Lim’s album among Gramophone editor's picks

Lim Dong-hyek's new Chopin album (Warner Classics)Pianist Lim Dong-hyek’s recently released Chopin album is among the Editor’s Choice recordings this month at Gramophone magazine, a British publication considered a worldwide authority on classical music. Lim’s album, “Chopin Preludes, Op. 28, etc.,”  ranked among the 10 albums editor Martin Cullingford picked as the top classical releases of the month. The review largely favored Lim’s album over that of Chinese pianist Yundi Li, who also release

PerformanceNov. 11, 2015

Taste of India beyond curry in Seoul

When people think of Indian food, curries, butter chicken and naan usually come to mind.Vikram UdaygiriBut Vikram Udaygiri and Kasiviswanathan, two chefs invited by the Millennium Seoul Hilton Hotel from Bangalore, India, said India is a country of diversity that offers various regional cuisines beyond just curries, chickens and naan.They say India is like Italy, which has a variety of dishes beyond pasta, or Korea, which offers more than bibimbap.Kasiviswanathan“India has various food! Every 15

FoodNov. 11, 2015

[Design Forum] ‘People-oriented design improves life in new ways’

Though design is often discussed as a craft that walks the line between form and function, Israeli-born Paris-based contemporary designer Arik Levy holds a more unconventional understanding of the concept.Driven by a philosophy that “the world is about people, not objects,” Levy believes that design should focus on improving people’s everyday lives in new ways. His human-oriented philosophy is well reflected across his lighting, furniture and interior designs.Arik Levy (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea H

Arts & DesignNov. 10, 2015

[Design Forum] ‘Technology and art create synergy’

Technology and art, which seem to be from two different worlds, have been increasingly interconnected as the two fields merge to create unexpected innovations and push each other’s boundaries. Two figures standing on the opposite side of the technology-art spectrum ― founder of Pixar Alvy Ray Smith and media artist Lee Lee-nam ― spoke about successful convergences of the two fields in the seventh session “The Collaboration of Pixel and Art” at the Herald Design Forum 2015 on Tuesday in Seoul. Al

Arts & DesignNov. 10, 2015

[Design Forum] The future that 3-D printing will bring about

Imagine a world where anyone can print out all their travel necessities with just a few digital files, making packing luggage obsolete. Digital sculpting visionary Janne Kyttanen shook up all that we know about the world of 3-D printing as one of the distinguished speakers at this year’s Herald Design Forum, held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday. “What if we could make anything we needed at home and recycle all our creations into something new? What if inventory was obsolete? Could transporta

Life&CultureNov. 10, 2015

[Design Forum] Forum stresses design’s power to solve global problems

World-renowned designers, artists, architects, brand marketers and tech entrepreneurs gathered at the Herald Design Forum to explore and share their insights on the future of design in a variety of fields in Seoul on Tuesday.Herald Corp. Chairman Jungwook Hong addresses the audience during the opening ceremony of theHerald Design Forum 2015 at the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday. (Ahn Hoon/The Korea Herald)In his opening speech, Chairman Jungwook Hong of Herald Corp., the forum’s organizer, said de

Life&CultureNov. 10, 2015

[Design Forum] Hub for all things innovation and design

Around 1,000 design innovation enthusiasts flocked to the Grand Hyatt Seoul on Tuesday for the launch of this year’s Herald Design Forum. Under the theme of “Design Platform Creates Value Through Integration,” the fifth annual design forum sought to expand the realm of creative ingenuity in hopes of sparking a brighter future of innovation and outside-the-box thinking.The forum featured lectures by 11 pioneers in the fields of design and technology, including Randi Zuckerberg, founder of Zuckerb

Life&CultureNov. 10, 2015

[Design Forum] ‘Design can help the underprivileged’

Designers have used innovative thinking to bring changes in every aspect of life. But changes they bring often fail to reach the underprivileged, creating an ever-widening gap in benefits to different sections of society. Shigeru BanJapanese architect Shigeru Ban and young Korean entrepreneur Kim Ju-yoon have turned to those who remain on the sidelines of design-led innovations, or a technology-driven life. They shared their stories of finding solutions for their chosen communities in the second

Life&CultureNov. 10, 2015

[Herald Interview] Humor under gloom

Korean literature, along with Korean cinema and art, is typically known to be full of doom and gloom, reflecting the country’s struggles with Japanese occupation, postwar poverty or, more recently, post-IMF depression. Translator Sora Kim-Russell, however, believes that underneath “han” -- which, roughly translated as “angst and sorrow,” is an emotion that has come to exemplify the Korean arts -- there is a subtle but rich undercurrent of humor.“I think that different readers and translators see

BooksNov. 10, 2015

[Design Forum] Considering food as design object

Food is not merely a crucial means of maintaining health and nutrition, but also an “object” of design that is perceived, contextualized and consumed, a Spanish food design guru said Tuesday. “Thinking food as an object is very important. If we view it as an object, it can (be) full of meanings and experiences, if it is well designed. This edible object can be designed with parameters such as ergonomics, functionality, usability and so forth,” said food designer Marti Guixe in a session at the H

Life&CultureNov. 10, 2015

[Design Forum] ‘Design can create new economy’

President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday that design has become an important field that can not only boost the value of the cultural industry but also has the potential to create a “new economy.”A contratulatory letter from President Park Geun-hye is displayed on the screen at the Herald Design Forum in Seoul on Tuesday. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)In her congratulatory letter to the Herald Design Forum 2015, the president said design offers a variety of industries and people to gain insights an

Life&CultureNov. 10, 2015

K-pop sweetheart mired in pedophilia controversy

The song "Zeze" in 23-year-old singer-songwriter IU's recent EP album "Chat-shire" was accused of lyrics suggestive of pedophilia. Some scenes in the music video for the title track "23," such as those featuring IU with a baby bottle, added to the controversy. (Loen Entertainment)Singer-songwriter IU, previously considered K-pop’s sweetheart for her innocent image and vocal talents, has been mired in controversy over allegations of pedophilia in her song lyrics.At the center of the controversy i

PerformanceNov. 10, 2015

Web drama says eating is healing

The latest web cartoon to cross over mediums is “Eating Existence” from Lezhin Comics, which has been made into a Web drama to be aired on portal site Naver’s TV Cast.Although the title may lead viewers to think that “Eating Existence” is a series purely about the enjoyment of good food, director Lee Cheol-ha says it’s really about finding consolation in today’s harsh world.“The original cartoon is also focused less on food and more on expressing the hearts and minds of young people today,” Lee

TelevisionNov. 10, 2015

[Herald Interview] Xuefei Yang wants her music to pull ‘Heartstrings’

Critically acclaimed Chinese classical guitarist Xuefei Yang wants her presence to become more known to Korean audiences with her latest album, “Heartstrings.”  A big-time classical music icon across Asia and parts of Europe, Yang is considered one of the classical guitar world’s leading musicians, having been acclaimed as among the “most extraordinary instrumentalists in the world” and the “most impressive advocate for her instrument.” Yet, in Korea, the 38-year-old guitarist has yet to establi

PerformanceNov. 9, 2015

[Design Forum] Forum to discuss design as platform for convergence, value creation

The Herald Design Forum 2015 is set to kick off Tuesday in Seoul, bringing together some of the world’s brightest minds in design to share their ideas and insights. The one-day celebration of creativity and innovation in design, scheduled to be held at Grand Hyatt Seoul, will invite 11 creative minds across diverse fields of design from architecture, art, and branding to 3-D printing, who will speak at seven lectures and discussions with design aficionados in Korea and at a networking dinner eve

Arts & DesignNov. 9, 2015

Gwangju Design Biennale aims to connect global networks

The Gwangju Design Biennale, Asia’s largest and oldest design biennale celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is eyeing an expanded role as a facilitator of exchanges among Asian countries in the field of design.  The monthlong festival of design, which opened Oct. 15 in the southern city of Gwangju, presents 12 exhibitions -- all based on local and global networks of designers. Held at the Gwangju Biennale exhibition hall, the event convenes some 3,900 Korean and foreign designers, about 1

Arts & DesignNov. 9, 2015

Creators lower expectations for ‘Reply 1988’

The “Reply” TV drama series from cable channel tvN has been hugely successful, evoking nostalgia in viewers by accurately and comically depicting Korean culture and everyday life in the 1990s.The success of the first two primetime installments of the trilogy not only made their leading female stars, Jung Eun-ji and Go A-ra, household names, but also boosted former cable underdog tvN into a prominent original content producer.But series producer Shin Won-ho has low expectations for the third fami

TelevisionNov. 8, 2015

[Herald Review] Kang flawless in farewell ballet

A scene from Kang Sue-jin’s final ballet production, “Onegin.” (Credia)As the tragedy-plagued Tatiana, local prima donna Kang Sue-jin has cemented her rightful ranking as one of the country’s most coveted ballerina figures with her final dance production, “Onegin.”Kang performed three shows at the Seoul Arts Center over the weekend along with the Stuttgart Ballet, capping off a perfect ending to her illustrious, three-decade ballet career. Bidding farewell to the local audience, Sunday’s perform

PerformanceNov. 8, 2015

[Design Forum] Series of design events in store

Korea will hold a series of design fairs and business events in and around Seoul, starting with the Herald Design Forum on Tuesday. The Herald forum, to be held at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Seoul, will bring together 11 creative minds in diverse fields of design, ranging from architecture, art, food to 3-D printing, who will share their experience and insights with local audience. They include Randi Zuckerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media and former marketing director at Facebook, Pritzker Prize-winn

Arts & DesignNov. 8, 2015

[Design Forum] Narrow cultural gap through design: industrial designer Levy

Arik Levy, a world-renowned industrial designer, said Korea’s design sector should keep working toward narrowing the communication and cultural gap between people.Arik LevyIn an interview with The Korea Herald, Levy said that this would take some time to develop using art and technology. But given Korea’s rapid progress in the field of design arts and technology, he said the country would be able to take that challenge.Best known for his signature “Rock” sculptures, the designer said he is drive

Arts & DesignNov. 8, 2015