Lifestyle - The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Xiqu Centre to bring Cantonese opera 'Farewell My Concubine' to Seoul

Experimental Cantonese opera “Farewell My Concubine (New Adaptation)” will make its Korean debut at the National Gugak Center in Seoul, Sept. 20. Courtesy of West Kowloon Cultural District AuthorityRevival of Cantonese opera blends tradition with modernity to reach new audiencesBy Kwak Yeon-sooHONG KONG ― Cantonese opera is arguably one of the most popular art forms in Hong Kong. It is a comprehensive multi-disciplinary art form using vocals, instrumental music and dancing to tell a story.It is generally believed that Cantonese opera evolved out of “Nanxi,” or Southern drama which was performed in public theaters in Hangzhou back in the 12th century. This centuries-old art form was once the primary source of entertainment for Hong Kong residents, but the rise of the film industry and the advent of television in the late 1960s led to a decline in its popularity.By the 1970s, the opera business started to decline and only a few theaters could afford to continue operating. The remaining theaters carried on the legacy and tried to revive public interest in Cantone

Sep 12, 2023By Kwak Yeon-soo

[INTERVIEW] Xiqu Centre to bring Cantonese opera 'Farewell My Concubine' to Seoul

Dealers at Frieze optimistic about Korea's art scene despite market readjustment

Visitors fill the sophomore edition of Frieze Seoul at COEX in southern Seoul, Thursday. The four-day fair, which opened on Wednesday, attracted a throng of art aficionados hailing from across Asia and the rest of the world, especially those from mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan and Southeast Asia. YonhapKorean art market expected to grow along with influx of international playersBy Park Han-solThe Korean art market experienced an unprecedented boom since the COVID-19 pandemic, further boosted by Frieze Seoul's debut in 2022. Market records were broken last year when art sales surpassed the 1 trillion won ($748 million) mark for the first time.Nonetheless, the global market has been experiencing a slowdown since the beginning of this year and Korea was no exception. According to the Korea Art Authentication & Appraisal Research Center's July report, the total sales of Seoul Auction, K-Auction and Myart Auction stood at 61.3 billion won ($46 million) in the first half of 2023 ― a 47 percent drop compared to the same period a year earlier.Despite the cooling market, the second edit

Sep 8, 2023By Park Han-sol

Dealers at Frieze optimistic about Korea's art scene despite market readjustment

Frieze Seoul returns with more collectors from Asia

Frieze Seoul returns with more collectors from Asia

Visitors roam around the sophomore edition of Frieze Seoul at COEX in southern Seoul, Thursday. The global art fair kicked off with a VIP opening, Wednesday, attracting art aficionados from across Asia and around the world, especially those hailing from mainland China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia with the lifting of COVID-19-related travel restrictions. YonhapBy Park Han-solFollowing a splashy debut last year, Frieze Seoul returned to COEX in the ritzy Gangnam District in the southern part of the capital this week to offer another two-for-one art fair experience with its local counterpart Kiaf Seoul.A VIP opening was held, Wednesday, seeing no shortage of art lovers from across Asia and around the world, especially those hailing from mainland China, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia following the lifting of COVID-19-related travel restrictions.“We have over 100 museum groups here, (compared to) 25 last year. We have some of the most important curators from around the world. There are lots of American, European, Chinese and Japanese collectors,” Frieze CEO Simon Fox noted duri

Sep 7, 2023By Park Han-sol

Frieze Seoul returns with more collectors from Asia

Dealers at Frieze optimistic about Korea's art scene despite market readjustment

PHOTOS Frieze captivates Seoul

Visitors queue up to enter Frieze Seoul, held in conjunction with the annual Kiaf Seoul, at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday. NewsisVisitors take a look at Alex Katz's “Sunrise 8" during a VIP preview of Frieze Seoul at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapFrieze CEO Simon Fox speaks during the opening ceremony for Frieze Seoul and Kiaf Seoul at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapVisitors look at Jeff Koons' "Gazing Ball," presented by Robilant+Voena, during a VIP preview for Frieze Seoul at COEX in southern Seoul, Wednesday. Over 330 domestic and international galleries are presenting their art at Frieze Seoul along with local fair Kiaf Seoul. YonhapBritish artist Lucian Freud's illustrated letter to Caroline Blackwood is on view at the Stephen Ongpin Fine Art's booth at Frieze Seoul, Wednesday. NewsisFrieze Seoul, held in collaboration with Kiaf Seoul at COEX in southern Seoul, is the largest art fair in Korea. Opened Wednesday, Frieze runs through Saturday and Kiaf until Sunday. YonhapVisitors observe Korean master Kim Whan-ki's painting at the booth of LG OLED, t

Sep 6, 2023By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korean comic artists break new ground in Brussels

The Korean Cultural Center to Belgium and the European Union hosts "Pop the Bubbles, Blur the Boundaries” exhibition at the center through Dec. 29. Courtesy of Korean Cultural CenterBy Kwon Mee-yooKorean comic artists are teaming up with their European counterparts in Brussels, Belgium forging new creative alliances in an exhibition that aims to redefine the boundaries of the comic world.The Korean Cultural Center to Belgium and the European Union (EU) opened its annual exhibition "Pop the Bubbles, Blur the Boundaries," Wednesday (local time).Belgium is home to iconic comic book characters such as the Smurfs, Tintin and Lucky Luke, which not only graced the pages of newspapers and magazines but also captivated audiences through television and the Korean Cultural Center has been engaging with the medium to foster cultural connections between the two countries.First launched in 2014, the exhibition has been bridging exchanges between Korean and Belgian comic artists. This year's edition is expanded to feature eight artists from Belgium, Switzerland, France as well as Korea, marki

Sep 6, 2023By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korean comic artists break new ground in Brussels

INTERVIEW Phillips Asia chairman sees Korea as foothold in Asian art market

Jonathan Crockett, chairman and head of 20th century and contemporary art at Phillips Asia, poses in front of Julien Nguyen's “New World Order” (2016) prior to his interview with The Korea Times at Songwon Art Center in central Seoul, Aug. 31. The global auction house is hosting a pop-up group exhibition, “Briefly Gorgeous,” at the center until Saturday on the occasion of Frieze and Kiaf Seoul. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk'Briefly Gorgeous' exhibition offers unique blend of established, emerging artistsBy Park Han-solIt isn't just the galleries and museums across Korea that are joining the art-filled action on the occasion of the return of two major art fairs ― Frieze and Kiaf Seoul ― this week.As the leading global auction houses have mounted their own free pop-up exhibitions throughout the capital city, dazzling art lovers who are traveling beyond the fair venue at COEX in southern Seoul, Phillips is stealing the limelight with its fresh approach.Whereas Sotheby's and Christie's have zeroed in on bringing multimillion-dollar Basquiats, Warhols, Banksys

Sep 5, 2023By Park Han-sol

[INTERVIEW] Phillips Asia chairman sees Korea as foothold in Asian art market

Must-see shows during Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2023 (2)

Installation view of Nam June Paik's outdoor laser installation, “Transmission Tower” (2002), which was unveiled in Korea for the first time at Nam June Paik Art Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 30 / YonhapBy Park Han-solOn the occasion of the return of two leading art fairs ― Frieze and Kiaf Seoul ― at COEX in southern Seoul, Sept. 6, Korea will see a flurry of exhibition openings and late-night soirees at museums and galleries strewn across its capital city.Art enthusiasts are encouraged to journey beyond the fair venues and immerse themselves in the creative fabric of Seoul.Here are selected shows that could be the cherry on top of your art-filled excursion.Visitors take photos of British street artist Banksy's “Girl without Balloon,” formerly known as “Love is in the Bin,” during a preview at Paradise City, a resort complex in Incheon, Thursday. YonhapMultimillion-dollar masterpieces brought forth by major auction housesIt isn't just the galleries who are joining the festivity on the occasion of Frieze and Kiaf Seoul's return.The three

Sep 1, 2023By Park Han-sol

Must-see shows during Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2023 (2)

Must-see shows during Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2023 (1)

Must-see shows during Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2023 (1)

Installation view of “Botched Art: The Meanderings of Sung Neung Kyung” at Gallery Hyundai / Courtesy of Gallery HyundaiBy Park Han-solIn tandem with the return of two leading art fairs ― Frieze and Kiaf Seoul ― at COEX in southern Seoul, Sept. 6, Korea will see a flurry of exhibition openings and late-night soirees at museums and galleries strewn across its capital city.Art enthusiasts are encouraged to journey beyond the fair venues and immerse themselves in the creative fabric of Seoul ― with some perhaps getting a chance to travel all the way to the restricted border region near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to witness the artists' reimagining of the strip of land that divides the Korean Peninsula.Here are selected shows that could be the icing on the cake of your art-filled excursion.A view of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and North Korea seen from Dora Observatory in Paju, Gyeonggi Province / Korea Times photo by Park Han-solArtists reimagine DMZ, the world's last Cold War frontierThe DMZ, a 250-km-long and 4-km-wide strip that has divided the Korean Peninsula since t

Aug 31, 2023By Park Han-sol

Must-see shows during Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2023 (1)

Must-see shows during Frieze and Kiaf Seoul 2023 (2)

Galerie BHAK celebrates 30th anniversary with teen creativity

From left, Jun Ha-won, Bak Ji-yeon, Kim Tae-hee, Kwon Wu-jin, Kim Ju-seong, artist Song Eun-young and Lee Myung-jae pose at the “My Story” exhibition at Galerie BHAK. Courtesy of Galerie BHAKGalerie BHAK has celebrated its 30th anniversary in a unique way. The gallery in Seoul has launched an art exhibition where teenagers can unleash their imagination and showcase artistic talent. The exhibit, titled "My Story," featured the works of six students; each piece tells a creative story, portraying the artist as the protagonist.The exhibition took place at BHAK Aug. 18 to 20, showcasing a total of 10 pieces by six young students. The themes and subjects of these works were as unique as they were profound. The artworks showcased a broad range of artistic media ― from the traditional techniques of oil painting and watercolor to modern 3D models and sketches ― and the diversity in expression and format was remarkable. The artworks depicted dreams captured in a drawing case, the story of a scissor girl, the emerging self from a cracked egg, a pristine society represented on a blan

Aug 29, 2023

Galerie BHAK celebrates 30th anniversary with teen creativity

Raoul Dufy's sumptuous colors take over Seoul in two simultaneous retrospectives

Installation view of French painter Raoul Dufy's retrospective entitled “Raoul Dufy, The Melody of Happiness” at The Hyundai Seoul in the city's Yeongdeungpo District / Courtesy of GNC MediaBy Park Han-solFrench artist Raoul Dufy in 1937 / Courtesy of Ministere de la Culture - Mediatheque du patrimoine et de la photographie, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Francois KollarIf one were to sum up French artist Raoul Dufy (1877-1953) in a single phrase, a strong contender would be “a jack of all esthetic trades” ― as once dubbed by The New York Times in its Sept. 3, 1999, article.While best known for his vivaciously colored, lyrical canvas works and watercolors, Dufy was also a printmaker, fashion and book illustrator, draftsman and textile designer.And those in Seoul are offered a rare, comprehensive glimpse of the artist's creative journey this year. More than 350 of his paintings, woodblock prints, drawings, ceramics and textiles have taken over the city via the two simultaneous retrospectives mounted at The Hyundai Seoul and the Seoul Arts Center's Hangaram Art Museum

Aug 25, 2023By Park Han-sol

Arts & Theater