kyung-wha will hold a series of recitals in December for the first time since 2002, performing sonatas for violin and piano by Mozart, Franck and Brahms. Chung’s recitals will start on Dec. 19 in Incheon, followed by Daejeon on Dec. 21, Chuncheon on Dec. 25 and finally in Seoul on Dec. 26 at Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 30,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 518-7343 or 02)547-5694. Vienna Strauss Festival Orchestra New Year’s Concert Seoul Arts Center* Jan. 18, 2012 Vienna Strauss Festival Orchestra, founded in 1978 by artistic producer Peter Guth, will perform with soprano Im Sun-hae and hold its fourth performance in Korea, followed by last year’s stage. The orchestra has been touring throughout Europe, Asia and America with a wide range of repertoire. Tickets cost 40,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743. Min Yoo-kyung’s Mozart Violin Concerto Series I

Dec 15, 2011

Outpouring of chamber music in Seoul

World’s top ensembles perform at new IBK Chamber Hall By Do Je-hae A three-day chamber music festival featuring some of the world’s top musicians in the field wrapped up Tuesday, concluding the “IBK Chamber Hall Opening Festival” that started in October. The new IBK Chamber Hall at Seoul Arts Center is generating excitement for fans and artists who have longed for the ultimate live chamber music experience in the nation’s capital. It is also playing a vital role in Korea’s burgeoning chamber music scene. The 600-seat IBK Chamber Hall had a full house during the rare opportunity to hear the Emerson String Quartet and the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (CMS) live consecutively in one week. The two groups as part of “Chamber Music Today” presented an extraordinary broad repertoire, ranging from Schubert’s gorgeous B-flat major piano trio to the evocative string quartet by French composer Maurice Ravel. The inaugural concert of “Chamber Music Today,” founded by cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, began Sunday with a program of quartets by Mozart, Beethoven a

Dec 14, 2011By Do Je-hae
previous page
316317318319320
next page

Most Read in Lifestyle