Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Royal seals: essence of Joseon ritual arts

By Chung Ah-young The National Palace Museum of Korea has recently published a three-volume catalogue featuring a comprehensive collection of 3,361 “eobo,” or royal seals, and their accessories from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The museum currently holds 316 seals from 34 kings and 48 queens and concubines, crown princes and princesses among the extant 323 seals, along with affiliated ornaments. The earliest seal was made in 1441 and the latest one in 1928. “Eobo were symbolic stamps which were not actually used. They were created to celebrate royal rituals and appreciate a ruler’s achievements and granting a posthumous title to a king or queen. They retain the high values of royal craftsmanship as they are bundled with other relics,” Jung Gye-ok, an official of the museum, said. Eobo were ritual seals as symbolic objects, unlike “guksae” or state seals, which were officially stamped for diplomatic documents and promulgations of national orders. “The hand stamps are the cream of the crop which displays the essence of royal craftsmanship and the highest state of art

Jan 12, 2011

Kim Myung-sook forages for strength in painted forests

By Ines Min ``A forest is tens of thousands, tens of millions of things. It’s warm, natural, wise.’’ Painter Kim Forest (real name Kim Myung-sook) continues on a journey to explore the depths of wooded nature with her 14th solo exhibition at Gallery Violet, Insa-dong, through Jan. 18. Known for her meticulously layered techniques, Kim uses a combination of traditional Korean elements and originality to create textured 3D works in impressing shades of red, green and white. Step one: Mix finely-ground rock powder with dyes to create a roughened landscape on traditional ``jangji’’ (Korean paper). Step two: Crinkle and warp the dried material to create cracks, crevices and creases. Step three: Carefully splatter ``meok’’ (Korean ink) onto the back of the paper, adding levels of color intensity. ``You have to splash the meok from the back, for it to be subdued and look natural,’’ Kim told The Korea Times in an interview at the gallery, Tuesday. ``I tried it other ways, but this is the best way.’’ Kim majored in Eastern painting, but has spent the majority of

Jan 12, 2011

Hit Samsoon takes to stage

By Chung Ah-young “My Lovely Samsoon,” 2005’s biggest hit drama with viewer ratings over 50 percent, will be revived on stage six years after the show ended on the small screen. The Aka Company will present the theatrical rendition which portrays a hilarious relationship between a man and a woman, played by Kim Sun-ah and Hyun Bin, seeking true love, particularly focusing on the life of the single, career-driven and overweight female character in her late 20s. The soap opera, based on a novel by the same title by Ji Soo-hyun, successfully appealed to audiences with its comical touch tinged with the characters’ touching stories. The play aims to bring the essence of the original story to the stage. “We will represent the ‘Samsoon’ syndrome again on stage, which drew much sympathy from the female audience,” the company said in a press release. Often dubbed as the Korean version of “Bridget Jone’s Diary,” the drama created a buzz with each episode, which made the actors and actresses high-profile celebrities. The female protagonist’s profession — patissier —

Jan 11, 2011

Taste of French opera in Seoul

By Lee Hyo-won Diction, in addition to articulating nuance and emotion, is vital to deliver sweeping operatic arias — even top sopranos such as Shin Young-ok continue to work on perfecting the elusive Rs and elongated vowels for French works. Aspiring opera singers as well as regular fans in Seoul will have a chance to learn from the creme de la creme in French opera through a workshop and unique performance this week. The Korea National Opera and French Cultural Center have invited famed French soprano Mireille Delunsch and vocal master Antoine Palloc for a four-day session through which participants can learn all about diction and vocal/dramatic expressions that are unique to French operas. Four sessions will take place four times from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, at the Korea National Opera’s rehearsal room on the fourth floor of the Opera House at Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. Mireille and Palloc will focus on works by modern French composer Francis Poulenc, including “Dialogues of the Carmelites” (1957) and “La Voix humaine (The Human

Jan 9, 2011

Worlds first VIP Art Fair to hit Internet this month

By Ines Min Ever wanted to attend Madrid’s ARCO, the hip Frieze Art Fair in London or Art Basel Miami Beach? If travel fare and schedule were factored out, the world’s art market could be at the fingertips of every art connoisseur and amateur — and now it is. The world’s first online art fair opens for one week, everywhere and to everyone from Jan. 22 to 30. The VIP Art Fair brings together 139 blue chip galleries from 30 countries, catapulting the industry into the future using the Internet’s best trait: common accessibility. Top American, European and Asian galleries have participated in the founding of the VIP fair, such as David Zwirner, White Cube, Gagosian Gallery, Xavier Hufkens and Seoul’s Gallery Hyundai, meaning that a wide range of works from both established names and emerging artists will be available at the click of a mouse. The brainchild of couples James and Jane Cohan, and Allessandra and Jonas Almgren, the inaugural online event takes all the advantages of a bricks-and-mortar fair (physicality replaced with hi-def, zoom-in features) without al

Jan 7, 2011

Clubs, art exhibitions & sports games

Clubs, Art Exhibitions & Sports Games Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area, Hongdae, it’s all flashy with loud music and lights. Spacious, with a supersized crystal ball hanging over your head, DJs from near and far make music while you can hang out at the bar or classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik Univ. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Club M2 Hongdae M2 features top DJs from home and abroad. The dance floor and the DJ are in the center of the club, which attracts a trendy crowd along with models and celebrities. Packed on the weekends. Check www.ohoo.net. Cafe Mou Sinsa-dong This cafe has a rich ethnic interior that mixes inspirations that its owner got from travels to such places as Morocco and France. Its menu is limited, but features desserts. It’s located at the edge of Dosan Park. 650-9 Park View Building, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam, near the Cine City Theater in Apgujeongdong. Call (02) 34

Jan 6, 2011

Concerts, museums & theater

Classical Concerts New Year Concert with Cellist Young Song Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center* (See venues on right for more information) Jan. 18 Popular cellist Young Song (Song Young-hoon) will hold a New Year concert with Universal Philharmonic Orchestra. The program includes Tchaikovsky’s “Slavonic March, Op. 31” and Dvorak’s “Concerto for Violincello and Orchestra in B minor Op. 104” among others. Tickets cost 10,000 to 70,000 won. Call (031) 897-7497 for more information. Paul Potts ‘I Have A Dream’ Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts* Jan. 11 The winner of “Britain’s Got Talent Paul Potts and genius New Age pianist Kevin Kern who overcame visual impairment will hold a Share The Hopes Concert titled “I Have A Dream.” The program includes “Sundial Dream,” “The Winding Path,” “Il Mio Cuore Va” and “Cinema Paradiso” among others. Popera singer Yisabel and Seoul Royal Symphony Orchestra will also appear as guests. Tickets cost 33,000 to 198,000 won. For more, call (02) 2052-1386 or 1544-1555. Rose Jang Recital Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center* Feb

Jan 6, 2011

From 3D quirk to cat craze: finding Hongdaes Santorini

By Ines Min Hongdae might best be known for its vivid nightlife, alternative art galleries and winding streets of cafes, but the home of a relaxing island of quirky art fun? Santorini Seoul opened its doors last month to provide exactly that. The multi-functional art space caters to both young and adult audiences, with its trompe l’oeil museum, three galleries, a cat museum and even an “open-air” cafe within its large 2,300-square-meter underground confines. The museum offers an introduction to the technique of trompe l’oeil, or the use of viscerally realistic imagery that creates an optical illusion on flat surfaces. Also known as “trick of the eye” art, the style was recognized in the Baroque period but dates further back into Grecian and Roman times. The space is the first permanent museum to provide an introduction to trompe l’oeil in Seoul, which has seen a surge of popularity with short-lived touring exhibitions last year. Visitors can walk through the museum taking photos with the artwork, seemingly at one with the detailed images. It took 15 artists the span

Jan 5, 2011

Coronation exudes essence of French musical

By Kwon Mee-yoo The musical "Coronation Ball" presents an array of fascinating yet profound songs taken from the French musical "Starmania," sung by top musical actors and singers. The first production of "Coronation Ball" in Korea was staged in 2007 as a gala show consisting of songs from "Starmania" and "Notre-Dame de Paris." However, this year's "Coronation Ball" is more a shortened version of "Starmania." With music by Michel Berger and lyrics by Luc Plamondon, "Starmania" is considered the pioneer of French musicals, which later bloomed with "Notre-Dame de Paris." First staged in 1979, the musical portrays tragic lovers amid an underground power struggle set in the near future ― in the 2000s when it premiered. The original "Starmania" musical features some 50 numbers, but the Korean production chose 18 songs from the list. Chung Hong-guk, producer of the show, said he would introduce more French musicals under the “Coronation Ball” brand, highlighting the gist of each work. Director Yoo Hee-sung of "Mozart!" and "Pimatgol Sonata" have again joined hands

Jan 2, 2011By Kwon Mee-yoo

2011 Year of the Rabbit

By Lee Hyo-won Furry, long-eared and nimbly athletic, rabbits have long been a favorite pet and subject of cartoons. In Korea, these cute creatures have been characterized as being rather frail yet clever, as well as a symbol of abundance for giving birth to dozens of offspring at a time. Hence, the Year of the Rabbit 2011 is expected to be fruitful one. Rabbit tells time and space “Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!” exclaims the pocket watch-bearing White Rabbit as he runs toward a rabbit hole in the Lewis Carroll tale of “Alice in Wonderland.” In Korea, the rabbit holds special meanings in terms of time and space. It comes fourth among 12 zodiac animals and represents the month of February in the lunar calendar as well as “myosi,” the fourth division in the 24-hour clock or 5-7 a.m. It is also a protector of the eastern direction. Myths and tales

Dec 31, 2010

Arts & Theater