Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Kokdu Museum to Open in Daehangno

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter "Kokdu," wooden figurines in various shapes such as of human beings and animals, traditionally adorned funeral biers. The figurines were believed to be messengers that could come and go, traveling between life and death. The funeral biers that are decorated with "kokdu" were used to transport a coffin to its burial site and were traditionally believed to be a temporary dwelling place for the dead. But nowadays, it is hard to find the figurines because modern lifestyles have replaced these traditional rituals. To revive this lost aspect of long ago traditions, the Kokdu Museum will open at Dongsoong Art Center in Daehangno on April 29. Kim Ock-rang, director of the art center and museum, has collected some 20,000 figurines since the early 1970s. Kim also established the Kokdu Cultural Research Center to support the studies of the historical significance of the traditional figurines. As the shapes of the "kokdu" are diverse, it is rare to find the same pattern in any two of the figurines, according to the museum. The various facial exp

Apr 19, 2010

Kang Ik-joong Unveils New Works in Seoul

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter It's been 14 years since New York-based artist Kang Ik-joong has had a solo show in Korea. The artist, known for his exquisite moon jars and installations composed of colorful 3x3-inch wooden tiles, is unveiling new works at the ``Baram eu ro suk ee go ddang eu ro ee eur ji go'' (Mixed by the Wind, Joined by the Soil) exhibition at Gallery Hyundai, Sagan-dong, downtown Seoul. Kang's exhibition is just a stone's throw away from one of his works, ``Mountain-Wind,'' which is currently covering the facade of Gwanghwamun Gate as it undergoes restoration work. Inside Gallery Hyundai, visitors can see ``1,392 Moon Jars,'' which features bluish-hued ceramic jars laid out in a circle, as well as the paintings ``40 Moon Jars'' and ``Flower Moon Jars.'' Kang has a special fondness for these jars, which he described as filled with innocence and pride. On the second floor of the gallery, hundreds of 3x3-inch wooden panels are brought together to create the cheerful installation ``Happy World.'' They are painted in bright colors, while some

Apr 19, 2010

Fun Ballet Works for Family, Kids on Offer

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Local ballet companies are offering interesting performances this spring, perfect to enjoy with loved ones during May, which is also known as family month. The Korea National Ballet Company (KNBC) has scheduled its popular repertoire ``Ballet With Commentary'' to begin later this month in Seoul for nine days. This year, the troupe is joined by Seoul Ballet Theater's artistic director, James Jeon, to mix up the commentary-themed show with one of Jeon's works called ``Coppelia.'' ``Ballet with Commentary'' started in 1997 and has become a steady sellout, offering viewers a bit more than pretty costumes and elegant movements. Dancers will perform the work as usual, but others will appear on stage in costumes to explain the plot and the movements to the audience. They will also interact with viewers, communicate with them and answer questions. ``Coppelia'' is the name of a life-sized dancing doll. She was made by an old and mysterious inventor Coppelius, and her presence mocks the villagers, sending them into a world of confusion.

Apr 18, 2010

Soprano Shin Young-ok Returns as Lucia

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Shin Young-ok, South Korea's sweetheart soprano, will return to the local opera stage in Donizetti's ``Lucia di Lammermoor.'' The singer, who has performed in major venues all over the world with her pure, silvery voice, will assume the title role on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. The opera tells the tragic tale of Lucia, who must give up the man she loves due to a forced arranged marriage. Ultimately, the heroine ends up killing her husband. The murder, known as the Mad Scene, is particularly famous. For Shin, ``Lammermoor di Lucia'' occupies a special place in her heart. She rose to stardom after appearing in the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1991, and it was with this very piece that she made her local opera debut two years later. ``This is my second time playing Lucia in Korea,'' Shin said in a press conference recently held in Seoul. ``I played this role frequently abroad but it feels very different to do it here after 17 years.'' When asked if her interpretation of the character has evolved o

Apr 18, 2010

Rodin Exhibition Opens April 30

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Several masterpiece sculptures by French master Auguste Rodin, including ``The Thinker,'' ``The Hand of God'' and ``Balzac,'' will be shown outside France for the first time at the ``Rodin: Retrospective'' that opens in Seoul, April 30. The exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art, downtown Seoul, will showcase 180 pieces ― 113 sculptures in bronze, marble and plaster, 42 drawings and 25 photographs. The Musee Rodin in Paris, France is lending some of the most famous sculptures from its vast collection for this major retrospective in Seoul. Dr. Seo Soun-jou, exhibition director, said Rodin was an artist who successfully infused delicate human emotions such as passion, love and hatred in his sculptures. But what made Rodin a great sculptor? Seo said it was Rodin's talent and artistic originality. ``These keywords not solely earned Rodin worldwide fame but also enabled him to realize the idiosyncratic harmonization of both composition and abstraction, especially shown in Balzac. With his dynamic sculptures, the combination of bo

Apr 16, 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. Club Heaven Y

Apr 15, 2010

Concerts, Museum & Theater

Classical Concerts Opera ‘Don Pasquale’ M Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts June 23- 27 The Seoul Metropolitan Opera brings 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 information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (031) 783-8000. Located near exit 1 of Imae Station on the Bundang subway line. BBC Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center May 16 The BBC Symphony Orchestra, led by Czech conductor Jiri Belohlavek, will perform at Seoul Arts Center this May. Violinist Chee-Yun (Kim Chee-yun) will also j

Apr 15, 2010

Renaissance Paintings With Digital Twist

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Classic Renaissance paintings by European masters such as Raphael's ``School of Athens'' and Botticelli's ``The Story of Nastagio degli Onesti (Second Episode)'' have been recreated by Chinese artist Miao Xiaochun, but with a digital twist. In these artworks, Miao replaces each figure with his own nude form and, more importantly, it has been made entirely using a computer and printed on a canvas. ``At first, you think this is a real oil painting, but it's not. I'm so proud of that,'' Miao said, during a press conference at Arario Seoul, Sokyuk-dong, Jongno. Considered one of China's representative media artists, Miao is holding his first solo show in Seoul ― ``New Works.'' The exhibition at Arario Seoul, features 14 new pieces, including digital paintings, digital etchings and a video work. The contrast between past and present, real and virtual, as well as East and West are evident in Miao's works. He works on a computer, instead of using oil paints, to recreate these classical works of art. A team of 13 assistants also hel

Apr 14, 2010

Musical Midnight Sun to Hit Stage Next Month

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The musical ``Midnight Sun'' starring Tae-yeon, a member of the K-pop group Girls' Generation will be staged from May 7 to 29 at the Sejong M Theater, downtown Seoul. ``Midnight Sun'' is based on the 2006 Japanese novel of the same name that portrays love between a girl who cannot go outside during daytime because of the rare skin disease and a boy who loves surfing under the sun. The original story was made into a television drama and film version featuring the impressive number ``Goodbye Days'' sung by Japanese singer Yui and also remade and sung by the Korean boy band Bay here. The album ``Midnight Sun'' held onto the top spot for two consecutive weeks on the Oricon Chart. The film was shown in Korea in 2007, drawing huge popularity among movie fans. The drama version with a humorous twist adopted from the film aired from July 14 to Sept. 15 in 2006 on TBS in Korea. Based on the strong fan base for the novel, drama and film versions, the Korean rendition will be directed by Hwang Jae-heon and highlights the memorable numbers ``Go

Apr 13, 2010

Peony Blossom Paintings Beckon Spring

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The peony traditionally symbolizes wealth, honor and high social position, and is widely used as the motif of the paintings in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). The flower has also been deemed the symbol of peace and stability of the nation in the ancient country. The National Museum of Korea is holding an exhibition of peony blossom paintings through June 20. The exhibition features a 10-fold peony blossom screen that has been revealed for the first time in 90 years since it was first obtained by the museum in 1921 along with nine peony-patterned paintings from the Joseon period. The 10-fold screen was specially processed to be protected for the exhibition. The folding screen is 580 centimeters in width and 194 centimeters in height, and retains the original screen frame and its silk background of the floral paintings. The painting depicts the peony blossoms coming into full bloom continuously portrayed from the first fold to the 10th. "Unlike other paintings which portrayed a peony on a separate panel, this work shows the unique style t

Apr 12, 2010

Arts & Theater