LAAS GEEL, Somalia (AFP) - Centuries have passed since Neolithic artists swirled red and white color on the cliffs of northern Somalia, painting antelopes, cattle, giraffes and hunters carrying bows and arrows.Today, the paintings at Laas Geel in the self-declared state of Somaliland retain their fresh brilliance, providing vivid depictions of a pastoralist history dating back some 5,000 years or more.“These paintings are unique. This style cannot be found anywhere in Africa,” said Abdisalam Sha

June 27, 2016

GWANGJU (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday said that the international community should further cultural cooperation since the power of culture can contribute greatly to world unity.“I think the power of culture can go beyond borders, greatly contributing to making the world into one beautiful community,” Hwang said during a speech at the formal opening ceremony for the seventh Asia-Europe Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Gwangju. “So, in that sense, cultural cooperation of the in

June 23, 2016

Preparing a funeral for a Joseon king required many steps. 　It took five to seven months to prepare the body for the funeral. It required that the country’s top pungsu -- or Korean geomancy -- experts choose an ideal burial site. And thousands of workers were recruited to construct the tomb and carry the body to the burial site.　Such lesser-known facts about kings’ deaths and the complex funeral procedures of the Joseon era (1392-1910) are revealed at the new exhibition “Royal Tombs of the Joseo

June 23, 2016

Free cultural performances will be offered at the grass-covered plaza in front of Seoul City Hall from Saturday to September.The Seoul Metropolitan City said on Wednesday it will create a 13-meter-tall stage at the open space for office workers to enjoy cultural activities daily at 7 p.m. (Seoul Metropolitan City)There are likely to be performances across genres including classical music, Korean traditional music, hip-hop and tango, among others. An 80-minute circus parade will take place on Sat

June 22, 2016

WASHINGTON (AP) --The Quran, revered by Muslims, is the centerpiece of a first-of-its-kind exhibition in the United States as the Smithsonian displays exquisitely decorated manuscripts from one of the top Quran collections.The Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery announced Tuesday that “The Art of the Qur’an: Treasures from the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts” will bring 48 manuscripts and folios from the museum in Istanbul together with manuscripts from the collection of the Sackler and F

June 22, 2016

CAIRO (AP) -- Two ancient Egyptian sarcophagus covers have been delivered to Cairo’s Egyptian Museum after they surfaced at an auction in Israel.Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anani says the colorful wooden covers, decorated with hieroglyphics and illustrations, were recovered after they went on sale in 2012 and arrived at the museum Tuesday following cooperation between the two countries and Interpol. Egyptian antiquities officials uncrate a sarcophagus cover on its arrival to the Egyptian Muse

June 22, 2016

Artworks are usually purchased primarily for aesthetic reasons and are mostly privately owned, but a relatively new Chinese model of art investment allows multiple buyers to share an artwork. 　The Chinese model of artwork stock exchange, which invites investors to buy and sell shares of artworks, has landed in Korea, with the China National Culture and Art Co., LTD, a holding company under the China’s Culture Ministry, opening the Korea Culture and Artworks Exchange on Wednesday. This marks the

June 16, 2016

Singer-artist Cho Young-nam, who has been in hot water since May over allegations he hired a ghost painter for several years to create his paintings, was indicted without detention on fraud charges Tuesday, according to the Chuncheon Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. 　Cho is accused of allegedly having two ghost painters create his paintings, well known for motifs of Korean folk card game Go-Stop, from about five years ago and selling them without informing his buyers of the fact. His manager was als

June 14, 2016

A colossal 19th-century map of the Korean Peninsula will go on the block at an art auction in Seoul on June 28.　The map of the Korean Peninsula “Daedongyeojido,” which measures 3.8 meters by 6.7 meters in total, was made by geographer Kim Jeong-ho in 1861.　The map is one of some 20 remaining Daedongyeojido maps and one of the three known colored versions to date. Maps of Daedongyeojido, translated as the great map of the East, are housed at museums and public institutions in Korea, including Kyu

June 14, 2016

LONDON (AP) -- An Australian archaeologist says he and colleagues have found evidence of previously undiscovered medieval urban and agricultural networks surrounding the ancient city of Angkor Wat.Using high-tech lasers to scan the Cambodian jungle, Damian Evans and colleagues say they found traces of extensive networks surrounding the monumental stone temple complex at Angkor Wat. Evans said their findings could further our understanding of Khmer culture and throw into question traditional assu

June 14, 2016

Festival culture in Korea is quickly evolving, with creative ideas taking shape in the hands of the young and wild. With the Korean summer bringing sweltering heat, many are opting for water-based outdoor events, among many others.One of the prime locations for such festivals is Sinchon, the area next to Yonsei University, Sogang University, Ewha Womans University and Hongik University. Sinchon stands out among popular cultural venues because of the high number of young people and because vehicl

June 10, 2016

Explosive sing-alongs by Korean fans at concert arenas are nothing new to global pop musicians, as they have begun evolving into more articulately planned events.A slew of world-famous musicians have been elevated by the sight of Korean fans singing along to their hooks, songs and, at times, their signature guitar riffs. “They were singing all of it (‘Live Forever’), word for word, for their own amusement,” British singer-songwriter Noel Gallagher said in an interview with CBC Radio’s talk show

June 10, 2016

Korea’s festivals have evolved in both variety and scale over the years, attracting tourists and expats to join in the fun. According to data released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the number of tourists revisiting Korea jumped to 46.1 percent in 2015, compared to 34.9 percent in 2014. The government and local festival committees are doing everything in their capacity to maintain the increase. The Seoul Tourism Association even recently launched mobile education centers for tou

June 10, 2016

The Great Korean Beer Festival will once again run this Friday to Sunday at Rose Garden at Everland amusement park, located south of Seoul. The event will be held between 11 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. A total of eight breweries -- B&W Liquor, Goose Island, Muse International, Sun International, Shinhan F&B, Czech Beer International, Jejusien and Sewon International -- and three restaurants -- Pizza Hut, France Gourmet and High Street Market -- will participate. The festival will feature some of the worl

June 10, 2016