The Korea Herald

Artist Kelley found dead in L.A. home

TheaterFeb 2, 2012

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Mike Kelley, the daring and influential contemporary installation artist who counted the band Sonic Youth and artist Paul McCarthy among his collaborators, has died, police said Wednesday. He was 57.Kelley’s body was found at his home Tuesday night and it appeared he had committed suicide, South Pasadena Police Sgt. Robert Bartl said, without providing further information on the death. An autopsy was pending.The artist’s death brings a tragic end to a career empowered by both
Kim wants National Museum a multi-space for inspiration

TheaterFeb 2, 2012

Former art history professor hopes to foster imagination of artists, visitorsMany thought it was an unexpected decision last year when the government appointed scholar Kim Young-na ― an art history professor at Seoul National University at the time ― as the new director of the National Museum of Korea to assume office last February. Most of it had to do with her inadequate experience in traditional Korean art and history. For one, she obtained her Ph.D. in art history from Ohio State University
‘I’m a Singer’ season 1 ends in controversy

MusicFeb 2, 2012

Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, producer and distributer of hit TV program “I’m a Singer” announced on Wednesday that it would end the first season of the show next week. “We will run the last episode of ‘I’m a Singer’ season one on Feb. 12. We’ll introduce a reformatted show after taking a break,” MBC said in a statement. It didn’t elaborate on when the second season will start or who will take charge. The broadcaster is expected to replace the current producers and staff of the program.MBC is
Lisa Marie Presley wants to make better Elvis film

FilmFeb 2, 2012

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) ― Over the years, Lisa Marie Presley has become dissatisfied with movies chronicling her father’s life, so she just might make her own film about the rock ‘n’ roll icon.The daughter of Elvis Presley said she has been in talks about a movie, though she didn’t offer a timetable.“There’s not been anything done properly with him yet, you know, that has satisfied me in terms of capturing everything,’’ she told The Associated Press. “It will happen, though.’’Presley, who rarely
Girls’ Generation captivates U.S. talk shows

TelevisionFeb 2, 2012

K-pop girl group debuts on major American TV networks with “The Boys”Amidst overseas and domestic press interest in the mainstream appeal of K-pop in the U.S., nine-member girl group Girls’ Generation made their American TV network debut on CBS’ “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Jan. 31 (Feb.
‘Mona Lisa’ copy done hand in hand with da Vinci

TheaterFeb 2, 2012

A “Mona Lisa” copy owned by Spain’s Prado Museum was almost certainly painted by one of Leonardo da Vinci’s apprentices alongside the master himself as he did the original, museum officials said Wednesday. “Mona Lisa” painted by Leonardo da Vinci (left) and a authenticated contemporary copy of
Warhol exhibit to tour Asia over 3 years

TheaterFeb 1, 2012

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― A large retrospective exhibition of Andy Warhol’s artwork will tour five Asian cities over the next three years.The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh says the exhibit will be the pop art icon’s largest ever in Asia. It will include more than 300 paintings, photographs, screen prints, drawings and sculptures. The exhibit, “Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal,” will open in Singapore in March. It will head to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing in 2013 and Tokyo in 2014.The tour marks the
Bjork makes foray into music education

MusicFeb 1, 2012

NEW YORK ― Americans may know Bjork Gumunsdottir best for that strange swan dress she wore at the 2000 Oscars. But now, after selling millions of recordings and videos ― not to mention being named best actress at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival for “Dancer in the Dark” ― at the age of 45, the Icelandic musician is turning into a teacher.In February, she is presenting 10 New York performances ― sold out already ― of “Biophilia,” her interactive iPad app musical science project. It’s interactive bec
Matching fans to music tops agenda for record industry

MusicFeb 1, 2012

CANNES, France (AFP) ― After a decade-long battle against file-sharing, music and technology giants are now pushing users to share to their hearts’ content, with online music recommendations a key issue at the MIDEM trade fair that wrapped up Tuesday.Record industry executives were in a buoyant mood for the four-day Riviera event, boosted by figures suggesting music lovers are slowly turning their backs on piracy and that legal digital music is finally taking off.Last year saw a jump in the reac
[Herald Interview] Choi Min-sik returns as layered villain

FilmFeb 1, 2012

‘Nameless Gangster’ star says every character is complex, especially the bad guysIt’s quite fascinating to meet Choi Min-sik in person. For those who have never met this prolific actor off-screen, it’d be hard to imagine him as someone so down to earth and “normal.” On top of everything else, his face is that of the gruesome serial killer in “I Saw the Devil,” and the child murderer in “Sympathy for Lady Vengeance.”In real life, however, Choi is a fan of popular girl group Girls’ Generation, lov
Tried-and-true K-pop stars return with albums, shows

MusicFeb 1, 2012

Big name K-pop artists are returning to their fans with new albums this year, breaking their silence on the stages. Boy band Big Bang is expected to release a full album this month and hold “2012 Big Bang Concert ― Big Show” on March 2 at the Olympic Park Gymnasium in Seoul. The group will also resume activity in Japan as well, according to reports. Its agency YG Entertainment hasn’t released the group’s full schedule yet. But it has already unveiled the list of six songs from the anticipated al
Seven Korean films invited to 2012 Berlinale

FilmFeb 1, 2012

Seven Korean films have been invited to this year’s Berlinale, scheduled for Feb. 9-19.Among the seven, director Kang Ju-gyu’s 28 billion won war blockbuster “My Way” and Jeon Kyu-hwan’s drama “Varanasi” have been invited to the festival’s non-competition “Panorama” section.Starring local heartthrob Jang Dong-gun and Japanese star Joe Odagiri, “My Way” was one of the most anticipated films of last year. However, it had a lackluster performance at the box office, attracting 2.14 million viewers,
Chinese epic vies for gold at Berlin film fest

FilmFeb 1, 2012

BERLIN (AFP) ― A sweeping Chinese epic, “White Deer Plain,” will round out the list of 18 films vying for gold at the 62nd Berlin film festival, organizers said Tuesday.Festival chief Dieter Kosslick told reporters the movie by 2007 Berlin Golden Bear winner Wang Quan’ an would go up against competitors from the United States, Europe, Africa and the rest of Asia during the February 9-19 event.“White Deer Plain” (Bai lu yuan), which will have its world premiere at the Berlinale, as the event is k
Se7en tops iTune’s R&B chart in U.S., 2nd in Canada

MusicFeb 1, 2012

Korean singer Se7en has surprised the country’s music scene on Wednesday as his new mini-album topped Apple’s iTunes online music charts.According to iTunes Chart operated by U.S. IT giant Apple, Se7en’s album was ranked at the top of its R&B/Soul chart in the United States and second place in the same category in Canada.“Se7en has not even made a comeback show yet, but his new album is drawing attention from in and out of the country,” his agency YG Entertainment said.His new album features the
Re-crafting a violin masterpiece

MusicJan 31, 2012

ST. PAUL, Minnesota ― Stradivarius violins are so prized that their name is synonymous with perfection. Three Minnesota men say they have come close to re-creating that ideal using a mix of modern technology and old-school artistry.Dr. Steve Sirr, a radiologist from Minnetonka, Minnesota, teamed with two St. Paul violinmakers, John Waddle and Steve Rossow, to make replicas of a 308-year-old violin known as the Betts Strad, owned by the Library of Congress. Sirr, who works at FirstLight Health Sy