French writer Houellebecq lays himself bare in art show

PARIS (AFP) -- In one of the most eagerly awaited Paris art shows of the year, the ageing enfant terrible of French letters, Michel Houellebecq, does not disappoint.From a room full of erotic photographs of the women in his life, to a heartrending homage to his best ever friend -- his dog Clement – France’s most controversial novelist gives his wryly cynical, “reactionary” but oddly poetic world view full rein.There is even a bar reminiscent of the wife swapping clubs of his novel “Atomised” whe

June 21, 2016

[Herald Review] K.Will makes musical debut as 'ugliest man in Paris'

“Ballad King” Kim Hyung-soo, better known by his stage name K.Will, has returned to the spotlight, except this time, he is not showing much of the charming baby face that fans adore – the K-pop idol has transformed into a hideously deformed hunchback for his musical debut. 　In tackling the challenging role of Quasimodo in the Korean rendition of the beloved French musical, “Notre Dame de Paris,” K.Will is looking to be yet another K-pop idol-turned-musical actor trying to prove he has got the vo

June 20, 2016

Verbal Jint confesses to drunk driving

Rapper Kim Jin-tae, better known by his stage name Verbal Jint, confessed to drunk driving on his official Instagram on Sunday.On the Instagram, Kim revealed the details of the incident, expressing deep regret.“Four days ago, I got caught driving under the influence in my neighborhood with a blood alcohol level of 0.067 percent, for which my license is expected to be suspended for 100 days,” wrote Kim, adding “It’s all my fault, and I apologize for my reckless actions.” Kim had uploaded this pos

June 20, 2016

BTS electrifies Chinese fans

K-pop boy band BTS attracted about 6,000 fans to their 2016 BTS Live “Young Forever on stage: epilogue” Asia Tour concert at the Macau Studio City Event Center on Saturday, the group’s agency Big Hit Entertainment said Monday.　The group’s first concert in Macau garnered great attention from Chinese fans and media, added the agency.　The 6,000 concert tickets sold out immediately after going on sale last month, and Chinese media outlets including TVB, Apple Daily and Next Magazine spotlighted the

June 20, 2016

Pianist Cho Seong-jin honored to work with London Symphony

LONDON (Yonhap) -- Korea's award-winning pianist Cho Seong-jin said it was an honor to record an album with the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the world’s most celebrated orchestras.The 21-year-old prodigy recorded his first studio album at London's Abbey Road Studios on June 11-12 under an exclusive contract with the global record label Deutsche Grammophon.He performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the orchestra led by the Italian conductor Gianandrea Noseda there. The album is schedule

June 20, 2016

At 71, conceptual art pioneer Kosuth still has plenty to say

BASEL, Switzerland (AFP) -- Joseph Kosuth, considered one of the pioneers of conceptual art in the 1960s, may walk with difficulty, but he has no plans to slow down.“I've never been busier,” the 71-year-old U.S. artist told AFP in an interview this week at Art Basel, the largest contemporary art fair on the planet.Silver-handled cane at his side, Kosuth added: “Nobody seems to worry about my age, which is nice, because when you have something relevant to say,” while joking that “it’s strange whe

June 20, 2016

[Newsmaker] Two more women file rape claims against Park Yoo-chun

　Sexual assault charges continue to pile up against JYJ member and actor Park Yoo-chun, 30, with two more women claiming that the idol star raped them, bringing the current total to four potential victims. 　According to police on Friday, a third and fourth complainant have come forward to file separate charges against Park. One woman claimed that Park had raped her in the bathroom of a karaoke establishment in February 2015, while another told police he had raped her in the bathroom of his house

June 19, 2016

Memorial shows highlight two art legends

　The Seoul Museum of Art commemorates two great Korean art masters -- Nam June Paik (1932-2006) and Chun Kyung-ja (1924-2015) -- in separate memorial exhibitions this summer. 　Following a series of anniversary exhibitions at galleries and museums in Korea marking the 10th anniversary of Nam June Paik’s death, the new Nam June Paik exhibition at SeMA sheds light not only on his artworks, but also on the Fluxus Movement that laid the foundations for Paik’s creations.   Nam June Paik (Gallery Hyund

June 19, 2016

[Album Review] Band of Horses takes it easy on ‘Why Are You OK’

Band of Horses　“Why Are You OK”　(Interscope Records)　Band of Horses takes it easy on “Why Are You OK,” wordy songs rooted in domestic situations that pleasantly glide but rarely soar.　Producer Jason Lytle from Grandaddy gives Ben Bridwell’s tunes a trebly treatment, adding sonic minutiae without causing clutter, sometimes resembling carefully arranged, faux low-fi.　Bridwell spent the years since 2012’s “Mirage Rock” helping to raise four daughters and there are plenty of lyrical references to li

June 17, 2016

[Album Review] Kristofferson hits 80 with new album of beloved hits

Kris Kristofferson　“The Cedar Creek Sessions”　(KK Records)　The title had some Kris Kristofferson fans fearing his 2013 album “Feeling Mortal” was his last. Now, entering his ninth decade, Kristofferson is feeling sentimental, with a new offering that’s like a living epitaph.　“The Cedar Creek Sessions,” recorded live, features 25 of his best known songs in a collection that celebrates the legendary singer-songwriter’s enduring mark on American music in the last half century.　Released five days be

June 17, 2016

[Album Review] Allen Toussaint’s ‘American Tunes’ is elegant adieu

　Allen Toussaint finished recording “American Tunes” just weeks before his death in November, an elegant and fitting adieu from the New Orleans master.　Solo piano versions of tunes from the Professor Longhair canon like “Mardi Gras in New Orleans” and “Hey Little Girl” sand down the edges without sacrificing passion and Toussaint shows how deeply rooted he was in that tradition which he both inherited and expanded.　Accompanied by the likes of saxophonist Charles Lloyd and guitarist Bill Frisell,

June 17, 2016

Music festival in the mountains

The 2016 PyeongChang Music Festival and School, formerly Great Mountains Music Festival and School, will present a refreshing moment to enjoy beautiful harmony in the mountains of Gangwon Province.　Cellist Chung Myung-wha and violinist Chung Kyung-wha, artistic directors of the festival, pianist Son Yeol-eum, who was recently appointed as assistant artistic director, and chairman of the Gangwon Art and Culture Foundation Kim Sung-hwan introduced the program and vision of PMFS at the press confer

June 16, 2016

Second woman claims sexual assault by Park Yoo-chun

A second woman has filed a complaint against actor and singer Park Yoo-chun for sexual assault, police said Thursday.　The complaint comes after the woman who previously claimed sexual assault by Park last week withdrew the charge Wednesday morning. Police, however, said the same day that they would investigate the case nonetheless. 　The second woman claimed she was assaulted by Park on June 12 in much the same manner as the first woman, inside a bathroom at a Gangnam bar in which she worked, pol

June 16, 2016

[Herald Review] Harvard Krokodiloes fuse a cappella and humor

Harvard University’s oldest a cappella singing group, the Harvard Krokodiloes, made its way back to a Seoul stage Tuesday as part of its 2016 summer tour of Asia. 　The 12-member all-male Kroks performed their one-night solo show at the Mirae Asset Center’s West Tower on the KF Gallery Open Stage, coupling the nostalgic sounds of barbershop vocal harmonies with cheeky, innocent humor. 　Founded in 1946, the Krokodiloes is a group of chic tuxedo-sporting undergraduates who perform songs from the Gr

June 15, 2016

Seoul Phil continues its search for Maestro Chung’s successor

Following the sudden departure of maestro Chung Myung-whun after his 10-year tenure as Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra music director last December amid a police investigation into a defamation suit brought on by the SPO’s former CEO against Chung’s wife and allegations of embezzlement, finding Chung‘s replacement is the orchestra’s top priority, said SPO CEO Choe Heung-sik. 　Choe first took rein of the city’s controversy-riddled orchestra on July 1 last year, and after nearly a year at the beleagu

June 15, 2016