‘Failed revolutionary’ seeks another way

He says he is a “failed revolutionary,” but there is not a trace of defeat in his eyes. A revolutionary-turned-poet and photographer, Park Ki-pyung, better known by his penname Park No-hae, meaning liberation of laborers in Korean, has abandoned socialist revolution. But there is purposefulness in his slow, articulate speech and a steely resolve in his voice ― marks of a man with a mission.As he sits down for an interview on Feb. 10 at Sejong Center in Seoul, the venue of his latest photo exhibi

Feb. 28, 2014

Around the Hotels

Intraceuticals spa promotion at Conrad SeoulConrad Seoul is offering a special spa package featuring the premium Australian brand Intraceuticals, which specializes in oxygen therapy that brightens the skin. The package includes a 60-minute spa program with the Intraceuticals’ machine that uses high-pressure oxygen to deliver the spa serum deep into the skin. Guests can choose a treatment option from among Rejuvenate (for skin-hydrating), Opulance (for skin-whitening) and Clarity (for irritated s

Feb. 28, 2014

16th-century Korean paintings discovered in Honolulu

HONOLULU (AP) ― The Honolulu Museum of Art has discovered two paintings from late 16th-century Korea in its collection, including one that’s been called an “earth-shattering” find.“This is like discovering a lost Vermeer,” said Shawn Eichman, curator of Asian art at the museum, referring to the Dutch master, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.  The paintings are from the estate of Richard Lane, an art collector and dealer. Lane, who lived in Japan for about 50 years, helped catalog the museum

Feb. 26, 2014

The artist as a nomad

Artist Chae Tong-yull’s dynamic life story fascinates everyone who hears it. Born in Busan in 1951 in the middle of the Korean War, Chae went to university at age 15. He quit school, volunteered to serve in the marine corps and participated in the Vietnam War as a military intelligence officer. Thus far, Chae’s life doesn’t sound much like that of an artist. His life took a more dramatic turn when he decided to go to the U.S. on an exchange student program. There he lost his interest in studying

Feb. 25, 2014

Free English lectures to shed light on Korea

Living in Korea, but can’t quite grasp what this country is about? Try the YEOL lectures. YEOL, the Korean Heritage Preservation Society, offers a series of English seminars featuring prominent scholars, experts and intellectuals in the field of Korean history, culture and art to discuss new insights into Korean society. They are free of charge. The monthly lecture series will kick off next week with professor Emanuel Pastreich from Kyung Hee University speaking on the philosophy of Park Ji-won

Feb. 24, 2014

Pope names new cardinals as predecessor looks on

VATICAN CITY (AFP) ― Pope Francis appointed his first batch of cardinals on Saturday, as his predecessor Benedict made a surprise rare appearance at the ceremony naming the new “princes of the Church”. The new cardinals were presented with scarlet-red birettas and gold rings at a grandiose ceremony in St. Peter’s Basilica that Vatican observers say should help correct a perceived bias towards European cardinals. Nine of the 19 cardinals appointed on Saturday came from South America, Africa and A

Feb. 23, 2014

Calendar

Dance“Two in Two”: Kim Ji-young and Kim Joo-won, two of the most celebrated ballerinas in Korea, will collaborate onstage for the upcoming restaging of choreographer Ahn Sung-soo and fashion designer Jung Kuho’s 2000 piece “Two in Two.” The piece is a mix of tango and flamenco, as well as ballet and contemporary. Joining the two Kims are dancer and choreographer Kim Bo-ram, who was a backup dancer for pop singers Uhm Jung-hwa, Koyote and Lee Jung-hyun from 2000 to 2007, and Jang Kyung-min, who a

Feb. 21, 2014

Around the Hotels

Chinese group dining specials at Grand Hilton SeoulGrand Hilton Seoul’s Chinese restaurant Yeohyang is offering special group dining specials until the end of February. The menu for five-seven people, priced at 430,000 won, includes deep-fried chicken in hot pepper sauce, Hong Kong-style blue crab, sweet and sour pork, a main dish and dessert. It also includes a bottle of the Australian red wine Koonunga Hill or Tianjin kaoliang liquor. The menu for eight to 10 people, priced at 735,000 won, inc

Feb. 21, 2014

Thumb-size statue looks like Buddha’s mother

A thumb-size bronze statue of a woman unearthed at an ancient temple site in the southern old city of Buyeo looks like the mother of Buddha, archeologists said Thursday. If they’re right, it would be the first statue of Queen Maya found in Korea and could provide new clues to ancient Korean Buddhism. The artifact, standing 6 centimeters tall, was discovered by a team of archeologists on site at Wangheung Temple in Buyeo, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Baekje. The temple was built in A.D.

Feb. 20, 2014

When night comes, museum opens

Artworks have escaped the spaces and hours of a regular exhibition. In unlikely places at ArtSonje Center, like the rear door of the formal exhibition space, a utility room and the rooftop, installation art pieces are scattered for display from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.Finding the artworks feels like a treasure hunt as they are located in inconspicuous spots inside the building. The museum map guides viewers to the location of each artwork. If they don’t concentrate on the map, they may miss some of them

Feb. 17, 2014

Barbie stirs up frenzy with swimsuit issue debut

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― Barbie has been many things in her life: A doctor. A paleontologist. An astronaut. A cheerleader. A race car driver. A candidate for the presidency of the United States.Now, on the threshold of her 55th birthday, the world’s most famous doll is stirring up a social media frenzy with her debut in Sports Illustrated’s 50th anniversary swimsuit edition.In a tie-in with toymaker Mattel, the top-selling U.S. sports weekly has cast the leggy ― if anatomically impossible ― all-Americ

Feb. 16, 2014

Calendar

Classical music“Baroque-music concert”: Flutist Emmanuel Pahud and Berliner Barock Solisten will perform the works of Bach and Telemann, two of the most appreciated composers of the Baroque era, at Seoul Arts Center on Feb. 22. Pahud, who was named principal flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 22 some 20 years ago, is one of the top flute players in the world. Founded by members of the world-renowned Berlin Philharmonic in 1995, the Berliner Barock Solisten is an ensemble

Feb. 14, 2014

Mexican horsemen culture on show

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) ― There’s no mass production here, just evidence of the slow and patient work that went into handcrafting the costumes and tools behind one of Mexico’s most important traditions. From fine embroidery to ornate saddles and silver inlaid spurs, more than 150 pieces are on display at the Albuquerque Museum as part of the exhibition “Arte en la Charreria: The Artisanship of Mexican Equestrian Culture,” which is on display through March 30. The artifacts, some dating to t

Feb. 12, 2014

Warm clothes for freezing city at New York Fashion Week

NEW YORK (AP) ― It was once again winter ― cold, cold winter ― that dominated the mood on the fifth day of New York Fashion Week Monday, with designers presenting variations of warm clothes on a particularly freezing day. Carolina Herrera, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s The Row, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger, Thom Browne and Zac Posen were among the designers presenting their fall-winter collections on Monday. Shows were being held at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week tents at Lincoln Center and at va

Feb. 12, 2014

Magna Carta copy arrives in U.S. for exhibition

HOUSTON (AP) ― It was care fit for a king: The yellowing parchment was fitted inside a custom-designed aluminum and steel case with monitors, then wrapped in specially made packaging. Once it was on the plane, a canon chancellor nervously tracked the flight as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean. That document, a rarely seen copy of the Magna Carta, had never before left England’s shores and only once been outside its home in the Hereford Chapel near the Welsh border. Now, the famous charter, written

Feb. 11, 2014

The making of an exhibition

When Kim Hyon-jeong, associate curator of Korean art at Asian Art Museum ― Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture, arrived at the San Francisco institution in the summer of 2010 after four years at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art where she had re-launched the Korean galleries, her assignment was already waiting for her.The museum’s director Jay Xu had already decided on holding a Korean exhibition at the largest U.S. museum dedicated exclusively to Asian art and culture after visit

Feb. 9, 2014