The Korea Herald

Stallone, Klitschko brothers present ‘Rocky’ musical

Nov 22, 2011

BERLIN (AFP) ― U.S. superstar Sylvester Stallone has teamed up with heavyweight boxing legends Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko for what is billed as the world’s first musical version of “Rocky,” producers said Monday.Stallone said he had always envisaged creating a musical version of the 1976 Oscar-winning rags-to-riches story of Rocky Balboa, a down-at-heel amateur boxer who bravely fights the world champion in a bruising and bloody bout.“I always had the idea of Rocky as a musical. At the end of
Korea’s ‘Vagina Monologues’ celebrates 10 years

Nov 22, 2011

An actress fainted five minutes into its first show, and people tore down its posters and called it “absolutely crazy.” The Korean adaptation of American playwright Eve Ensler’s feminist play, “The Vagina Monologues,” celebrates its 10th year anniversary this year. An episodic play featuring explicit explorations of women’s sexuality, its Korean adaptation had a rocky beginning in 2001.“The first line of our show was, ‘Vagina!’ and our actress Kim Ji-sook was shocked by the cold response from th
Photographer’s rebirth brings new inspirations

Nov 20, 2011

David LaChapelle shows celebrity, campaigning chapters of his photographic career at solo exhibition at Seoul Arts CenterLady Gaga, Madonna, Britney Spears, Hilary Clinton, Elizabeth Taylor, David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Muhammad Ali ... The list of celebrities who have posed for David LaChapelle could go on. Limiting his success as a photographer to just the celebrities on the list, however, would be underestimating him. LaChapelle’s works displayed at several galleries in 1984 New York caught t
Calendar

Nov 18, 2011

Exhibitions“The Masters”: Opera Gallery Seoul is showcasing 40 masterpieces by some of the greatest artists of recent times. The exhibition includes works by Claude Monet, Fernand Leger, Alexander Calder, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Auguste Rodin, Georges Braque, Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Yves Klein, Keith Haring and Tom Wasselman. This is the first time that a high-profile exhibition is being held by the chain in Seoul while most of the Opera Gallery branches hold such big-name e
KOCIS unveils new slogan for 40th anniversary

Nov 17, 2011

Korean Culture and Information Service this week announced its new slogan for its 40th year anniversary, which it selected from entries from the public. The slogan reads: “Reaching out Constantly, Resounding Globally!”KOCIS, an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, had organized a public contest for the slogan from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3. A total of 297 people, including foreigners, submitted entries.The winning phrase was created by Cho Han-gyeong, 24, from South Chungcheong Prov
Looking back on a dance legend

Nov 17, 2011

She was beautiful and talented, but unfortunate. Choi Seung-hee, born in South Korea in 1911, was a leading dancer who introduced modern dance to the nation at a time when modern society was starting to develop. She performed overseas in the late 1930s and was lauded as one of the best dancers in Asia along with India’s Uday Shankar.Despite her talent and pioneering achievements, Choi did not receive much of the spotlight here because she defected to North Korea in 1946 with her husband An Mak
Botero sculpture fetches $1.7m in New York

Nov 16, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― Fernando Botero’s monumental bronze “Dancers” has fetched more than $1.7 million at a New York auction, setting a new record for a sculpture by the renowned Colombian artist.The sculpture, which depicts a couple standing face to face, as if about to start a dance, was made in 2007 and bought directly from Botero.It was acquired at the first session of Christie’s Latin American Art sale on Tuesday, by a private European buyer whose identity was not revealed.The previous record for
Ai Weiwei: Feels like I just paid $1.3m ransom

Nov 16, 2011

BEIJING (AP) ― Outspoken Chinese artist Ai Weiwei said Wednesday he feels like he has paid a ransom, after depositing $1.3 million into a government account while he contests a huge tax bill months after being held in police detention.Chinese tax authorities say Ai’s design firm, Beijing Fake Cultural Development Ltd., owes 15 million yuan ($2.4 million) in back taxes and fines. Ai disputes the government’s tax-evasion allegations and says he does not even own the company involved.The guarantee
‘Masters’ gathered at Opera Gallery Seoul

Nov 16, 2011

An exhibition of 40 masterpieces by some of the greatest artists of recent times kicks off on Thursday at Opera Gallery Seoul in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. “The Masters” includes works by Claude Monet, Fernand Leger, Alexander Calder, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Marc Chagall, Auguste Rodin, Georges Braque, Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, Yves Klein, Keith Haring and Tom Wasselman. Opera Gallery is a leading gallery chain which first opened in Singapore in 1994. It has 11 branches all over the wo
Lee Ufan returns with ‘vibrating’ blank space

Nov 14, 2011

Korean artist holds first solo show at Gallery Hyundai after monumental Guggenheim retrospective in New YorkOnly ten canvases are displayed on the first and second floors of Gallery Hyundai in Sagan-dong, central Seoul, creating a tranquil and somewhat vacant atmosphere. As if adding to the mood, each canvas features only a single square-shaped dot in the signature form of artist Lee Ufan. He made it a point, said the South Korean artist, to put as little as possible in the gallery to maximize t
New York’s oldest museum reopens after $65m renovation

Nov 13, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― New York City’s oldest museum has shed its vault-like exterior for a luminous facade that invites the public to peer in, explore its vast treasures and experience them like never before through loads of new and fun interactive features.The New-York Historical Society threw open its doors on Friday following a $65 million, three-year renovation.The venerable institution for the first time also has established a children’s history museum within the building and a restaurant that wi
Dubu jeongol (Tofu hot pot)

Nov 11, 2011

Dubu jeongol is a hotpot of tofu, beef, and vegetables in broth. Dubu-jeongol is rich in protein and soft in texture. Jeongol (hotpot) is a communal dish that fits in ideally with Korean dining culture in which several people around the table enjoy food from a large pot in the center. Ingredients ● 250g tofu, ¼ tsp salt, 2 tbsp starch, 2 tbsp vegetable oil ● 150g beef (top round or sirloin) for broth : 300g beef (brisket), 6 cups water ● For fragrant seasoning: 20g green onion, 10g garlic● For s
Young musicians honored by The Korea Herald

Nov 10, 2011

Singers, violinists, cellists and more take top prizes in nine categories total of 25 young artists have won first place at the 3rd Korea Herald Music Competition. The competition to discover young musicians with great potential was held at Seoul Arts High School in Pyeongchang-dong on Sept. 17-18 for preliminaries and on Sept. 25 for the final competition.The competition had invited all aspiring musicians from elementary to university students to compete for cash prizes and a letter of recommen
Magritte’s absurd world on display at Vienna’s Albertina

Nov 10, 2011

VIENNA (AFP) ― The absurd world of Rene Magritte, an artist known for his bowler-hatted men and green apples, is shown in a new light with a comprehensive exhibit at Vienna’s Albertina museum opening late Tuesday.With some 250 pieces from private and public collections all over Europe, North America and Japan ― some of them rarely seen ― the exposition retraces the surrealist artist’s progress from collages to his famous “Empire of Light” phase.“It’s a world we know from our dreams,” Albertina d
Planting artist’s thoughts in major museums

Nov 10, 2011

Korean contemporary artist Yang Haegue blurs national and genre boundariesArtist Yang Haegue walked into the interview room in Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul, looking chic as usual, donned in black from head to toe, including her signature black smoky eyes. After greeting the interviewer for a few seconds, her eyes quickly darted towards an artwork installed at a corner of the room. “This is placed wrong. I never do it like this. You see how all the pressure is on this part? Someth