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Arts & Theater

Clubs, Art Exhibitions and Sports Games

Clubs 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 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. Club Heaven Yeoksam-dong Located next to the Renaissance Seoul Hotel, Heaven is gaining a reputation as a clubber’s paradise with star DJs and a celebrity clientele. Electronic music is the main menu, with laser light and paper confetti shows aplenty on the side. The club caters to partying at any hour of the night: the “main stage” on the first floor is

Mar 11, 2010

Concerts, Museums and Theater

Classical Concerts Spring Trio Concert Kumho Art Hall March 17 Kumho Art Hall presents the spring trio concert sponsored by the Korea Foundation. The concert will feature pianist Cathal Breslin, violinist Choi Jae-won and cellist Choi Jung-eun. They will play works by Chopin, Brahms, Prokofiev, John Field and Handel-Halvorsen. Tickets for the concert are by invitation only. For more information, call (02) 2151-6500,6513. Located near exit 7 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Spring Feast Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center March 27 Seoul Arts Center will hold a spring concert with the Eurasian Philharmonic Orchestra, led by renowned conductor Geum Nan-sae. The concert will feature the overture from Rossini’s “Barber of Seville” and Dvorak’s Symphony No.8 in G major, Op. 88. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 3473-8744. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. BBC Symphony Orchestra Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center May 16 The BBC Symphony Orchestra, led by the

Mar 11, 2010

Bojagi Tradition Reborn as Bobos in US

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter It only takes one glance at the zebra prints, bright floral patterns and polka dot fabrics of Bobo Wrapping Scarf Company to know that these are not your grandmother's ``bojagi.'' The traditional Korean wrapping cloth has been updated with a fresh and funky twist for the American market, thanks to Korean-American artist Patricia Lee. Lee came up with the idea of introducing bojagi as an eco-friendly alternative to gift wrapping paper in the U.S. In a telephone interview with The Korea Times, Lee said she was disgusted with the amount of trash generated from gift wrapping and packaging during the Christmas holidays. According to the U.S. Clean Air Council, an additional 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags are generated during the holiday season. ``Even worse was the thought that so many other American families were going through the same mindless ritual we were and creating millions of tons of garbage! That's when I decided to try wrapping with bojagi for my family and friends, and never wrapped with paper a

Mar 10, 2010

Korean Dance Shows to Bring Tradition and Diversity

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter With spring just around the corner, Korean dance is back, and two traditional dance troupes are preparing their works this month. The National Dance Company of Korea is staging their annual repertoire ``Korean Fantasy'' from March 13 to 20. ``Korean Fantasy'' showcases traditional dance forms. From the ``buchae'' dance, or fan dance, and the crane dance to the traditional circle dance ``ganggangsullae,'' visitors will get to experience centuries-old movements and music, along with the troupe's contemporary works as well. ```Korean Fantasy' expresses the grace and dynamics of our traditional dance. The performance presents a history full of humor, honesty, joy and sadness,'' the troupe said in a press release. Each scene represents a story and a specific dance, making it easier for viewers who are not accustomed to traditional dance to understand. Different stage setups allow viewers to witness a variety of emotions and experiences. The Kingdom stage shows the busy morning in the royal palace. Servants rush to serve the ki

Mar 9, 2010

Riverdance Enthralls Audience With Irish Steps

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The famous dance performance ``Riverdance'' from Ireland is more than just a show, but a form of national pride. The 15-year-old show is here in Korea for the first time, and the troupe indeed made a lasting impression on the local audience Friday night at a packed Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. ``Riverdance'' is a theatrical spectacle where dancers perform traditional Irish step dancing, famous for its rapid and energetic leg movements, while the upper body and arms are kept still. The music for the show has also been a huge hit around the world, topping Irish music charts and even winning a Grammy. Foreign reviews have pointed out that the repertoire could use some revisions, but nevertheless, it was exhilarating to watch the passionate show for the first time here. Divided into two acts, ``Riverdance'' interprets life, the environment and feelings through the movements and music. The dance is primarily what people come for, and it was indeed a treat to watch the 20 dancers tapping along the stage in perfect harmony. Ac

Mar 7, 2010

New Shows to Be Held at Art Sonje Center

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Art Sonje Center is opening two shows by two Europe-based Korean artists, Ham Yang-ah and Jeuno JE Kim, on Saturday. Ham, who has been working in the Netherlands since 2006, is presenting new works of chocolate sculptures, multimedia installations and videos at the exhibition ``Adjective Life in the Nonsense Factory'' on the second floor of the center. Ham's pieces focus on the individuals in contemporary life, rooted in her deep-seated interest in ``the idea of the individual as the smallest and densest unit of life.'' ``Chocolate Head'' is a series of head sculptures of famous curators around the world, while ``Out of Frame'' is a video installation that shows performances with the chocolate sculptures. ``Pole Installation as Individual in the Society'' is an interactive work that features a group of poles with video screens, speakers and microphones. ``Each pole represents one individual, showing the characters, emotions and grouped ideas by using diverse devices such as sound, video and objects. By installing a grou

Mar 5, 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 to be found 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. Club Heaven Yeoksam-dong Located next to the Renaissance Seoul Hotel, Heaven is gaining a reputation as a clubber’s paradise with star DJs and a celebrity clientele. Electronic music is the main menu, with laser light and paper confetti shows aplenty on the side. The club caters to partying at any hour of the night: the “main stage” on the first floor is

Mar 4, 2010

Concerts, Museum & Theater

Classical Concerts Spring Trio Concert Kumho Art Hall March 17 The Spring Trio Concert, sponsored by the Korea Foundation, will feature pianist Cathal Breslin, violinist Choi Jae-won and cellist Choi Jung-eun. The program features works by Chopin, Brahms, Prokofiev, John Field and Handel-Halvorsen. Tickets for the concert are by invitation only. For more information, call (02) 2151-6500,6513. Located near exit 7 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Spring Fantasy Series I Grand Hall, Chungmu Art Hall March 10 Chungmu Art Hall presents the Spring Fantasy Concert with five classical music stars ― violinists Lee Sung-ju and Yang Ko-woon, pianist Park Chong-hoon, cellist Patrick Jee, and violist Kim Sang-jin. The concert will feature Schumann’s “Phantasiestuke” for Violin and Piano, Op. 73, Quinet for Piano and Strings in E-flat major, Op. 44, and Chopin’s “Andante Spinato & Polonaise Brillante” for Piano Solo, Op. 22. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 2230-6601. Located near exit 9 of Sind

Mar 4, 2010

Debbie Han Wins Top Asian Art Prize

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The first thing that you notice about Korean-American artist Debbie Han is her hair: perfectly gelled to stick out in different directions, like a character from Dragon Ball. ``A lot of people ask me about my hair,'' Han admitted with a laugh during an interview with The Korea Times at her home in northern Seoul last week. These days though, Han is attracting more attention for her art, after she won the jury prize at the 2009 Sovereign Asian Art Prize last January. Han became the first artist representing Korea to receive the award, whose $25,000 prize is the largest in Asia, for the piece ``Seated Three Graces.'' Her work, which challenges the Western standard of beauty, features three nude Asian women with prototypical Western classical heads, seemingly chatting while squatting on the floor. ``This award to me really validates my decision, my vision and the crazy, creative journey I've been through to actualize these visions in the last six years in Korea,'' she said. ``My work really took off on a very different leve

Mar 3, 2010

First Korean Billy Elliots Are Finally Unveiled

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter All eyes were fixated on the small, baby-faced boys selected as Billy Elliot. They had gone through a four-phase audition process for the much-anticipated Asian premiere of "Billy Elliot." In a room packed with 400 foreign and local reporters and thespians, the four Billys were revealed to the public for the first time. The musical is the first non-English production of "Billy Elliot" in Asia and the fourth production in the world, following ones in the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. Praised as one of the decade's top-class sensational musicals, the production is set to create the biggest storm in the Korean performance scene this year. Based on the hit film of the same name, "Billy Elliot" revolves around the inspirational story of a boy who realizes his dream against all odds. Set in the North East of England against the background of the historic 1984-85 miners' strike, Billy pursues his dream to become a ballerino in secret although his struggling family opposes it. The award-winning musical was created by

Mar 3, 2010
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