Blast Theory wins Nam June Paik Art Center Prize

Artist group Blast Theory has won the 2016 Nam June Paik Art Center Prize, the art institution announced Wednesday.The UK-based group, formed in 1991 by Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, uses new forms of performance and technology that engage audiences both online and offline through digital broadcasts and live performances. 　The group is known for its experimental and interdisciplinary works such as “Operation Black Antler,” a 2016 live performance inviting audiences to participate

CultureDec. 7, 2016

Daejeon Arts Collective to host group show

Daejeon Arts Collective will be hosting its 10th group show this week, titled “X.” The exhibition will include painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, screen printing, and multimedia pieces.More a digital logic puzzle to challenge visitors to the show, and an augmented reality Android app by Shengen Lim. The app superimposes a video on the display screen when visitors point their device at an image Lim created. Augmented reality image by Shengen Lim, to be featured in this week`s "X" exhibiti

Expat LivingDec. 7, 2016

Camarata to sing ‘Messiah’ Christmas concert

Camarata Music Company Chorale and Orchestra performs “Messiah” at Chungdong First Methodist Church, Seoul, on Dec. 12, 2015.Camarata Music Company Chorale and Orchestra will be performing its annual holiday concert of Handel’s “Messiah.” The choral work is often associated with the Christmas period around the world and Camarata’s performances attract over 1,000 concert goers each year.Handel’s masterpiece will be sung by the Camarata Chorale, an amateur singing group that has featured members f

Expat LivingDec. 6, 2016

GPP goes big with ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

The Gwangju Performance Project is set to put on Howard Ashman's “Little Shop of Horrors” this weekend.The show is the GPP’s most ambitious project yet, bringing together a live band and the GPP’s choreography group into its 50-strong cast and crew. But things almost fell through when they found themselves without a venue.“Our original theater fell through due to an electrical fire, so we didn't have a theater, but we got lucky,” said director Anissa Ghali, who added they managed to find a theat

Expat LivingDec. 6, 2016

[Herald Review] A life well-regretted in ‘Will You Be There?’

Going back in time and righting the wrongs in your life -- this fantasy becomes reality in the latest time-travel drama “Will You Be There?” the Korean film rendition of French novelist Guillaume Musso’s 2006 novel by the same title.Quietly stirring but dynamic in its plot, the film offers an emotional respite amid the political thrillers that crowded Korean cinema this year, according to lead actor Kim Yoon-seok. It also rubs shoulders with “Vanishing Time: A Boy Who Returned,” another fairy ta

FilmDec. 6, 2016

KNCDC appoints new artistic director Ahn Sung-soo

Julliard graduate and Korea National University of Arts dance professor Ahn Sung-soo, 53, has been appointed as the new artistic director of the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company. Having officially taken the position on Dec. 1, Ahn will take reins of the national dance company for the next three years. “My mission is to elevate the level of Korean dance, create more original productions and to increase the international awareness and appreciation for Korean contemporary dance,” said Ahn,

PerformanceDec. 6, 2016

Big Bang teases lead track for upcoming album

Less than a week away from the announcement of its much-anticipated album, Big Bang unveiled a teaser image for the album’s title track “Fxxk It” on Tuesday. The image reveals that two of the group members, G-Dragon and T.O.P, collaborated with YG Entertainment’s leading producer Teddy and composer R.Tree of Teddy’s latest hip-hop project, The Black Label, for the song. “‘Fxxk It’ is one of the two title tracks to be featured on the new album,” said YG Entertainment. The music videos for both of

PerformanceDec. 6, 2016

Shinhwa to release vinyl of 18th anniversary concert

First-generation K-pop boy band Shinhwa is going retro. Celebrating its 18th debut anniversary this year, the group will be releasing 8,000 vinyl copies of live recordings from its anniversary concert which was held earlier this year in March at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul, according to the band’s management agency Shinhwa Company on Tuesday.Containing 10 of Shinhwa’s biggest hits, including “Once in a Life,” “Crazy,” “The Days,” “Voyage” and others, the record is currently available f

PerformanceDec. 6, 2016

[Foreigners Who Loved Korea] Paul Yu Pin, the Roman Catholic Cardinal Who Supported the Korean Independence Movement

In late December 1945, when the issue of trusteeship over Korea became a political issue a mere two months after the Korean Provisional Government returned to the country, KPG President Kim Gu introduced the Roman Catholic bishop Paul Yu Pin to the Korean people through a newspaper article. Virtually unknown to Koreans, Yu was a great contributor to the Korean independence movement.Unknown Chinese supporter of the Korean independence movementThe following is quoted from the Dong-a Ilbo article f

CultureDec. 6, 2016

MMCA to exhibit Warhol, Picasso in 2017 and beyond

South Korea's national museum of contemporary art will present a series of exhibitions featuring Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and other great artists starting next year, the museum’s director said Monday.Bartomeu Mari, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, unveiled a list of exhibitions planned for next year and beyond under such themes as “Other Modernities,”“Convergence of Architecture, Design, Cinema,” and “Modern and Contemporary Masters.”“I think it is very important

PerformanceDec. 6, 2016

Fish skin, snooker chalk win UK Turner Prize for Marten

LONDON (AFP) -- Sculptor Helen Marten on Monday won the Turner Prize, at a London ceremony where the art world rallied against xenophobia and intolerance.The prize is awarded to a British artist under 50 for an outstanding exhibition, and has become synonymous with controversy in its 32-year history with previous winners including contemporary art agents provocateurs Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.Marten, 31, impressed the judges with her sculptures from unusual materials such as fish skin and sno

PerformanceDec. 6, 2016

[Herald Interview] Familiar but new, Sechs Kies returns with remake album

K-pop group Sechs Kies, which regrouped this year for a reunion concert after a 16-year hiatus, has released a new album filled with remakes of the band’s past hits.　More than a decade since their heyday, the members said they felt nervous but happy, with a stronger sense of responsibility than before, when the members were 20-somethings.“Before, we would basically follow the directions of the songwriters and producers,” said member Kim Jae-duck. “Now, we feel a responsibility to make better mus

PerformanceDec. 5, 2016

New SR railway company to launch super rapid trains

On a small peninsula just over 100,000 square kilometers in area, Korea’s vastly extensive railways have made domestic flying a virtually unnecessary expense and hassle. 　Since 2005, the country’s railways have been dominated by Korail, which has been running competition-free over the past decade. However, all that is set to change on Dec. 9.　On Friday, travelers will find themselves with an alternative option, as Korea welcomes its newest contender to railway and bullet train travel -- SR.  An

TravelDec. 5, 2016

[Herald Interview] Young opera soprano returns home to star as Juliet prior to Met Opera debut

From Violetta in Verdi’s “La Traviata” to Fiorilla in Rossini’s “Il Turco in Italia,” up-and-coming opera star Hyesang Park is gearing up to tackle one of the theater world’s most iconic leading ladies -- Shakespeare’s Juliet. Marking her first return to the local stage since performing alongside the legendary Placido Domingo in his final concert in Korea in October, the 28-year-old Korean soprano is back home to star in the Korea National Opera’s upcoming staging of Charles Gounod’s “Romeo and

PerformanceDec. 4, 2016