Seoul Media Art Biennale explores new languages to define future

The Seoul International Media Art Biennale is looking to make a radical bet on the future, amid a deluge of disasters and crises worldwide that have cast a grim shadow over society. Taking place at the city-run Seoul Museum of Art since 2000, the biennale is the biggest international showcase of media art in Korea. Now in its ninth edition, this year’s event has brought together multimedia works from 61 teams of artists from over 20 countries, including Korea, the Netherlands, Japan, Brazil and

Aug. 31, 2016

Herald Phil to hit stage with Gummy, JK Kim Dong-wook

The Herald Philharmonic Orchestra will take stage alongside a number of special guests, including K-pop ballad powerhouses Gummy and JK Kim Dong-wook and soprano singer Shin Della.The orchestra’s upcoming sold-out “Nalrari Concert” is being held Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. at the Inje Haneulnaerin Center’s Grand Theater in Inje-gun, Gangwon Province. Seats to the concert sold out within the first week of ticket sales. On Feb. 1, the Herald Phil signed a cultural exchange partnership agreement with the Inj

Aug. 31, 2016

Girl group April to promote eco-friendly school meals

The members of girl group April were appointed promotional ambassadors for eco-friendly school meals by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday, according to the group’s agency DSP Media. The group will be featured in subway posters, online videos and other advertisements promoting eco-friendly school meals. Mayor Park Won-soon presented trophies to the group at a ceremony held Wednesday morning at Seoul City Hall.On Oct. 20, April will participate in a public forum for eco-friendly meals

Aug. 31, 2016

Ga-in returns as solo artist

Son Ga-in of K-pop girl group Brown Eyed Girls is returning as a solo artist with a new album.　To gear up for her return to the spotlight, the performing artist, better known simply as Ga-in, began unveiling teaser images on her official social media channels this week. 　The upcoming release will be made in two segments. It will be Ga-in’s first full-length studio album since her debut as a solo artist with “Step 2/4” in 2010.  The 28-year-old’s most recent mini-album “Hawwah,” released last Mar

Aug. 30, 2016

Performance artist explores female sensuality

Jeong Geum-hyung conducts CPR on a medical mannequin as if the male dummy were in an urgent life-or-death situation. Her body moves in the fast, yet steady, rhythm required for the life-saving action. The scene, however, invokes a rather erotic image to the audience, who watch the artist perform the action nude.“I don’t intend to cause voyeurism here, but it’s just how things turn out in my performance and that puts the audience in a voyeuristic situation,” said Jeong, winner of the 16th Hermes

Aug. 29, 2016

Beyonce slays at MTV VMAs

NEW YORK (AP) - Beyonce owned the MTV Video Music Awards by winning video of the year and giving a 16-minute performance featuring her recent hits from “Lemonade,‘” working various stages with strong, layered vocals, skilled dance moves and even an outfit change -- all as the audience watched in awe and cheered her on.Beyonce won the top prize for “Formation,” besting Adele, Kanye West, Justin Bieber and Drake.“First of all I'd like to thank my beautiful daughter and my incredible husband for al

Aug. 29, 2016

2PM gears up for new album

K-pop boy band 2PM is currently preparing for a new release. The six-member act is scheduled to announce a new album next month, according to the group’s management agency JYP Entertainment on Monday. 　“The upcoming tracks will demonstrate a new side of 2PM,” JYP Entertainment told local media outlets. 　The currently untitled album will be the group’s first domestic release since its fifth studio album “No. 5,” unveiled last June.  While gearing up for the upcoming album, the group’s members hav

Aug. 29, 2016

MC Mong returns with new album

Korean hip-hop artist MC Mong is returning to the scene with his first full-length album in two years. 　The 36-year-old will be releasing his seventh studio album, “U.F.O,” next week, but has no concrete plans to make broadcast appearances, according to his management agency DreamT Entertainment on Monday.　“For the past two years, he has dedicated his heart and soul into perfecting the upcoming album,” DreamT Entertainment said in a statement. “It boasts (the) witty lyrics and charismatic melody

Aug. 29, 2016

[Herald Review] A celestial night with Mahler

　Upon hearing about the choir’s careless preparation for the world premiere of his Eighth Symphony, Austrian composer Gustav Mahler, known for his drive for perfection, threatened to cancel the entire performance. 　　　Presenting the same vast work at the Lotte Concert Hall last Thursday, conductor Lim Hun-joung proved himself a worthy heir of Mahler’s demand for excellence.　　　Bringing together eight soloists, the 141-member Korean Symphony Orchestra, and 850 choral members under his baton, Lim in

Aug. 28, 2016

[Highlights] Arts and entertainment calendar

Classical Music  “Ivan Fischer & Budapest Festival Orchestra”: Budapest Festival Orchestra is returning to Korea for the fourth time in six years. Conducted by Hungarian conductor and composer Ivan Fischer, the ensemble will be performing at the Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. Accompanied by Portuguese pianist Maria Joao Pires, the 33-year-old orchestra will be presenting three pieces from Mozart, Chopin and Dvorak. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 250,000 won and can be reserved at tick

Aug. 26, 2016

Mamamoo to unveil first subunit tracks

K-pop quartet Mamamoo will be releasing its first subunit tracks this month, the group announced on its official social media channels on Friday.The first subunit, Angel Line, consisting of members Solar and Whee-in, will be presenting “Angel,” while the remaining duo Rapper Line with Moon-byul and Hwa-sa will be releasing “Dab Dab.”　Although the promotional posters feature the four members in matching outfits, the tracks capture two different sides of Mamamoo, according to a statement from the

Aug. 26, 2016

[Album Review] Crystal Castles bring the noise on ‘Amnesty (I)’

Crystal Castles“Amnesty (I)”Casablanca RecordsElectro-punk noisemakers Crystal Castles return with a lineup that‘s 50 percent new and a sound that’s still 100 percent uncompromising. Original vocalist Alice Glass left amid reports of acrimony in 2014, and on “Amnesty (I)” producer-maestro Ethan Kath is joined by new singer Edith Frances.The essentials of Crystal Castles’ ethos remain. Frances’ vocals -- ranging from ethereal to insistent -- counterpoint Kath’s sonic assault on an album that blen

Aug. 26, 2016

[Album Review] Dolly Parton’s ‘Pure and Simple’ is just that

Dolly Parton“Pure and Simple”(Dolly/Sony Music Nashville)In the ebbs and flows of her nearly lifelong career, Dolly Parton is at high tide again.The 70-year-old is on her biggest American tour in 25 years and last year’s movie “Coat of Many Colors” drew the biggest TV audience for an original movie in five years. So it only makes sense that the new album “Pure and Simple” (Dolly/Sony Music Nashville) is getting the biggest rollout for an album of hers in decades.“Pure and Simple” refers both to

Aug. 26, 2016

[Album Review] Lisa Hannigan in striking control on ‘At Swim’

Lisa Hannigan“At Swim”(ATO)What is most striking about Lisa Hannigan is her control.It’s an unexpected skill considering how the Irish singer first gained attention as part of the band that brought Damien Rice’s raw, unpredictable emotional folk to life. And, for fans of a certain age, there are times when Hannigan’s lower range sounds just like a young Sinead O’Connor, which sets up a wait for the Sinead-ish banshee shrieks that never come.Instead of wild emotion, Hannigan offers gorgeous, well

Aug. 26, 2016

NCT Dream releases new music video

NCT Dream, the third subunit of Neo Culture Technology, unveiled both Korean and Chinese versions of the music video for its debut single “Chewing Gum” on Aug. 24.Within less than a day of the release, the group’s official YouTube videos received a total of over 1 million views.The latest group from entertainment agency S.M. Entertainment, NCT Dream consists of seven boys -- Mark, Renjun, Jeno, Hae-chan, Jae-min, Chenle, and Ji-sung -- between the ages of 14 and 17. Boasting a youthful and playf

Aug. 25, 2016

Spica returns with strong vocals

During their four-year career, K-pop girl group Spica has spent more time off stage than in the spotlight. 　Now the group has returned with a new single album, “Secret Time,” unveiled Thursday at noon. 　Spica’s first release in more than a year, the album consists of two rhythm-and-blues-inspired tracks, “One Way” and the title song “Secret Time.” 　Written by lead vocalist Kim Bo-a, “Secret Time” was produced by Swedish producers Pontus Frisk, Graciela Chin A Loi, and Andreas Oberg.Although this

Aug. 25, 2016