Lifestyle - The Korea Times

KoreaToday Reinterpreting Koreanness Here, Now

3rd Korea Style Expo Opens in Seoul July 23-26 By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Standing in one of the palaces around Seoul, one could easily be struck by the dichotomy of old and new, the low horizontally spanning tile rooftops set against the vertically oriented jungle of concrete skyscrapers. Both are something markedly Korean and coexist in modern-day Korea. But what is quintessentially Korean, however, may not necessarily be traditional, or vice versa, according to Mah Young-beom, artistic director of the 3rd Korea Style Expo,

Jul 22, 2009

Top Artists Join Jeju Delphic Games

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Top artists in various genres from around the world will participate in the third Delphic Games which will take place in Jeju City from Sept. 9 to 15. Prominent masters ― French mime artist Philippe Genty; his wife and collaborator Mary Underwood; Mongolian morin huur (stringed instrument) player Tseyen Tserendorj; Korean folk play master Sim Woo-sung; French poet and critic Claude Mouchard; American typo designer Jill Bell; German architect Kristin Feireiss; and Japanese book designer Sugiura Kohei ― will hold ``maestro programs'' including workshops and exhibitions during the event. ``This year's event will have more Asian participants than Europeans, probably because of geographical reasons. But many world-class artistic masters from Europe and other countries will come to Korea. The maestro programs will enhance the event's status,'' Shin Sun-hi, art director of the Games, said in a press conference Tuesday. The committee said that among the masters, Genty, renowned for his visual theater productions with the manipulation of puppets

Jul 22, 2009

Cirque Eloize’s New Show ID to Premiere in Korea

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Canadian circus troupe Cirque Eloize's brand new show, ID, will premiere at the Global Fair & Festival 2009 in Incheon from Aug. 7 to Oct. 25. Known for its trademark art circuses Rain (2006) and Nebbia (2007), Cirque Eloize is one of the most popular circus troupes, along with Cirque du Soleil. The new work will be themed as ``Speed, Spectacle, Special,'' which will be different from the previous works marked by romantic and artistic elements rather than dynamic spectacles. Diving into the rock culture, exploring classical music and contemporary dance and incorporating theatrical elements, the Canadian troupe is now trying its hand at urban dance. Centered on identity and city living, ID mixes up hip hop and break dancing with circus arts and video in a decidedly Eloize show. The 15 multi-talented performers aged 20-24 who make up the ID troupe are from seven different nationalities such as Germany, Canada, Laos and the United States, which gives the show an energy all its own. The upcoming show is expected to draw much att

Jul 21, 2009

Explore Caribbean Music with Dance Festival

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Seoul section of the International Dance Council CID UNESCO will explore the world of Caribbean dance with ``Korean Dances Meet Caribbean Music'' this week at Arko Arts Theater. The international dance project began in 1998 with the music of Spain, and after featuring other countries like Finland, Greece, Japan and even Brazil, the project will finally spotlight the Caribbean. The organizers explained that the event would be the perfect chance for the local public to explore Caribbean culture. ``Although we live in what people call a global world, we still lack interest in cultures of other countries. In the case of artists, it is difficult for them to bring out universal sympathy without interacting with one another. We are looking into bringing in various cultures and mixing them with what we know best: Korean dance,'' the organizers said in a press release. A total of six dancers will offer their works using Caribbean music, with some offering a hint of ballet, while others incorporate Korean traditional dance and contemporary

Jul 20, 2009

Mock Museum at Gallery Sogool

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The Museum of National Arts Foundation (MoNAF) is holding its first major exhibition of ``comprehensive art.'' If you haven't heard of the MoNAF, don't feel bad. It's not actually a ``new major art institution in Seoul,'' as touted on its poster, which features a marble sculpture and a blurry photograph of a mysterious man. The MoNAF poster looks authentic enough, and that's exactly the point. The MoNAF is a ``mock museum,'' the brainchild of two young Australian artists, Josh Daniel and Brad Betts. In an interview with The Korea Times last week, Daniel and Betts discussed how they came up with the idea for the imaginary art museum. Their upcoming exhibition opens July 24 and will run through July 30 at Gallery Sogool in Changjeon-dong, Mapo. As young artists who, at least for now, can only dream of their works being displayed at major art institutions, Daniel and Betts wanted to explore their ideas about art museums. ``Major art institutions, they prescribe to people what great art is. We're looking at how they actually get

Jul 20, 2009

Spring Awakening Is Daring, Electrifying

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The Tony Award-winning musical ``Spring Awakening'' has a lot of things the Korean audience has never experienced before ― strong language, brief nudity and adult themes. The powerful coming-of-age story, which has electrified the local musical scene, is a daring and expressionistic depiction of teenage self-discovery. The musical has been the talk of the town among musical buffs and critics since opening at Doosan Art Center on July 4. With a cast of Korean musical stars, the musical is based on Frank Wedekind's controversial German play of the same title, written in 1891, with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater. The show deals with such taboo subjects as teenage pregnancy, sexual and physical abuse, and homosexuality. The original play was banned in Germany due to its portrayal of masturbation, abortion, rape and suicide. The plot focuses on a group of teenagers coming of age and their questions and curiosity. Central to the story are Wendla (Kim Yu-young), a young girl whose curiosity about the mysteries of the

Jul 20, 2009

Chuncheon Arts Fest to Be Held Next Month

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Chuncheon Arts Festival to be held next month is gearing up with interesting performances, and now more visitors can come and enjoy with ease, thanks to the new expressway that connects Seoul to Chuncheon in about an hour. The festival will kick off Aug. 5 and continue for four days under the theme ``Chuncheon, Embracing Artists,'' beckoning both children and adults with colorful programs and events. The eight-year-old festival invites a group of dance troupes and music bands, all which have agreed not to receive any payments. The event may not be attractive for those who are looking for mainstream singers and dancers, but it will be a great opportunity to discover up-and-coming artists, along with their distinctive styles and musicality. The opening ceremony will be performed by the Kang Sun-ah Quartet, a jazz band that offers original jazz along with tap dance. Aug. 6 will be a day of music, with five bands preparing to touch fans with their songs and tunes. Six-member band, the No.1 Korea Band, will greet fans with their tun

Jul 19, 2009

Poetry of Time, Space in Madame Butterfly

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter For the fourth installment of its popular My First Opera series, the National Opera of Korea presents a modern yet thematically periodic rendition of Puccini's ``Madame Butterfly'' through July 25 at Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center. The summer program invites not only those who are new to the genre, but also big time fans to enjoy staple operas. Tickets are inexpensive ― from 10,000 to 50,000 won ― and the tiny theater seats only 617 people, but the National Opera shows that quality and quantity are two different things. In a press rehearsal Wednesday the talented cast showed off their flair amid the striking stage set that made optimal use of the limited space, giving way to an intimate and heartfelt audiovisual experience. Set in early 20th-century Japan, the opera tells the story of Cio-Cio San, a budding geisha who marries an American Navy officer Pinkerton. Even when he leaves her, she waits with their son, persevering faithfully and patiently. When Pinkerton finally returns ― with his American wife to adopt his child he's never met ―

Jul 17, 2009

International Photo Fests Open This Month

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Photography buffs will have a chance to enjoy world-class photography in two major events in Korea this month. The Dong-gang International Photo Festival, featuring photographs by renowned Korean and foreign artists, opens July 24 in Yeongweol, Gangwon Province. The festival offers nine different photo exhibitions held at the Dong-gang Museum of Photography and various areas around Yeongweol, through Aug. 23. The special main exhibition ``Masks'' features 85 works by top artists; Man Ray, Diane Arbus, Valerie Belin, Brassai, Lee Friedlander, Orlan, Jacques Henri Lartigue, Andy Warhol, Koo Bohn-chang, Yook Myung-shin and Oh Hein-kuhn. Seven young Korean photographers were chosen to take part in the Young Photographers exhibition ``Magic Flute.'' The eye-catching photographs are brimming with youthful energy and whimsy. Breathtaking Korean landscapes by Kwon Hyuk-jae and Park Nam-sik are displayed as part of ``Under the Same Sky, Different Landscapes'' exhibition. Visitors will have a chance to look at a different s

Jul 17, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra Onnuri Arts Hall, Suwon Youth Culture Center, Gyeonggi Province July 23 The Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Kang Seok-hee, will hold a concert featuring pieces by Schumann, W. Tharichen and Brahms. Tickets cost from 5,000 won to 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (031) 228-2814. Located near Suwon Station, Gyeonggi Province. Korea-Holland Music Association Ensemble Chamber Hall of Sejong Center July 27 The Korea-Holland Music Association will play pieces by Korean composers, most of which are premieres. All tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 070-7794-5118. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Ensemble Ditto's Encore Concert Chungmu Art Hall Aug. 27-30 Popular chamber group Ensemble Ditto will give encore performances of its two-day summer festival. Contrabassist Daxun Zhang and violist Richard Yongjae O'Neil will give recitals on the last day. Tickets cost from 30,000 t

Jul 16, 2009

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

KoreaToday Reinterpreting Koreanness Here, Now

Top Artists Join Jeju Delphic Games

Cirque Eloize’s New Show ID to Premiere in Korea

Explore Caribbean Music with Dance Festival

Mock Museum at Gallery Sogool

Spring Awakening Is Daring, Electrifying

Chuncheon Arts Fest to Be Held Next Month

Poetry of Time, Space in Madame Butterfly

International Photo Fests Open This Month

Concerts, Museums & Theater

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