Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Werber’s play to premiere in Seoul

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter French author Bernard Werber's play ``Our Friends, the Humans (Nos Amis les Humains)'' will go on stage in July in Seoul for the first time. The drama is the only play written by Werber, one of the most beloved French writers by Korean readers, who penned numerous novels such as ``The Ants,'' ``The Breath of Gods'' and ``Paradise.'' The Korean adaptation of the French play is much anticipated. ``Our Friends, the Humans'' was first published in October in 2003 in France, selling 250,000 copies. The play premiered at Comedie Bastille in Paris on Sept. 9 in 2004 and then it was staged in Switzerland, Czech Republic and Russia. The play was translated into Korean by Open Books, a local publisher, in 2004 and drew a great deal of attention from theater critics for its powerful text. This year, the Papa Production gained a license to put on the play for the first time in Asia and has received support from the Seoul Culture Foundation. The play revolves around Raoul, a scientist and Samantha, an animal trainer who are trapped in a glass

May 16, 2010

1st Korea Opera Festival beckons fans

By Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter Be ready to eat your heart out, opera lovers. The 1st Korea Opera Festival has kicked off Sunday in Seoul with the Korea National Opera's (KNO) rendition of ``Orfeo ed Euridice'' and will continue into the summer. The inaugural edition of the event is aimed at introducing the country's top opera ensembles and bringing the genre closer to the general public. It will be held through July 7 at Seoul Arts Center. Organized by the KNO and the Opera Society of Korea, the festival features the state-backed ensemble and four civilian troupes that were chosen among the 85 that are part of the Opera Society ― Gloria Opera Ensemble, Sol'Opera, Seoul Opera Ensemble and Beseto Opera. ``It's been 62 years since opera was introduced in Korea,'' Choi Seung-u, president of the Opera Society, told reporters in Seoul last week. ``There have been much talk within the opera circle about the need for a festival that can bring together both public and private sectors, and I hope this event will help revamp the local opera scene.'' Lee So-young, artistic direct

May 16, 2010

S-E Asian art captures contemporary soul

By Ines Min Staff reporter Long exposures, captured performance art, surreal images of melting candy, haunting nature scenery and a Frida Kahlo doppelganger. All these and more can be found at ``Emerging Wave,’’ currently on exhibit at the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center. The multinational exhibition, hosted by the ASEAN-Korea Centre, brings together 27 artists from the 10 ASEAN countries and Korea, and features roughly 110 photographic works in its second annual art exhibition. Though the artists and ethnicities are many, the whole of the spectrum depicts the resounding progression of Asian countries into the contemporary art scene. ``The modern art tradition is strong in the region because of the relatively early introduction of Western culture,’’ said Shin Hye-kyung, the freelance curator who is the mastermind of the show. ``With unique artistic interpretations and fresh approaches to formality, Southeast Asian photographers are creating new possibilities for contemporary art.’’ For Thai artist Dow Wasiksiri, creating new opportunities for varied per

May 14, 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. 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) 3444-6069. Le Nuit Blanch

May 13, 2010

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts George Winston Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center May 16 New Age pianist George Winston will bring his beautiful melodies to Korea at the “Love Will Come” concert. Tickets cost from 50,000 to 90,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 548-4480. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Opera ‘Don Pasquale’ M Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts June 23-27 The Seoul Metropolitan Opera will bring Donizetti’s comic opera “Don Pasquale” to the stage this June. The opera tells the story of an old bachelor Don Pasquale, who wants to marry in order to disinherit his rebellious nephew Ernesto. Tickets cost 10,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. 2010 Matinee Concert- May Concert Hall, Seongnam Arts Center May 20 Seongnam Art Center presents a matinee concert for May, with popular baritone Kim Dong-gyu and TIMF Ensemble. All tickets cost 24,000 won. For more info

May 13, 2010

Hats offer glimpse of Joseon culture

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter The late Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) was called the ``Nation of Hats'' by foreigners. American astronomer and author Percival Lowell (1855-1916), who visited the Joseon Kingdom, particularly noted that its hats were the most impressive among others for their diversity, originality and practicality in his book ``Choson (Joseon), the Land of the Morning Calm'' in 1885. The hats in the late Joseon period were diverse and creative in function and purpose, compared to Western hats used to complement clothing. To show off this Korean headgear, the Coreana Cosmetics Museum is holding an exhibition of a collection of some 100 Joseon hats and photos. The hats served a variety of purposes ― protection from cold and heat, decoration and fashion and a means to represent social status and formality. Especially, in Joseon, a country of ``yangban,'' or noblemen, they were widely used to denote social status. ``The dresses and ornaments, including hats, particularly thrived in the Joseon Kingdom. Confucianism was attributed to diverse development

May 12, 2010

Sculptor pays homage to female body

By Ines Min Staff reporter The women at Sun Gallery are figures of voluptuous hips and buttocks, angular bone structure and dainty appendages. That is, the women of marble and nickel alloy created by sculptor Kim Myung-sook. Kim's fifth solo exhibition opened at the gallery in Insa-dong, Seoul, Wednesday, showcasing her latest works from the past two years. The curvy, sensual sculptures Kim creates are distinct in their use of the bare minimum of lines, achieving shape and volume with the smoothest of turns in sleek marble imported from Carrara, Italy. The solid colors of the raw material compound the sense of ascetic luxury: Nothing more is needed to convey the hypnotizing shapes of the artwork. ``I don't use one specific model, but several,'' said Kim, 58, last week in a meeting with reporters. She refuses to take the route of contemporary artists, who design their structures using computer programs. Instead, Kim seeks inspiration from croquis, which means ``sketch'' in French, and creates her work from scratch. The direct approach to her artwork is evident in the

May 12, 2010

Chorus Line to be made into Korean version

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter A Korean rendition of the award-winning Broadway musical ``A Chorus Line'' will be produced in collaboration with the original creative team next month. The first adaptation of the 2006 Broadway revival version to be shown here in Korea will be directed and choreographed by Baayork Lee with a cast of local musical actors. Lee made her Broadway debut at the age of 5 in the musical ``The King and I'' and starred as Connie Wong in the premiere of "A Chorus Line" in 1975. She has worked both as a veteran director and choreographer as well as been involved in more than 35 musicals. As the director, Lee participated in the selection of the Korean cast in March and praised the enthusiasm and quality of the Korean actors here, according to Nine Culture, the local production company. For the Korean production, the auditions took place for two weeks from March 11 to 24. Some 1,000 actors applied for the audition and 30 finalists were chosen for the cast of the Korean production. ``A Chorus Line'' is about 17 dancers auditioning for a chorus l

May 10, 2010

Int’l performing arts festival kicks off

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter The 9th Uijeongbu Music Theater Festival (UMTF) will embark on a 14-day journey of international performing arts in the northeastern suburb of Seoul from May 10 to 23. About 10 official invitation and some 60 fringe performances will be presented by six countries ― France, Italy, China, the United Kingdom, Canada and Korea. Since its inception in 2002, the festival has presented a variety of genres from mime, dance and music from home and abroad, particularly from the world's top theater works and street performances. ``The UMTF is no longer a festival only for performing artists or the citizens of Uijeongbu. Performing arts professionals and music theater lovers all over the world have shown interest in the UMTF. It has brought excitement and joy with its colorful assortment of music theater performances and attracted recognition, both in Korea and abroad as a performing arts festival of experimentation and exploration,'' Rhee Jin-bae, general director of the festival, said on the event's official Web site. This year's festival wil

May 9, 2010

Art roundup: int’l exhibitions hit Seoul

By Ines Min Staff reporter From dazzling prisms of light from Japan, found-art pieces from the United States and iconic paintings from the United Kingdom, Seoul is seeing international art growing ubiquitous within its city limits. Here are a few of the most unique exhibition highlights. Jack Pierson American artist Jack Pierson is well-known for his provocative photographs of naked young males and evocative installation pieces that bare honesty in their use of banal, daily objects. But his latest work ― textual sculptures nailed straight into the crisp walls of Kukje Gallery by Pierson himself ― built on found art speaks more to the history of the subject matter, in homage to past glory days of glamour and radiance. The artist's first solo exhibition in Korea features 14 wordplays of rusted, broken, painted, cut and mismatched letters from derelict movie marquees, Las Vegas casinos, and businesses of bygone successes. From bold, possessive phrases such as ``My Sin'' to the cheery optimism of ``The Sun Rose,'' Pierson brings insight into the dying world of an America

May 7, 2010

Arts & Theater