The Korea Herald

US judge: Renowned artist did not create disputed painting

Aug 24, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) -- A US judge said Tuesday that a celebrated artist was right when he insisted he did not paint a work now owned by a retired prison worker, a finding that likely ensures the piece will now be worth a fraction of the previous estimated value of $10 million or more. The ruling came at the end of an unusual bench trial in Chicago that pitted Scottish-born Peter Doig against Canadian Robert Fletcher, who paid just $100 in the 1970s for the desert landscape painting and had hoped for a
Artday to hold August auction

Aug 24, 2016

Herald Artday, a subsidiary of Herald Corp., is holding an online auction from Aug. 26-30, presenting major artworks by modern and contemporary Korean artists.　The art auction will feature numerous works of renowned Korean artists, including Choi Ssang-jung, Lim Jik-soon, Kim Tae, Kim Won, Park Deuk-soon, printmaker Lee Hang-sung and Kim Chang-young, who is known for his experimentation with sand.　Additionally, the event will highlight globally-recognized pop artist Lee Dongi’s 2006 piece “Flowe
SIDance 2016 brings international contemporary dance to Seoul

Aug 23, 2016

The Korea chapter of the International Dance Council CID-UNESCO will be hosting the 19th Seoul International Dance Festival (SIDance) from Sept. 24 to Oct. 15 in various locations throughout the city, including the Seoul Arts Center, Sogang University, and D-Cube City. 　Bringing together leading dancers and choreographers from Europe, South America and Korea, the event will kick off with a performance of “Gala Preljocaj” from the French dance company Ballet Preljocaj to commemorate the Year of K
Banksy mural destroyed by building work

Aug 23, 2016

LONDON (AFP) -- A 1 million-pound ($1.3 million) mural by British street artist Banksy which mocked government surveillance has been destroyed during building works on the house on which it appeared in 2014, the local council said Monday.The piece, titled “Spy Booth,” depicted three men in trench coats using listening devices to tap into conversations at an actual public telephone box in Cheltenham, southwest England.It was located just five kilometers from the UK government listening post GCHQ,
MMCA Gwacheon anniversary show riddled with confusion

Aug 22, 2016

To mark its 30th anniversary, the museum is showcasing some 300 pieces from its collection of more than 7,800 works
Korean-German play ‘Walls - Iphigenia in Exile’ comes to Asia Culture Center

Aug 22, 2016

Inspired by 18th century German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s take on ancient playwright Euripides’ “Iphigenia in Tauris,” “Walls - Iphigenia in Exile” will be performed at the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju from Oct. 14-16.　A modern interpretation of an ancient Greek tragedy, the 120-minute play is a co-production by a team of four Korean directors, Choi Zin-A, Lee Kyung-sung, Yi Kon and Yang Jung-ung, and Tilmann Kohler, a German director. Each director will present a contemporary take o
LA art exhibition look at dying through words, photos

Aug 21, 2016

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Four years ago photographer Andrew George approached the medical director of a Los Angeles hospital with an unusual request: He wanted to meet and take photographs of people about to die. There was nothing macabre about the request, George says. He simply wanted to learn of and reflect the wisdom these people had gained in the hope that others could discover how to lead better, more fulfilling lives. “I wanted to make a project about the universal challenge that we all have to
[Highlights] Arts and entertainment calendar

Aug 19, 2016

Theater"Kinky Boots": The mega hit Broadway musical Kinky Boots is making is way back to Seoul once again. Based on the book by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein and with music and lyrics by Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winner Cyndi Lauper, the musical tells the true story Charlie Price who goes to oddly extreme lengths to save his father’s shoe factory. The local production will star Lee Ji-hoon, Kim Ho-young, Jung Seong-hwa and Kang Jong-seok. “Kinky Boots” will be staged from Sept. 02 to Nov. 13 at the B
[Eye] ‘Cultural Guerrilla’ Lee Yoon-taek talks evolution from poet to theater master

Aug 19, 2016

MIRYANG, South Gyeongsang Province -- A rebel in his own right, Lee Yoon-taek is truly one of the country’s few remaining renaissance men -- he is a veteran South Korean playwright, theater director, poet, dramatist and producer. 　Born in Busan in 1952, Lee has been a pioneering figure in the local theater arts movement. For the past 20 years, he has created 16 plays and adapted 15 works.　Widely dubbed by the media as the “Cultural Guerrilla,” Lee has the undisputed reputation of having been a k
FIAP’s congress to gather world’s leading photographers

Aug 18, 2016

The biennial congress of the International Federation of Photographic Art will be held in Korea from Aug. 22-28. The UNESCO-registered body of professional photographers, known as FIAP, an acronym of its French name, will bring together some 400 photographers from 87 member countries to network and showcase major photographs selected from each member country. “The 33th FIAP Congress unites photographers around the world to one place to celebrate photography. I hope the event highlights the impor
UK critics fall for ‘Groundhog Day’ musical, over and over

Aug 18, 2016

“Groundhog Day” is back, this time on stage. Is it deja vu, or something new? A musical based on the much-loved 1993 movie about a jaded weatherman forced to live the same day over and over has opened at London’s Old Vic Theatre at the start of what producers hope will be a journey to BroadwayBritain’s theater critics were largely enthusiastic Wednesday, the day after the show’s gala premiere, praising its zany fun and dynamic theatricality, and hailing star Andy Karl as a worthy successor to th
‘Seonbi’ opera to perform at Carnegie Hall next month

Aug 17, 2016

Chosun Opera Company’s “Seonbi: The Noble and Wise Man” opera is gearing up for its New York premiere, slated to take place at Carnegie Hall next month.The upcoming performance will mark the first-ever Korean opera to be staged at the prestigious concert venue. “This opera has a genuine storyline and melody, and we are hoping that it will elevate Korean operas to an entirely new level,” said a Chosun Opera Company spokesperson. “This concert opera will showcase the best of our country’s musicali
Broadway’s best to light up Coney Island at Elsie Fest

Aug 16, 2016

The famous Coney Island boardwalk will host some special hot dogs with a Broadway flavor this fall. The second annual Elsie Fest, a one-day outdoor music festival celebrating theater stars, is set for Sept. 5 at the 5,000-seat Ford Amphitheater, offering a new location and a new slate of singers.This year’s performers include Megan Hilty, Tituss Burgess, Darren Criss, Evan Rachel Wood, composer Jason Robert Brown, Tony-winner Lena Hall, Corey Cott, Tony-winner Cynthia Erivo, radio host Julie Jam
[Highlights] Arts and entertainment calendar

Aug 12, 2016

Theater “Nori”: In celebration of the Seoul Performing Arts Company’s 30th anniversary, the company has unveiled its newest, multi-cultural live song and dance theater production, “Nori.” The production follows the four SPAC performers on a journey around the world to learn about new musical cultures and present them to the Korean stage. “Nori” will be staged daily (except on Mondays) at the Arko Arts Theater’s Grand Theater in Daehangno, Seoul until Aug. 21. Ticket prices range from 30,000 won
[Herald Interview] Body painter Emma Hack creates illusion in camouflage body art

Aug 11, 2016

Australian artist Emma Hack paints on a model’s body until it perfectly aligns with the intricate, colorful patterns of the wallpaper behind the model. In other work, she perfectly adjusts the contours of her models to match the detailed patterns of flowers and animals. The artist’s work -- captured in photographs -- have been exhibited in major cities around the world, including New York, Hong Kong and Singapore. She is holding her first solo exhibition in Korea at Savina Museum of Contemporary