Korea National Ballet’s top dancers, Kim Ji-young and Lee Dong-hoon, have been invited by the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia as guest principals, the troupe announced on Tuesday.The two will play the lead roles in legendary choreographer Yury Grigorovich’s 1968 piece “Spartacus,” along with members of Bolshoi Ballet. The Russian troupe is one of the most renowned classical ballet companies in the world. According to Korea National Ballet, it is the first time for two Korean dancers to

Van Gogh’s paintings from his Paris years will be on exhibit in Seoul from Thursday. The exhibition, titled “Van Gogh in Paris: A Dialogue with Modernism,” features about 60 paintings on loan from the Van Gogh Museum of Amsterdam, including the late artist’s famous self-portraits and landscape paintings. It also displays historical research and data about the artist and his works, including x-radiographs of his paintings. “Van Gogh’s time in Paris from 1886-1888 was when his style developed dras

The Vienna Boys’ Choir welcomed a Korean conductor for the first time in history, according to news reports.Kim Bo-mi, who is currently a Ph.D. student at University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna, has been newly appointed as a conductor for one of the four touring teams of the choir, named “Mozart.” The 36-year-old is the first East Asian musician to serve in the position, as well as the first woman.Prior to moving to Vienna, Kim studied music at Yonsei University in Seoul. She’s been stu

Dutch sculptor Folkert de Jong critiques society through human sculptures created with industrial materials

VATICAN CITY (AFP) ― As the Sistine Chapel celebrates its 500th anniversary, the Vatican said Wednesday it may have to limit the huge numbers of visitors because pollution is damaging Michelangelo’s frescoes, one of the artistic wonders of the world.The scenes, including the moment in which God reaches out and gives life to Adam with the touch of his finger, are being damaged by the breath, sweat and heat of the 10,000 to 30,000 tourists who walk through the chapel every day.The Vatican had an a

Daegu-based painter Kang Min-jeong chooses damaged fruits and vegetables that don’t meet market standards as subjects of her still life paintings, looking to bring out the hidden beauty and quality of the produce neglected by others. The mid-career artist, who studied western painting at Daegu’s Keimyung University, showcases her new paintings at the Daegu Art Festival, which kicked off Wednesday and runs through Nov. 5.Finding inspiration in natural materials, she has devoted over two decades o

An art project by Korean artists is on exhibit at the TINA B. Contemporary Art Festival in Prague, giving fresh perspectives on Korean art to the global audience. The project titled “Woo:ri,” the Korean word for “us” or “we,” showcases installations and media art at various places throughout the historic city of Prague during the art festival, which ends on Wednesday.The annual TINA B. festival, which stands for “This Is Not Another Biennale,” aims to bring contemporary art closer to general peo

Choi Jae-eun, a Korean artist based in Japan and Germany, is holding an exhibition that offers a fresh perspective on the relationship between human beings and the sky. The 56-year-old artist is well-known for her philosophical reflection on nature and experimental approach to contemporary art. Choi explores themes of the finite and infinite and the flow of time at the new exhibition being held at Kukje Gallery in Seoul, representing the ideas through diverse works such as photography, film and

Musical ‘Rudolf’ stars Ahn Jae-wook, Ok Ju-hyun, and Park Eun-tae

Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, presents the country’s first exhibition of works by British sculptor Anish Kapoor. The first major show by Kapoor in East Asia, the exhibit encompasses the artist’s major works from the early years of his career to the present. Known to the general global audience as the creator of the giant red steel “Orbit” tower in London Olympic Park, Kapoor has enjoyed great success, holding a solo exhibition at London’s Royal Academy of Arts as the first living artist in 2009.

Journalism is no longer a job for Superman.His alter ego Clark Kent is quitting the Daily Planet, the Metropolis newspaper where he's worked since the first Superman comics were published in the 1940s, the USA Today newspaper said Monday.The plot twist -- prompted by the Daily Planet's takeover by a media conglomerate -- is one of many to appear in the new edition of Superman that goes on sale Wednesday in both digital and hard-copy forms.‘Superman is arguably the most powerful person on the pla

NEW YORK (AP) ― The National Geographic Society is selling parts of its massive archive of world exploration for the first time, offering 240 pieces spanning from the late 1800s to the present at an auction expected to bring in about $3 million.National Geographic has chronicled scientific expeditions, explorations, archaeology, wildlife and world cultures for more than 100 years, amassing a collection of 11.5 million photos and original illustrations.Among the items to be sold at Christie’s in

Top directors and curators gather in Korea to explore art’s roles in changing society

Over 130 works by established Korean and foreign artists on the block