Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Dieter Rams design reality at Daelim museum

By Ines Min In case you were wondering: No, you’re not missing out on the extravagant colors of these pictured products because they’re on a black-and-white page. In fact, all of these items are white. The work of German designer Dieter Rams is iconic in its sturdy philosophy and unique vision, still strong after nearly 40 years. A

Dec 21, 2010

B-boys meet Korean traditional dance

By Lee Hyo-won Koreans’ knack for exhilarating rhythm runs deep — from “samulnori” (Korean traditional percussion) to contemporary performances such as “Jump!” and, of course, b-boying. A b-boy project has found inspiration in local traditions, and old becomes new again in this pulsating infusion of dance, music and theatricality. “Battle B-boy — Love Story” marks the second season of “The Ballerina Who Loved a B-Boy,” the first successful crossover performance of which ran for over four years at the B-Boy Theater in Hongdae. If the first season showcased a dynamic concoction of pointe work and head spins, then “Love Story” tries something more experimental by juxtaposing the elegant movements of Korean traditional dance with mind-bending contortions of the human body found in b-boying. What makes the performance so popular is that it has a simple storyline and resonates well with audiences of all backgrounds. Since non-verbal foreigners can often be spotted in the audience. “Love Story” features a classic love triangle involving two rival b-boys and a love

Dec 20, 2010

MOCAs little black box records media art

By Ines Min How best to remember the creative products of mankind, the use of our technological advancements in this age? The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon opened an exhibition of media artists from its vast permanent collection last month. “Out of the Silent Planet” comprises the works of eight legendary art names, representative of both the MOCA collection and reflecting the current atmosphere of technological integration. The exhibition’s title is taken from C.S. Lewis’ 1938 sci-fi novel and focuses on the intersecting concepts of sound, light and time. The presented 10 works make use of elapsed videos, projectors, karaoke machines, optical illusions, repetition and even a set of brand new Galaxy Tabs. Video pioneer Park Hyun-ki’s “In a Station of the Metro” plays off the famous, 14-word Ezra Pound poem of the same name, while the “Mandala Series” video collage is a 30-minute “plate” of compiled images. Yook Tae-jin’s kinetic works are displayed in a rotating video of a man walking, and a tunnel-vision piece that incorporates visceral vibrations in co

Dec 19, 2010

The Three Musketeers defends justice, friendship

By Kwon Mee-yoo Travel back in time to 17th century France where three famous musketeers are joined by a brave young man, who came to Paris to become a musketeer like them. Prepare yourself for a nonstop, dueling and swashbuckling adventure. M Musical Company is staging the musical “The Three Musketeers” with a star-studded cast including a member of a K-pop group and veteran actors who have won musical awards. Based on the novel of French author Alexandre Dumas, Czech producer Oldrich Lichtenberg has turned the work into a stage show with the music of Michael David. The musical premiered in Korea last year and successfully drew a huge audience to the French classic rendered in Korean style with Czech music.

Dec 19, 2010By Kwon Mee-yoo

CEOs leave offices to create some tunes

By Han Sang-hee They may seem too busy for anything like a choir, but the 21 members of Korea Importers Association (KOIMA) CEO Chorus were up and ready for their first annual concert, Wednesday night. Despite the chilling weather, the Jangcheon Art Hall in Cheongdam-dong was packed with friends and family of the chorus members, who all looked excited with program books and flowers in hand. “The world of business is cold and sensitive, but if you look closely, it’s also about emotions. It works based on people and that is what makes deals,” Chung Chan-woo, CEO of Hyun Woo Trading and leader of the chorus, told The Korea Times. The KOIMA CEO Chorus was founded in 2009 and has been performing at events for the past year — in May, the group performed at Seoul Arts Center during an event held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Czech Republic. The group finally decided to take the stage on their own as the main act. “The members of the association have been on the cornerstone in revamping the nation during difficult times,

Dec 17, 2010

Clubs, Art Exhibitions & Sports Games

Clubs Club Answer Cheongdam-dong Equipped with state of the art sound and lighting, Club Answer is the foremost venue for electronic music in Seoul. Located in front of Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, the club presents world class DJs in an extensive space with modern decor to offer a memorable dance experience. Visit www.clubanswer.co.kr, for more information. Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also to be found in Shanghai. Located in the popular 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 open bar or in 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

Dec 16, 2010

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts 2010 SAC Saturday Concert Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*(See venues on right of page for more information) Dec. 18 Seoul Arts Center (SAC) will hold its third Saturday Concert under the direction of Kim Dae-jin. Clarinetist Jerry Chae will perform with the SAC Festival Orchestra, Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto in A major K.622,” and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 9 E minor Op.95, The New World.” Tickets cost 15,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300. Sumi Jo ‘Morgen’ Grand Theater, Uijeongbu Arts Center Dec. 28 The world’s best coloratura soprano Sumi Jo will hold a special year-end concert, mainly themed on traditional German art songs. In collaboration with German project ensemble Musicians from Deutsche Philharmonie Merck, the program includes master pieces from the Romantic period; Beethoven’s “Ich Liebe Dich,” Schbert’s “Der Erlkonig,” and more. Tickets cost 40,000 to 120,000 won. Located near exit 2 of Uijeongbu Station on subway line 1. For more information, call (031) 828-5841. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Hall, Seoul

Dec 16, 2010

Ancient Chinese paintings come to life in Korea

By Lee Hyo-won Sweeping ink strokes depicting everything from delicate flower petals to cascading mountains on silk scrolls — the iconicism of classical Chinese paintings is largely recognizable. It has considerably influenced the development of the craft in Korea, and 16th-century Ming Dynasty artist Xu Jiuxu (Hu Gu-seo in Korean) was even believed to be Korean until research proved otherwise. Surprisingly, few exhibitions featuring ancient Chinese paintings have been held in the country, and so the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan, Seoul, is providing a rare chance to discover the spirit of Ming and Qing Dynasty-era works dating from the 15th to 19th centuries. This is the first time that a Chinese painting exhibition is featuring works from local collections. Some 100 pieces from the National Museum’s own collection, as well as nine on loan from other institutes, are on display. Of these, 87 pieces are open to the public for the first time. The origin of Chinese painting dates back to the Neolithic Age, from when simple plant and animal designs were discove

Dec 15, 2010

Uncovering Delpires art empire of influence

By Ines Min It’s possible you’ve never heard the name Robert Delpire; but what about Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Frank, Helmut Newton or William Klein? The famed French publisher who has been one of the most influential figures in photography over the past 60 years is being introduced to the Korean public for the first time via the exhibition. “Delpire et Cie” (Delpire and Co.) opens this Friday at the Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center, and will run until Feb. 27, 2011. The touring showcase — comprising 185 photographs, four movies and 150 artbooks — is having its first overseas stop outside Europe, raising the curtain on the man who befriended such cultural icons as Cartier-Bresson, Frank and Robert Capa.

Dec 12, 2010

Foreigners share Korea-inspired artworks

By Lee Hyo-won A group of foreign residents is holding an art exhibition in Seoul, displaying their unique interpretations of “hanji” (Korean paper) craft and images of Korea caught through the camera. Nineteen members of the Seoul International Women’s Association (SIWA), representing 10 countries around the world, are showing hanji crafts as well as photographs through Dec. 14 at the KCDF Gallery in Insa-dong. The event is a fruition of the women’s efforts to learn new art skills during their residency here, and professional pieces by their teachers, hanji artist Om Myong-sook and photographer Shin Mihe, are also on display. “I believe that learning new skill is one of the most enjoyable things that people can do as we move in a new environment,” said SIWA president Lily Joenoes van Bunik during the opening reception Thursday. “Hanji is a beautiful tradition and I can now see why my wife spent all those nights working on it,” said Brazilian Ambassador Edmundo Sussumu Fujita about his wife Maria Ligaya Abeleda’s work with SIWA. The hanji crafts incorporate the make

Dec 10, 2010

Arts & Theater