François Morellet’s neon lines show new side of French art to Korean publicYou would be forgiven if 19th century impressionism and its serene works by Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir were the first things to spring to mind at the mention of French art.Overshadowed by the Young British Artists and U.S. pop artists who captured the art world’s attention in the 20th century with their bold and

Performance May 10, 2011

Rodin Gallery reopens as PLATEAU, kicks off first exhibition in three yearsJust as Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Kun-hee has started to show up at Samsung offices on a regular basis, the group’s art sector is getting ready to engage more in the local art scene. Rodin Gallery, one of the three art museums run by Samsung, reopened with a new name, PLATEAU, last week in its original place in Taepy

Performance May 9, 2011

Yachting gaining popularity among urbanites as marinas open along Han RiverLike many other sports fans, Lim Sang-hyun, a 31-year-old office worker living in Seoul, was excited to hear that a new marina had opened on the Han River near the National Assembly last month. Although he spends practically all of his winter vacations skiing, he was looking for a summer water sport to immerse himself in du

Culture May 6, 2011

An extended fan leaf thought to depict Madame de Montespan in the Trianon de Porcelaine, France, possibly created in 1674. (Victoria and Albert Museum/V&A Image)The luxurious treasures enjoyed by the ruling class in Europe during the 17th and 18th centuries have been gathered at the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan-dong, central Seoul. Organized by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the

Performance May 3, 2011

Korean original non-verbal performances expand stagesBuoyed by a favorable reception from foreign audiences, Korea’s original non-verbal performances are expanding their stages both here and abroad. “Nanta,” the best-known non-verbal performance “made” in Korea, kicked off its two-month-long Chinese tour last month. Visiting 16 cities, it is the longest touring show taken to China by a Korean perf

Performance May 2, 2011

The lawsuit between Seo Tai-ji and actress E Ji-ah ended as E withdrew the suit on Saturday. E’s law firm, Barun, announced on Saturday that she has decided not to go ahead with the lawsuit because of the psychological pain the actress and her families and friends had to go through after her private life went public. She had initiated a suit in January requesting 5 billion won in a property settle

Television May 1, 2011

Open spaces host city dance events to celebrate World Dance DayThis is the official occasion for dancing all night long. International Dance Council, International Theater Institute and UNESCO designated April 29 as International Dance Day in 1982 in honor of Jean-Georges Noverre, the founder of Ballet d’Action, or narrative ballet. April 29 was his birthday. Following the goal of the day ― to inc

Performance April 28, 2011

Korea University’s research institute to digitalize 2,200 rare Korean documents held at UC BerkeleyMore than 2,000 old documents taken from Korea to the U.S. during the Japanese colonial period will return home in digital form. Korea University’s Research Institute of Korean Studies announced Thursday that its Center for Rare Materials Abroad finished digitalizing 738 of the 2,200 old Korean docum

Culture April 28, 2011

Top pizza, liquor and snack houses turn to art marketingYour eyes might be dazzled before your mouth starts to water the next time you go to a pizza place.The seven-story Mr. Pizza building which opened in Bangbae-dong, southern Seoul, last week is part art gallery, packed with eye-catching artworks. Mr. Pizza, which currently tops the local pizza market, renovated the building into a kind of art

Performance April 27, 2011

Fashion photographers Juergen Teller and Paolo Roversi showcase portraits of cut-throat fashion industryWhat Anna Wintour’s assistants have to go through is only a fraction of the merciless battles in the uber-competitive world of fashion. Two fashion photographers who managed to survive and even receive praise for their successful campaigns are to reveal the inside of the most glamorous and compe

Performance April 25, 2011

Actress takes role as almost-perfect ‘Gold Miss’ in ‘Midsummer’There was definitely something “Gold Missy” about her, just like her usual image on TV. Her elaborate dress ― yellow leather jacket, long, chocolate-colored skirt with floral print, with matching fedora and long pearl necklaces ― along with her high-toned singing voice and confident manner all fit the typical image of a Gold Miss, the

Performance April 4, 2011

South Korean actress Yun Jung-hee will be honored with a “Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et Lettres” by the French government on Tuesday, according to the French Ministry of Culture and Communication on Saturday. Established in 1957, the order of France is given to cultural figures who have made significant contributions to the arts or literature or the propagation of these fields. Actress Yun Ju

Film April 4, 2011

South Korean artist Lee Kye-song, known as the “painter of light,” is showcasing around 50 oil paintings at his solo exhibition at Insa Art Center in Gwanhun-dong, central Seoul. Lee uses “obangsaek,” or the five traditional Korean colors of white, black, red, blue and yellow, in a very modern way which resembles splashes of LED light. “The paintings on show are very bright, like LED lights. As LE

Performance April 3, 2011

Korea National Ballet, Universal Ballet fuse ballet with other dances, and plan world toursBallet is hot in Korea right now, and ballet companies are eager to make it even hotter. The graceful dance, which used to enjoyed by only by a small portion of the population because of its seemingly “loftiness,” is gaining popularity among the public both on and off stage. “Giselle,” which in February beca

Performance March 30, 2011

Opera director Achim Freyer leads The National Changgeuk Company’s ‘Mr. Rabbit and the Dragon King’The National Changgeuk Company of Korea has joined hands with Achim Freyer, the world famous German opera director, to introduce “pansori,” or Korean traditional narrative singing, to the world. Freyer, known as one of the best stage directors today, is in charge of the directing and stage/costume/li

Performance March 29, 2011