Lifestyle - The Korea Times

European Jazz Trio to mix it up in Seoul

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter The European Jazz Trio is returning to Korea for another mesmerizing evening of classy tunes and exhilarating rhythms. The trio performed in Korea for the first time in 2003 and continued to visit Korean fans ever since. In 2009, the group offered seven performances, and after only a year decided to return to their loyal fans with a special repertoire. Comprised of pianist Marc van Roon, bassist Frans van der Hoeven and drummer Roy Dackus, the trio will perform on June 11, the night before the big World Cup match between South Korea and Greece. In order to heighten the excitement and offer something in return, the band will play the famous cheer ``Oh Pilseung Korea'' with a jazzy twist. When asked about the set list of songs the band will play, the organizer said that like most other jazz musicians, they decide at the last minute. ``It depends on how they feel, the venue atmosphere and the overall tone of the day,'' the organizer said. Founded in 1995 in the Netherlands, the band has taken numerous songs in every style, shape and

Jun 7, 2010

Korean relics featured in Russian Museum

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Korean relics from the National Museum of Korea are on display at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia to commemorate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relation between Korea and Russia. The biggest overseas exhibition of Korean artifacts titled "Wind in the Pines: 5,000 Years of Korean Art" showcases 354 masterful pieces, including pots dating back to 3,000 B.C., a gold crown and belt excavated from Seobong Tomb of the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.) to Kim Hong-do's paintings from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The event is also part of the cultural exchange between the two museums after the Korean museum hosted "The Scythian Gold" exhibition, which presented 230 pieces of Russian nomadic artwork here in 1991. The Korean treasures on display in Nicholas Hall, the museum's largest room, consist of five themes chronologically arranged dating from the Neolithic to the Joseon era. The first section featuring the prehistoric age to the Samhan age (108-57 B.C.) displays comb-patterned earthenware from the Neolithic era

Jun 7, 2010

Another Joseon-era female mummy discovered in Osan

By Han Sang-hee Staff reporter A second female mummy that dates back to the early Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) has been discovered at an industrial site in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, a few weeks after workers uncovered the first one last month. According to the Seokyeong Cultural Properties Research Institute Sunday, the two mummies appear to have been the wives of a high ranking official. ``We will be able to get more information by studying this mummy since it's better preserved and died at a younger age,'' said Kim Han-gyeum, a mummy expert and a professor at Korea University, after analyzing the find at the Korea University Hospital, May 30. The institute said that the mummy found this month was the ex-wife of the official, whose body has not been found. The institute concluded that the ex-wife lived in the 1500s, during the Joseon Kingdom, and was older than the previous discovery by 20 to 30 years. The height of the mummy is 145 centimeters, while the foot is 20.5 centimeters in length. The skin had turned dark over time, but the teeth, nose, fingerprints

Jun 6, 2010

2 Korean artists bring American culture

By Ines Min Staff reporter American writer and philosopher Elbert Hubbard once said that "Art is not a thing, it is a way." On a similar vein, for New-York based Korean artists Choi Won-jung and Yoon Hee-seop, art is their route to explore their inner selves and conflicts, influenced in part by their location. Arario Gallery in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, is hosting an exhibition by the pair, who previously held most of their exhibitions in the United States. Choi and Yoon both moved to New York around 2004 to earn their masters' degrees in art. Their time abroad has influenced their work, with observers asking organizers where the artists were from on seeing their work. Yoon focuses on using lines and collages to record her memories. Taking photographs of cluttered spaces and idiosyncratic piles of evidence, the artist then free-hands an imitation of the photograph. The challenge: Yoon does not erase and so-called "mistakes" are simply drawn over with heavier, bolder lines. "It reflects how my perception has changed over time and makes me question my initial percep

Jun 6, 2010

Clubs, Art Exhibitions & Sports Games

Clubs 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. Le Nuit Blanche Cheongdam-dong Formerly Club Answer, Le Nuit Blanche is introduced as a posh restaurant, theater and club. Located in front of Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, Le Nuit Blanche offers Cirque du Soleil-type performances at its theater restaurant. World class DJs from all over the world are invited to perform at the club. Call (02) 514-4311 or visit www.l

Jun 3, 2010

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts The National Chorus of Korea Debut Concert III Recital Hall, Seoul Arts Center * (Refer to Venues listed on right for location/contact information) June 11 The National Chorus of Korea is holding its third debut concert to select a new conductor for the chorus. Contestants include conductors Lee Sung-hoon and Kim Hong-soo, and the program is divided into three parts ― mixed, male-only and female-only groups. Tickets cost 10,000 to 15,000 won. For more information call 1588-7890. Friendly Flute Ensemble 2nd Concert Sejong Chamber Hall, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts* June 6 Nine talented flute players and a double bass player will introduce a wide variety of music from baroque to contemporary. The program includes the overture from the opera “Nabucco” by Verdi, the finale from Haydn’s “Symphony No. 6 ‘Le Matin,’” Mendelssohn Scherzo, Op.61-1” and more. Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-0945. Sejong Soloists Society ‘The Red Priest Series’ Hoam Art Hall* June 15 Sejong Soloists Society named its 2010proje

Jun 3, 2010

Copper pipe sculptures bring otherworldliness

By Ines Min Staff reporter Massive structures with dainty curves, hollow yet durable. These sculptures, almost ghostly in appearance, are the works of Lee Gil-rae. His seventh solo exhibition, "Pine Tree: Building Form," opens Wednesday in Seoul. Though installed across several venues, the main exhibition will be held inside the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art, with 21 sculptures and 21 drawings by the artist. The gardens of the Seoul Arts Center will showcase eight large sculptures. Lee's method of creation is to cut the copper pipes at even intervals, creating a series of rings that he then hammers into an ovular shape. Afterward, he welds the pieces together to form his elaborate structures. Using up to thousands of copper rings, the 49-year-old is able to simulate the texture of pine tree bark with his meticulous work. Though he specializes in manmade materials, he is able to imitate the aura of nature accurately, from its angular branches to strong, gnarled trunks. "Copper is warm while stainless steel feels cold," Lee said at a press open Tuesday. "You

Jun 2, 2010

Feel of nostalgia at Myeongdong Theater

By Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter The country's top classical musicians and dancers will relive the glory of the days past by getting back to their roots in Myeongdong Theater. The theater in downtown Seoul was the hotspot for the local arts and culture scene until the mid-1970s, having been Korea's National Theater. It was built in 1934 during Japanese colonial rule (1910-45) and had featured shows by such renowned artists as veteran actress Choi Eun-hee and singer Yoon Bok-hee. It was renovated into a modern art space last year ― though still retaining much of its classic exterior ― and fetes the first anniversary of its reopening on Saturday. For the big birthday the theater has invited the country's top artists, beginning with esteemed pianist Shin Soo-jung Thursday evening. Shin was just a 14-year-old girl when she made her concert debut at the theater, which was called Sigonggwan at the time, on March 28 in 1956. She performed Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 20 with what is now the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Shin has since become an iconic figure here as a perfor

Jun 2, 2010

Dance of heaven, earth and sea in Busan

By Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter Dance is one of the most primitive forms of expression, and honest human vigor manifests itself with raw emotion through the medium. The 6th Busan International Dance Festival (BIDF) will kick off Friday celebrating different rhythms of the human body in open air performances on Haeundae beach, where artists will dance away the evenings between heaven, earth and the sea. This year 127 teams from 11 countries have been invited, making it a truly global event, and they will give 779 shows through June 8. As the first local dance event to be funded by the government, several troupes from near and far have arrived to be part of BIDF’s core official program. The opening event on Friday will feature the National Busan Korean Traditional Performing Arts Dance Company giving a slice of local tradition, along with Israel’s Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollak Dance Company and the Chinese Kun Dance Troupe of Nanjing Art Institute, which is expected to present ornate costumes and props inspired by cultural traditions. Estonia’s Fine 5 Theatre will also give

Jun 1, 2010

Culture beckons around the peninsula

By Ines Min Staff reporter As spring winds into the warmer months, the art world is working to keep things moving by going to the countryside. For those looking for culture outside of Seoul, here are a few venues that are offering unique experiences. Ansan The Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art (GMoma) is holding a lecture series for the arts through June 24, featuring experts in literature, dance and design. The six-part "Art & Plus" series will feature two-hour long lectures every Thursday in the GMoma hall, hosted by professionals in various fields. The event's second edition kicked off last week with sculptor Kang Seok-hee, a former professor at Keimyung University's School of Music. This week's lecture will be given by Choi Young-mi, a published poet who has released books internationally, including the English-language "Three Poets of Modern Korea." Next week will be hosted by Kwang Kyung-shin, a novelist and the editor-in-chief of the monthly "Paper," followed by An Eun-mi, a professional dancer who is a former art director for the Hi Seoul Festival and a cho

May 31, 2010

Arts & Theater