Illustrations in children’s books may have been long seen as less important than fine art, but French illustrator Joelle Jolivet hopes picture book illustrations will receive as much appreciation as fine art. “Even in France, picture book illustrations are not considered the same as fine art. But I hope it receives the same appreciation in the future and I think the history of picture books should be studied someday,” said Jolivet Tuesday. She was in Seoul for the French illustration exhibition

Wim Wenders’ documentary opens  in Korea a year after its original releaseNot every movie needs 3-D treatment, but Wim Wenders’ cinematic tribute to his friend, the late groundbreaking dancer Pina Bausch, is certainly one of the exceptions. The 3-D documentary, titled “Pina,” is not a biographical film about Bausch. It is about her works, and what the members of her troupe ― the famous Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch ― have to say about her and what they learned from her extraordinary life. 

SYDNEY (AFP) ― Australia was once a regular destination for top Hollywood producers making big-budget blockbusters until it was priced out by its soaring currency ― but a clawed mutant could herald a revival.X-Men comics spin-off “The Wolverine” is being shot in Sydney, the home town of star Hugh Jackman, courtesy of a Aus$12.8 million (US$13.4 million) government subsidy.Some four years since the release of the last major blockbuster filmed Down Under, Baz Luhrmann’s romantic outback epic “Aust

Singer Kim Jang-hoon plans to spend more time performing abroad.Kim, well-known for his donations to various charities and causes totaling over $20 billion, will participate in a special concert commemorating the 20th anniversary of Korea-China diplomatic relations. The concert, which will also feature Super Junior M and Exo-K, will be held on Oct. 2 and aired throughout China. In February, Kim held his first concert in China at the Shanghai International Gymnastics Center.  Kim is scheduled to

Movie screenings to feature lives of ethnic Koreans in JapanLast year, Japanese-Korean director Yang Yong-hi’s personal documentary “Goodbye Pyongyang,” a portrait of her own family, drew attention in Seoul for its complex and painful expose of ethnic Koreans living in Japan. Seoulites will be given a chance to view more films about ethnic Koreans living in Japan this summer and learn about their history. In commemoration of the upcoming Liberation Day on Aug. 15, the Northeast Asian History Fou

The National Enquirer says it is standing by a report which claims Macaulay Culkin is addicted to heroin, despite the U.S. actor's insistence he is not.The former child star's representative told E! News last week the story is "not only categorically without merit, but it is also impossibly and ridiculously fictitious." The National Enquirer"We beseech the responsible media to consider the source

DreamWorks Animation and Chinese partners announced plans Tuesday to co-produce the next “Kung Fu Panda” movie and develop an entertainment district in Shanghai, expanding Hollywood’s fast-growing ties to China.Hollywood studios have announced a flurry of deals with local partners to gain access to Chinese financing and a government-controlled film market that is growing strongly at a time of weak ticket sales in the United States and Europe.“Kung Fu Panda 3” will be produced in China and releas

 Underwater photographer Chang Nam-won’s humpback whale photographs on displayKorea’s first underwater photographer Chang Nam-won will offer a journey into the deep blue sea with awe-inspiring photos of humpback whales this month. Chang’s photographs will be on display at Lotte Gallery from Wednesday, allowing audiences a moment to cool down from the heat and dive into the rarely-exposed world of humpback whales. Chang spent five years capturing humpback whales living off Vauvau Island of the Ki

A performance featuring K-pop singers who belong to the same entertainment agency has attracted more than 100,000 fans in Tokyo, the organizer said Monday.The concert was held at Tokyo Dome in the Japanese capital on Saturday and Sunday as part of a world concert tour organized by the S.M. Entertainment Agency to capitalize on the rising boom of the Korean pop culture.During the “SM Town Live World Tour III in Tokyo” concert, the crowd enthusiastically sang along with the singers, waving colorfu

Seoul Musical Festival to hold conferences, workshops for local musical directorsFrom “Gwanghwamun Younga” to “200 Pounds Beauty,” local musicals have been finding their niche in Korea’s performing arts scene in the past few years, in spite of the dominance of big-scale, imported foreign productions, such as “Wicked” and “Elisabeth.”To support local musical productions and boost their ticket sales, the Culture Ministry and Seoul Metropolitan Government together organized an eight-day festival, c

National Museum showcases 100 Chinese artifacts wishing good fortuneCount the five Chinese blessings: Happiness, longevity, wealth, joy and professional success.The people’s yearnings for these blessings and fortune were often expressed in works of art, from paintings to sculptures, and even in wedding robes. In these items, auspicious spirits would appear in the form of a dragon or a phoenix, and sometimes a bat. The National Museum of Korea is holding a special exhibition featuring some 100 Ch