Chung Chang-sup, one of Korea’s most famous Monochrome painters, died of natural causes Thursday at the age of 84. Born in 1927, Chung was one of the senior figures of Korean art. After his successful debut in 1952 by winning the special prize at the National Art Competition, he led some of Korea’s important art movements such as Art Informel. He was one of the first graduates of the College of Fi

People Feb. 24, 2011

Audience members eat snacks, drink beer and answer phone calls in wacky new productionsThere was still at least 15 minutes to go before the start of the play but two clowns in black raincoats and hats were already wandering around the stage and near audience seats, miming in slow-motion. People hurried in, bewilderedly whispering to each other, “Has it already started?” Well, it might have ― or mi

Performance Feb. 23, 2011

Park brothers’ iPhone-shot short film wins award at BerlinaleSouth Korea’s highly acclaimed director Park Chan-wook and his younger brother, media artist Park Chan-kyong, captured a Golden Bear at Berlin International Film Festival for their first collaboration. Director Park Chan-kyong receives the Golden Bear award of the International Short Film Jury for the film “Night Fishing,” which he co-di

Film Feb. 20, 2011

BUENOS AIRES, Feb 18, 2011 (AFP) ― The world’s tango capital is dancing to a new beat at Latin America’s first museum devoted to the Beatles, displaying items from boots to wigs and even condoms stamped with John Lennon’s picture.Although none of the 2,500 articles on display actually ever belonged to a member of the Fab Four, thousands of visitors have already poured through the doors of the Buen

Performance Feb. 20, 2011

Mai Po and Wetland Park, one of best bird-watching destinations in winterHONG KONG ― The air was gratifying at Mai Po Inner Deep Bay, totally different from the dry, fume-filled atmosphere of the central city. It was refreshing and moist, just to the point where your skin feels comfortable and your lungs feel detoxified, finally having taken in a satisfying amount of pure oxygen. Who could have im

Travel Feb. 18, 2011

Rarely publicized artworks by world renowned artists are on display at the “Limited Edition” exhibition currently running at Opera Gallery Seoul in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. Opera Gallery is a leading gallery chain which first opened in Singapore in 1994. It has 11 branches all over the world, including its head office in Paris. The Seoul branch’s first exhibition of this year introduces ove

Performance Feb. 17, 2011

Around 650 buyers and press members, far more than the expected 250, gathered at the Lincoln Center in New York on Tuesday for the presentation of “Concept Korea III,” a Korean government-led fashion project. Subtitled “Cultural Treasures 2011,” the show was held at the David Rubenstein Atrium in the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts during the city’s semi-annual Fashion Week from Feb. 10 to

Arts & Design Feb. 17, 2011

Two Japan Foundation-organized exhibitions aim to draw Japanese culture closer to KoreaA smart choice for poor guitarists who have nowhere to practice but their tiny rented rooms: a Yamaha guitar whose volume can be adjusted and has a headphone output so that neighbors will not be disturbed. An electronic piano by the same Japanese company, which looks like a grand piano with at least two thirds o

Arts & Design Feb. 16, 2011

Scott Schuman, blogger of ‘The Sartorialist,’ captures real street fashion in SeoulYou are nowhere close to fashion-savvy if these words mean nothing to you: The Sartorialist. It is one of the world’s most visited fashion blogs packed with photos of gorgeous fashionistas on the streets all over the world, spotted and captured by Scott Schuman. If you were snapped and posted by him, it means that o

Arts & Design Feb. 10, 2011

Designers, companies and government put heads together to promote fashion biz abroadThe third “Concept Korea,” subtitled “Cultural Treasures 2011,” will open next Tuesday at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York during New York Fashion Week, Feb. 10-17, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Tuesday. The project aims to expand global recognition of Korean fash

Arts & Design Feb. 9, 2011

Too much honesty often makes people uncomfortable. That is why photographers Photoshop their images, erasing pimples and adding extra sparkles to the eyes, and why artists beautify their subjects on the canvas. Artist Ahn Chang-hong, however, is not afraid of putting people at unease. In fact, he seems to enjoy revealing the ultimate truth by showing humans in their naked state, sometimes adding g

Performance Feb. 9, 2011

Concerns mount even as memorial services and exhibitions mark the fifth anniversary of Korean video artist’s deathThere is probably only one memorial service in the world where the mourners can smash up an electronic guitar to honor the deceased: video artist Paik Nam-june’s. Memorial services to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the renowned South Korean artist’s death were held at several pla

Performance Feb. 7, 2011

Affluent studies professor says inheritance is less important than everLunar New Year just around the corner, and one of the most frequently heard phrases during the holidays is “be rich!” Everyone wishes to become rich, though most do not have a clue where to start.So it is no surprise that Seoul Women’s University Professor Han Dong-chul has been in demand for talks ever since he first introduce

People Feb. 7, 2011