Tokyo gallery invites Korean monochrome artist

Following the recognition that Korean monochrome art has recently been garnering in international art circles, artist Kim Ga-beom has been invited to showcase her work in Japan. Kim, who is considered to have largely contributed to introducing Korean monochrome art -- called “dansaekhwa” -- to American and European art circles, will be exhibiting some 30 of her pieces at the Niche Gallery in Tokyo. Kim’s paintings have been described as an experiment of form, color and abstract expressionism. St

Aug. 20, 2015

‘Bodyguard’ musical to get Korean premiere in 2016

"The Bodyguard," a musical adaptation of the eponymous movie starring the late singer Whitney Houston, will get a Korean premiere next year in a production by local entertainment giant CJ E&M, the company said Thursday. The West End musical, featuring Houston's hits, is one of three shows the Seoul-based company will present in 2016, along with an original musical based on Victor Hugo's novel "L'Homme Qui Rit (The Man Who Laughs)" and a revival of Broadway jukebox show "Kinky Boots." CJ E&M had

Aug. 20, 2015

Fall season promises top-notch classical music lineup

Latvian-born Israeli cellist Mischa Maisky (Courtesy of Hideki Shiozawa)Following the unforgettable performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic -- under the reign of Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel and conductor Ivan Fischer -- and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s four-day homage to Beethoven in the spring, the next lineup of classical music performances this coming fall has much to live up to.Below are some of the most anticipated performances over the coming months. Kim Sun-wook and Isa

Aug. 20, 2015

K-Performance poll underway to pick the most favored show

(Official website of K-performance)K-Performance, the Korea Tourism Organization’s one-stop platform for Korean performance tourism, is currently collecting votes on the Korean performance you want to watch the most.Both Koreans and foreigners may cast their votes in the month-long online poll titled "Vote, Korea Performance in Seoul." Participants have only to make a choice from the list of seven highly acclaimed nonverbal Korean performances after accessing the event link. The seven shows are

Aug. 20, 2015

Modern dance homage to Silk Road to hit Seoul stage next month

A scene from the contemporary dance production of, “Ohna II,” which will be staged as part of the upcoming 2015 Silk Road for Performing Arts cultural dance festival. (Lim AMC)Conceptually bridging the cross-cultural influences of the East and the West along the ancient Silk Road, this year’s Festival Silk Road for Performing Arts will be kicking off its festivities on Sept. 3. Slated to be held as part of the ongoing Silk Road Gyeongju 2015 -- the nearly two-month long Eurasia cultural arts fes

Aug. 19, 2015

Contemporary art explores meaning of DMZ in Dongsong

CHEORWON, Gangwon Province -- An annual art project exploring the historical and contemporary significance of the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas chose Geumhak Street in the Dongsong neighborhood as its venue for 2015.This year’s “Real DMZ Project,” marking its fourth year with an exhibition titled “Lived Time of Dongsong,” brought together 49 individual and team artists to decorate various locations along the street with pieces reflecting the creators’ thoughts and emotions on the

Aug. 18, 2015

Seoul Phil head vows to mend reputation

In the aftermath of the recent media frenzy and public shock of discovering former Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra CEO Park Hyun-jung’s alleged mistreatment of her subordinates, new CEO Choe Heung-sik has taken the reigns of the SPO since July 1. Choe, 62, is a former banking executive and former head of Hana Financial Group -- the country’s fourth-largest financial group. After more than a month in office, Choe spoke to members of the media about his plans for the future of the Seoul Phil, emphasi

Aug. 11, 2015

[Herald Review] Rock and champagne at FT Island concert

Pop-rock band FT Island showcased its first local concert in two years on Sunday, celebrating the release of its March studio album “I Will.” Held at the Olympic Park in Seoul, the 150-minute-long performance featured the band’s signature melancholic rock music alongside a more intimate portion with mellow ballads and a toast of champagne. FT Island performing for its concert "I Will" on Sunday at Seoul's Olympic Park (FNC Entertainment)The show kicked off loudly with the catchy “Love Love Love”

Aug. 10, 2015

Movements carry wish for unification

GANGHWADO ISLAND, Incheon -– A special wedding ceremony took place Sunday at Ganghwa Peace Observatory on the border island of Ganghwado, off South Korea’s western coast. 　The island’s residents came out to see the unlikely event, which drew guests from other parts of the country and even from other Asian countries. But the groom was nowhere to be found. In a contingency plan, the bridesmaid and the bride’s father came out to pick a groom candidate from the audience. The ceremony was in fact a s

Aug. 10, 2015

[Herald Review] Infinite begins second world tour in Seoul

Explaining the name of their second world tour, Infinite member Sungyeol said: “Bringing everyone together through our music, that’s the ‘Infinite Effect.’” And the seven-member boy group did just that for fans packing Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Arena in Seoul on Aug. 8. Infinite performing at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena (Woollim Entertainment)Throughout the concert kicking off the tour, Infinite tried to bring that “Infinite Effect” to life with a comprehensive 180-minute set that included

Aug. 10, 2015

HyunA’s upcoming MV will be ‘racier’

HyunA, girl group 4Minute member and the sexy girl from Psy’s Gangnam Style music video, released a teaser video of her new track “A+” on YouTube Monday.After a one-year hiatus following her last solo album “A Talk” in 2014, she is set to make her solo return in August.Shot in Los Angeles, the R-rated music video highlights HyunA’s striking transformation.In the video, HyunA enjoys her daily life by going shopping and for a drive, while also showing her provocative beauty in a private party. She

Aug. 10, 2015

[Herald Review] Big Bang’s new releases are disturbing, emotional

Big Bang has made several waves this summer with each monthly release from its latest album “M.A.D.E,” but it seems the group has been saving the best for last. The two songs unleashed in the fourth and final EP “E” -- “Zutter” by subunit GD&TOP and “Let’s Not Fall in Love” -- and their respective music videos feature at once some of the most disturbing and the most emotionally resounding work the revered boy band has showcased so far.T.O.P and G-Dragon in the music video for "Zutter" (YG Entert

Aug. 10, 2015

Uhm Jung-hwa’s comeback imminent as a singer

(Yonhap)Korean actress and singer Uhm Jung-hwa is to release an album this year, ending a seven-year hiatus in her music career, local reports said Sunday. The reports, citing unnamed sources, said renowned composers and lyric writers were participating in making her new album, expected to be out within the year. 　　Uhm made a big screen debut with “We Must Go To Apgujung-Dong On Windy Days” in 1992 and started her singing career the next year with the debut album “Sorrowful Secret.”With a sexy d

Aug. 9, 2015

Exhibition sheds light on tragic artist

When the 38th Parallel was drawn to divide the Korean Peninsula after the Korean War, many people had to make a tough decision: Which side would they support?Artist Lee Quede faced the question at a prison camp where he was jailed after being captured by South Korean soldiers for being cooperative with North Korean soldiers who briefly occupied Seoul. The artist, born in 1913 in the small town of Chilgok, South Gyeongsang Province, chose to go to the North in 1953, leaving his wife and four chil

Aug. 6, 2015

Big Bang releases new ‘E’ EP

Big Bang revealed its much-awaited, brand new EP at midnight Wednesday. Titled “E,” the album is the fourth and last installment of the group’s “MADE” series and comprises two tracks -- “Zutter” and “Let‘s Not Fall in Love.”The release came directly following an hour-long live broadcast on Naver’s V, a new app that allows Hallyu celebrities to stream live videos and chat with fans in real time. Also revealed during the broadcast were making-of reels for the new songs’ music videos, which feature

Aug. 5, 2015

Wonder Girls back as a sultry retro band

JYP Entertainment’s signature girl group Wonder Girls are back after three years and two months with their long-awaited third studio album “Reboot.” The Wonder Girls pose for the media at Hyundai Card Understage in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Monday. (Yonhap)Newly reorganized into a four-member band, the Wonder Girls now consists of Lim on guitar, Sunmi on bass, Yenny on the keyboard and Yubin on drums.“It feels really strange and new to be back after three years,” said Lim at a press showcase Monday at

Aug. 4, 2015

New musical film festival to kick off

A new festival combining musicals and movies is to kick off at Chungmuro, a district in Seoul traditionally known for its concentration of filmmakers and performers, Chungmu Art Hall announced Tuesday.Titled the Chungmuro International Musical Film Festival, the event will allow participants to view both musicals and musical films -- including theater staples like “The Phantom of the Opera,” the Broadway hit “Jersey Boys,” and classic '70s and '80s flicks such as “Grease” and “Hair Spray.” Also

Aug. 4, 2015

British photographer captures life inside North Korea

Life inside the reclusive North Korean society has remained a mystery to the people outside. To many, the society poses a grim picture with horrific tales of labor camps and the totalitarian regime‘s surveillance of civilians, as told by defectors. Only few foreign photographers have sought to look beyond those fragmented images and capture an unknown side of the society -- how life manages to go on in such isolation.  　British photographer Nick Danziger is one of the few. His 2013 journey to th

Aug. 3, 2015

Melding of music styles

Guitarist Jiro Yoshida poses with his signature Takamine electric guitar on July 7. (Chung Hee-cho/ The Korea Herald) Giving me a copy of his most recent CD, guitarist Jiro Yoshida explained that it uses a high-resolution audio CD format that yields more dynamic sound when played on a special CD player. “It took six months to record because we needed to find just the right setting for this format. For example, the instruments had to be 2 meters away from the microphones,” said Yoshida, who was i

July 31, 2015