Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Museum Shows Myanmar Embroideries

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The Museum of Korean Buddhist Art is holding a special exhibition of Myanmarese embroidery. It is the second Southeast Asian Buddhist art exhibition since the museum hosted the ``Laotian Buddhist Sculpture Exhibit'' last year. The exhibition presents 30 pieces of Myanmar embroidery, which are exotic and flamboyant, a rarity in Buddhist art, which mostly include paintings and sculptures. Myanmar is called the ``nation of Buddha pagodas and Buddhist monks,'' which shows how the religion dominates the country. As Buddhism is deeply rooted in the lives of the Myanmar people, most of the embroidered works involve Buddhist symbolism. The traditional embroidery of Myanmar uses elaborate materials such as gold and silver thread, pearls, marbles, gem stones and metals. The exhibition is designed to introduce the uniqueness of Buddhist culture in South East Asian countries though showing off a variety of historic relics. On the first and the second floors, a variety of embroidered fabrics depicting the life and good deeds of Sa

Sep 10, 2008

Jazz Vocalists to Hold Autumn Concerts

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Korean jazz vocalist Woongsan is holding special performances titled ``Autumn in Jazz'' this month. Well known as a ``jazz stylist'' and for her low-key and rich voice, Woongsan, 35, started singing in 1996. Her name Woongsan, meaning ``majestic mountain,'' was given to her when she entered a temple to become a monk at the age of 18. Realizing that was not her path, she quit after two years and started out as a rocker but after listening to Billy Holiday's music, she eventually turned to jazz. The first Korean to sing at the Blue Note Jazz Club in Japan, she has been performing and gaining popularity both here and there for her deep and smooth voice and impressive musical talents. Having sang in rock bands before turning to jazz, she also carries a slightly rough voice, making her stand out among other jazz vocalists in both countries. The upcoming concert celebrates her fourth album released here, ``Fall in Love.'' She is scheduled to release her third album in Japan on the Pony Canyon Japan label. ``Fall in Love'' carries ``cozy j

Sep 10, 2008

Artists Combine Buddhism With Dance

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter The Kim Myung-sook Nulhui Dance Company is presenting a performance that works a traditional Buddhist ceremony called ``Heonmudarae'' into a highly creative dance. The ``Heonmudarae,'' which literally translates as ``a dance for praying to a religious entity and serving tea,'' is a dance form that brings out the sublimity of Korean cultural and religious tradition. ``There are various types of Buddhist ritual dance which are mostly very simple. We studied the rituals and found `Heonmudarae,' not unlike the praise on Thanksgiving Day for Christians,'' Kim told The Korea Times. The religious dance accentuates a Buddhist ritual called ``Yukbeobgongyang.'' ``Yukbeobgongyang'' is a ritual that was first performed during the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-A.D. 936). According to traditional Buddhist ritual, one must serve six different offerings, namely flowers, tea, fruit, rice, incense and lanterns, to the Buddha. Dance is considered a way of thanking and showing respect to the Buddha for his teachings and also a way of praying and confessing one

Sep 10, 2008

Japanese Musical Coming to Town

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter If you still feel a sense of excitement when thinking about the Beijing Olympic Games, what about keeping your heart throbbing through this ``sports'' musical? ``The Prince of Tennis,'' also known as ``Tenimyu,'' will hit the stage next month in Seoul. The Japanese musical is based on a popular manga series of the same name, which has also been serially published in the weekly cartoon magazine ``Jump'' since 1999. It is the first time for the Japanese original creative team and actors to perform in Seoul. The musical stars young actors, such as Shougo Sakamoto as Ryoma Echizen, Daisuke Watanabe as Kunimitsu Tezuka and Korean-Japanese actor Gong Teyu as Takashi Kawamura. The musical highlights vivid characters of high school athletes from the cartoon by portraying their friendship and dreams based on sports. The musical deals with sports as the main theme, something which is hard to stage. The show is known for the detailed and well-executed depiction of the movement of a ball using sound and light, flamboyant tennis techniq

Sep 9, 2008

KIAF Promises Biggest Show Ever

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Art lovers and collectors will have a chance to satisfy their appetite for Korean contemporary art at the 7th annual Korea International Art Fair (KIAF 2008). Since it started in 2002, KIAF has grown in size and reputation. This year promises to be the biggest ever, with 218 galleries from 20 countries, including 116 from Korea, 27 from Germany and 16 from Japan. KIAF 2008 opens Sept. 19 and runs through 23 at the Pacific and Indian Hall, COEX, southern Seoul. Organized by the Gallery Association of Korea, the KIAF will showcase 6,000 art works by 1,500 local and foreign artists. The event is not just an art market for collectors, but is also envisioned as a festival for art aficionados to share ideas. Switzerland is appointed guest country for KIAF 2008, so there are 19 prominent Swiss galleries at the event. Giovanni Carmine curated the Swiss Young Artist Show, ``What You Get is What You Want,'' featuring three artists Marc Bauer, Peter Regli and Erik Steinbrecher. For the show, Carmine selected works that can be seen as intenti

Sep 8, 2008

Jeonju Sori Festival to Kick Off Sept. 26

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Alls kinds of musical performances ranging from jazz to traditional chanting will resonate in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, the home of pansori or Korean traditional opera, Sept. 26 to Oct. 4. ``The 2008 Jeonju Sori Festival'' will feature 3,852 musicians from 14 countries in 230 performances at the Sori Cultural Arts Center and other locations around the city. Under the theme ``Sound, Entertainment,'' organizing committee chairwoman Ahn Sook-sun said, ``We want to share many things with people through sori (which means sound in Korean). As the theme suggests, we want visitors to enjoy the festival and have fun through music.'' The nine-day festival consists of four major sections ― an intensive pansori program; a domestic invitation performance; a foreign invitation performance; and other side performances. The opening concert titled ``Sharing Sound, Adding Pleasure'' featuring percussion master Kim Duk-soo and pop group SG Wannabe will be held at an outdoor stage on Sept. 26. ``Celebrated Singers' Concert'' performed by male

Sep 8, 2008

Busan Biennale Becomes Major Art Event

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The Busan Biennale kicked off Saturday, only a day after its more internationally renowned rival Gwangju Biennale. Organizers of the event sought to keep its event competitive not just with Gwangju, but with the other major art events being held in Asia this month. The Busan Biennale is divided into three sections: The contemporary art exhibition in the Busan Museum of Modern Art and Busan Yachting Center; sea art festival at Gwangalli beach; and Busan sculpture project at the APEC Naru Park. Approximately 200 contemporary artists from 30 countries will be on display at these different venues for 71 days through Nov. 15. Unlike the Gwangju Biennale, which has no theme, Busan Biennale revolves around the theme of ``Expenditure,'' which is based on a concept by philosopher Georges Bataille. ``All social, cultural and psychological order, values, and symbols, which dominate our life, are always produced excessively. Expenditure means aimlessly and unproductively `expending' and thus disintegrating excessive production. On

Sep 7, 2008

Gwangju Biennale, Unbounded, Takes Off

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter GWANGJU ― Expectations ran high for the 7th Gwangju Biennale, as Korea's most well-known art event opened Friday. The biennale, ``Annual Report: A Year in Exhibitions,'' has always attracted attention, for its lack of an overall theme, something which the artistic director Okwui Enwezor still had to explain even during the press conference Thursday. ``The theme is not the only way where one can telegraph ideas especially in contemporary art, which is very diverse. I thought what we needed for this particular biennale was to have a conceptual structure that would not limit our view through idiomatic structures… We didn't want to have constraints,'' Enwezor said. Having no overall theme seems to have worked for the Gwangju Biennale, since the curatorial team chose art works based on their merit and quality and not just because they fit a certain theme. Gwangju has turned into a city filled with art: the works of 127 artists from 36 countries are shown not just inside the Biennale Hall, Gwangju Museum of Art and Uijae Museum o

Sep 5, 2008

Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions

Clubs The Circle Cheongdam-dong Located in the upscale Cheongdam-dong neighborhood, it's notorious for turning you down unless you're dressed chic and sleek. Faithful to its name, it has a round revolving floor ― looking for your ``lost'' table gives clubbers the perfect excuse to sit down with a sexy stranger. Located on Dosan-daero near Hak-dong intersection. Call (02) 546-5933 or visit www.thecircle.co.kr. Club Answer Cheongdam-dong This might be the answer to your nightlife. It offers an intimate partying environment with groovy electronic music by star DJs. You can reserve tables and the ones on the second floor provide an open view of the dance floor. Or mingling with the hot bartenders at the open bar might be a fine alternative. Located in Cheongdam-dong across the street from Prima Hotel, near the entrance of Yeongdong-daegyo. Call (02) 548-7115 or visit www.clubanswer.co.kr. Club Evans Hongdae or Hongik University Area This club, located near Hongik University, is great for intimate live performances. The line-up of performers is generally top-notch a

Sep 4, 2008

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Seoul Arts Center Sept. 19 Croatian pianist Dejan Lazic will perform with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra led by Korean female conductor Sung Shi-yeon. This is the second part of the ``Classical Concerto Series'' the orchestra has prepared for fans. Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 3700-6300. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Hillary Hahn & Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Seongnam Arts Center Oct. 11 Grammy-award winning violinist Hillary Hahn will join the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to offer some of her favorite melodies. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information visit http://ticket.interpark.com or call (031) 783-8000. Located near exit 1 of Imae Station on the Bundang line. Peter Jablonski Piano Recital Sejong Center for the Performing Arts Oct. 1 Swedish pianist Peter Jablonski, is returning to Seoul to share his musical talent with Korean fans. The 37-year-old artist visited Korea in 1

Sep 4, 2008

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Museum Shows Myanmar Embroideries

Jazz Vocalists to Hold Autumn Concerts

Artists Combine Buddhism With Dance

Japanese Musical Coming to Town

KIAF Promises Biggest Show Ever

Jeonju Sori Festival to Kick Off Sept. 26

Busan Biennale Becomes Major Art Event

Gwangju Biennale, Unbounded, Takes Off

Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions

Concerts, Museums & Theater

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