Art fairs to inspire your spring makeover

More than 370 artists and designers offer latest works at large-scale fairs in SeoulTwo art and design fairs are set to open in Seoul, offering inspiration for those planning to have a fresh spring look in their homes. Monthly art magazine Art & Criticism will open “A&C Art Fair Seoul 2012” on Friday at SETEC in Daechi-dong. Celebrating its fifth year, the fair introduces over 1,200 works by about 250 artists. Unlike other art fairs, which are usually gallery-oriented, this fair is strictly arti

April 22, 2012

Bee Gees star Gibb wakes from coma: spokesman

LONDON (AFP) ― Bee Gees singer Robin Gibb has woken from a coma and responded to members of his family, his spokesman said Saturday.Gibb, 62, contracted pneumonia and fell into the coma last week. He is suffering from colon and liver cancer.His spokesman Doug Wright said Gibb had been able to nod and communicate with family members who have been at his bedside at a hospital in west London.He did not give further details.The British star’s wife Dwina said this week that the singer’s brother, fell

April 22, 2012

Lady Gaga visits Olympic Stadium, expresses her excitement

U.S. pop artist arrived in Seoul on Friday night, no details of her schedule unveiledPop star Lady Gaga made a surprise visit to Olympic Stadium in Seoul, the country’s biggest sports and entertainment venue, on Sunday, expressing her excitement to her fans via Twitter.“Imagine when it’s full. I love that it’s raining, so NEW YORK of you Korea!” she wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon.Gaga posted two photos of her standing at the center of the venue for her upcoming concert holding an umbrella

April 22, 2012

Calendar

Exhibitions“Nine Dwarves”: Kukje Gallery presents a solo exhibition of Paul McCarthy, a U.S. multimedia artist who garnered critical attention for his stunningly diverse variety of materials and a radically experimental approach to art. This exhibition is comprised of nine sculptures and one aluminum sculpture, including pieces from the artist’s famous White Snow series which reveal his social satire and wry sense of humor. The exhibition runs through May 12 at Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, cen

April 20, 2012

Eyelike

Mraz celebrates love on 4th albumJason Mraz ``Love is a Four Letter Word” (Atlantic)Jason Mraz is true to the title of his new album, singing about all kinds of love on ``Love is a Four Letter Word.”The 33-year-old singer-songwriter explores romantic notions, familial bonds and big, universal love on his fourth studio release. He also expands his folk-pop sensibilities to include reggae and jazz rhythms layered with horns and vocal harmonies.Mraz is at his best with his guitar and silky, lilting

April 20, 2012

Patti Kim’s life story told by Jo Young-nam

Veteran singers get together  for a special project Veteran singer Patti Kim has never been so fond of the idea of publishing her biography, up until the idea of working with her famous colleague popped up.“I’ve been asked to publish a book about myself for the last 20 years, but the idea never really appealed to me,” said the 74-year-old diva during a press meeting in central Seoul Wednesday. “But when my staff members suggested the idea of working with Jo, I thought, well, that may actually wo

April 19, 2012

Curtain rises on latest version of ‘Miso’

Chongdong Theater dreams of stage in Las VegasChongdong Theater launched on Wednesday the latest version of “Miso,” the theater’s Korean traditional musical with modern twists. The new version, “Miso 3,” follows the 2011 version “Miso 2: Silla, the Land of Gods” and the 2009 original “Miso: Love Songs from Chunhyang.” The musical started off in 1997 under the title, “Traditional Art Stage” and later changed its brand name to “Miso” in 2009. “Miso 3” is an adaption of the tale of Chunhyang. The K

April 19, 2012

Korea Opera Festival kicks off in May

The country’s five leading opera companies will hold a month-long festival in May at the Seoul Arts Center.Titled “Korea Opera Festival,” the state-funded Korea National Opera and four private opera companies ― New Seoul Opera Company, Grand Opera Company, Nuova Opera Company and Seoul Opera Company ― are participating in the annual event. The festival kicks off May 6 and ends June 8.In its third year, the five companies will stage not only popular opera repertoires from Europe but also homegrow

April 18, 2012

Action with brush in hand

Actor Ha Jung-woo showcases ‘faces’ at fifth solo art exhibitionSouth Korean actor Ha Jung-woo can not only make faces, but also paint them. The versatile man loved for his impressive filmography, made up of mostly thrillers and action flicks like “The Chaser,” “Take-off,” “War against Crime” and also the latest mega-hit romantic comedy “Love Fiction,” is gaining reputation as a talented artist among art insiders. And his popularity as an artist was evidenced by the many who gathered Tuesday at

April 18, 2012

Jason Mraz brings world tour to Busan

Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz will bring his musical charms to Busan on June 8, said Hyundai Card, which organized the concert. The American artist will take the stage at BEXCO on Friday, June 8 at 8 p.m. Titled “Hyundai Card Culture Project 06 Jason Mraz in BUSAN,” the event will kick off Mraz’s first world tour since the release of his fourth regular album, “Love is a Four Letter Word,” on Tuesday. Mraz debuted in 2002 with his first album, “Waiting for My Rocket to Come

April 18, 2012

Liz Mitchell to sing in support of N.K. refugees

Lead singer of Boney M. to protest Beijing’s forcible repatriation of North Korean defectors Just a year after the box office triumph of Korea’s retro flick “Sunny,” the legendary European disco band behind the movie’s title track made its second visit to Seoul ― this time for the serious cause of protecting the human rights of North Korean refugees. Liz Mitchell, one of the original members and lead singer of Boney M. ― the German-based vocal group that dominated the 1970s disco era ― is in Seo

April 17, 2012

Jin to head Academy of Korean Studies

Former Finance Minister Jin Nyum has been appointed the new director of the Academy of Korean Studies, the state-run research and educational institute announced Monday.Jin, who served as the deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance from 2001 to 2002, worked as one of the senior advisers to Samjong KPMG — one of the country’s largest accounting firms — and a chair professor at Chonbuk National University, prior to being appointed as the new director of the AKS. A graduate of Seo

April 17, 2012

Bach’s ‘messenger’

Violinist Chung Kyung-wha to hold  recitals of J.S. Bach’s sonatas and partitasViolinist Chung Kyung-wha, one of the most beloved Korean musicians, returns to her loyal fans in a series of solo recitals of Bach’s sonatas and partitas in May and in June.Calling herself “Bach’s messenger,” the 65-year-old violinist said the upcoming recital has been her dream for a long time.“I feel like I’m dreaming because I dreamed of this moment for a long time. I feel really honored to perform Bach’s sonatas

April 17, 2012

Fans recall Jackson Pollock at 100

EAST HAMPTON, New York (AP) ― Out behind a small farmhouse on a Long Island country road sits an old gray barn where a tormented artist dripped paint off brushes, sticks ― even turkey basters ― onto canvasses spread out on a wooden floor. Besides making quite a mess of things, leaving splash marks everywhere, Jackson Pollock also created some of the 20th century’s greatest masterpieces.Pollock, who would have turned 100 this year, is being remembered at a New York City fundraiser later this mont

April 16, 2012

Syrian drama sheds light on uprising in the country

Syrian play ‘Can  You Please Look  at the Camera’  premieres in SeoulAside from producing the show in secret in Damascus, Syrian director Omar Abu Saada and his six-member troupe had to fly to the other side of the world to showcase their politically-conscious play for the first time.The troupe’s piece, “Can You Please Look at the Camera?” deals with the ongoing Syrian uprising against current President Bashar al-Assad and his regime, and the real-life case of protestors who were imprisoned whil

April 16, 2012