Pictured is a Lazzari Studio reproduction of ``Creation of Adam,'' a fresco by Michelangelo on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, Italy. It is part of the ``Masterpieces of Renaissance Frescoes,'' exhibition at Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center. / Korea Times Photos by Cathy Rose A. Garcia |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
 There's no need to travel all the way to Italy to catch a glimpse of the impressive frescoes painted by old masters Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raffaello. Just head to the exhibition ``Masterpieces of Renaissance Frescoes,'' which brings beautifully exact reproductions of the famous pieces of art to Seoul.
The exhibition, showing 51 reproduction frescoes by 19 Renaissance masters from all over Italy, opened last week at the Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul Arts Center, and runs through Feb. 21.
The reproductions of these frescoes are produced by Lazzari Studio from Umbria, Italy. The Lazzari family has a three-century history of replicating frescoes of Renaissance masters, using a unique technique called ``affregraphy.''
Stefano Lazzari, director of Lazzari Studio, hopes the exhibition of frescoes will re-introduce the spirit of the Renaissance in Korea.
``Unlike paintings on canvas or panels, frescoes never went on a journey despite various attempts. It never happened before in the history of art that people can appreciate frescoes of the da Vinci, Piero della Francesca, Pinturicchio and Perugino, which are widely distributed in Italy, at the same place, at the same time,'' Lazzari said.
Using the affregraphy method, Lazzari and his team painstakingly copied the frescoes in as much detail as possible. Digital images of the original frescoes are transferred to wet plaster, and then carefully painted in by hand using traditional techniques.
Many of the frescoes depict religious themes and stories and figures from the Bible. ``We are happy and thrilled to come here and introduce Renaissance art to Korea,'' said Marina Mattei, curator of Rome Museum.
The highlights of the exhibition include Michelangelo's (1476-1564) ``Universal Judgments,'' and ``Creation of Adam,'' both from the series of panels on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. The ``Creation of Adam'' depicts God reaching out to Adam, the first man according to the Bible's Book of Genesis.
Another significant piece is da Vinci's (1452-1519) ``The Last Supper,'' a fresco showing Jesus and the apostles. The work, which can be found in the refectory of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, will perhaps be familiar to fans of Dan Brown's best-selling novel ``The Da Vinci Code.''
``The Baptism of Christ'' is a painting finished by Andrea del Verrochio, with the help of da Vinci, who was then a young student. Da Vinci painted the blonde angel and parts of the landscape in the piece, which is at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Rafaello's (1483-1520) ``The School of Athens,'' widely considered his masterpiece, can be found in the Stanza della Segnatura in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.
Other must-see pieces are ``Allegory of Good Government'' by Ambrogio Lorenzetti (1290-1348), ``San Giovenale Trinity'' by Masaccio (1401-1428), ``Crucifixion'' by Giotto Di Bondone (1266-1337) and ``Nativity'' by Pinturicchio (1454-1513).
The exhibition, organized by Seoul Arts Center, the Asia Museum and the Christian Television System, is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are 13,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for students and 8,000 won for children. Visit www.freescoart.co.kr or www.sac.or.kr.
To get there, get off at Nambu Bus Terminal line 3 exit 5. Take the green bus 12 or blue bus 4429 or walk five to ten minutes to Seoul Arts Center.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr
| Artist Park Ad-jong Creates Bunny Sculptures |
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An array of rabbit sculptures unveiled by artist Park Ad-jong for her solo show ``To Thine Own Self Be True'' at Art Link Gallery, Anguk-dong, Jongno. / Courtesy of the artist |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Looking at the white and gentle-looking rabbit sculptures inside Art Link gallery, one might be tempted to exclaim, ``How cute!'' For artist Park Ad-jong, the furry animal holds a special meaning for her that does not have anything to do with its cute appearance.
``When people talk about bunnies, they think of rebirth. Bunnies make a lot of babies, so it's about new beginnings. For me, bunnies represent new life. And this is the same for me, it's about starting over and rebirth,'' she told The Korea Times at the Art Link Gallery, Anguk-dong, Jongno, Wednesday.
Park is showing her rabbit and egg sculptures at a solo show ``To Thine Own Self Be True.'' The title, a line taken from Shakespeare's "Hamlet," is sort of a mantra for the artist, who has had a difficult last two years.
As problems weighed heavily on her mind, Park, a professor at Ewha Womans University, decided to work even harder by putting all of her energy into art.
``I had some legal problems last year. There were some trust issues with some people at school. (Through my art) I just wanted to say what the truth in life is. I know the truth. God knows the truth, but other people just won't tell the truth,'' she said.
In one sculpture, the rabbit is shown with one paw up, as if to say, ``Hi.'' But what Park actually intended was to show a scene from a courtroom.
``It's funny that people think the rabbit is saying, `Hi,' but actually it's like being sworn in before the court,'' she said, recalling her own experience in court.
To the ordinary observer, the bunny sculptures might have benign, if not, sweet expressions. For Park, the bunnies' expressions range from anger to frustration, reflecting her own emotional turmoil. She added some whimsical touches to them, like a funky pair of eyeglasses or a bow tie.
There's also a ``sweet'' dark brown rabbit, which Park painted with a thin layer of real chocolate. A sugary scent lingers in the air, almost tempting visitors to pick up a piece of the chocolate candy scattered on the floor.
In contrast to the rabbits, Park's egg sculptures, with their realistic eggshell texture, have an air of mystery.
``The reason I made these eggs is because when I was in the U.S., I felt like I broke through the shell and came out. But when I went back to Korea, it felt like people kept saying I should go back inside the egg … I already experienced freedom in the U.S., and now I felt like I should hide myself again,'' she said.
However, working on the sculptures for the exhibition proved to be a cathartic process for Park. ```To thine own self be true' means that no matter what the obstacles, we must stay true to our beliefs and values ― to be honest with ourselves in the face of adversity. No matter how much we may suffer and be beaten, we can always have a rebirth like the phoenix, or in a gentler way, like the rabbit and the egg,'' she said.
The exhibition runs through Dec. 31. To get to the gallery, get off at Anguk station Line 3, exit 1, turn right at the first corner and go straight. When you reach the fork in the road, turn left. Art Link is on your left. Visit www.artlink.co.kr or call (02) 738-0738.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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| Artist Ilana Gal Offers Magic Mixture |
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“Red Donkey” by Ilana Gal, part of the “Magic Mixture” exhibition under way at Opera Gallery in Seoul. / Courtesy of Opera Gallery | By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Israeli artist Ilana Gal's vividly colored paintings are filled with mysterious figures and almost indecipherable elements that may remind some of children's drawings.
It's not surprising to find out that Gal draws inspiration from her children's drawings. ``My son brought a picture from school with two figures that he painted. It was so beautiful, so I went to the studio and started to paint. I tried to do something similar and from that moment, I couldn't stop doing figures, animals. I liked it a lot,'' she told The Korea Times at a gallery last week.
Gal was in Seoul last week for the opening of ``Magic Mixture,'' a joint exhibition with Monaco artist Philippe Pastor at Opera Gallery Seoul. This is the first time her works have been shown in Korea.
The 41-year-old artist graduated with a degree in graphic design from Academic College of Emek Izrael. One of her teachers saw Gal's talent for painting and encouraged her to pursue fine art.
Israeli artist Ilana Gal is showing her works in Korea for the first time at Opera Gallery Seoul.
/ Korea Times Photo
by Cathy Rose A. Garcia | ``After graduating, I decided to focus on art. I didn't like working with the computer, it was too much. So I started painting,'' Gal said.
Initially, her works were very logical and clean, showing strong influences from graphic design. But when she started working on figure paintings, it proved to be the ``release'' she needed.
Her figure paintings have received much interest from collectors, particularly in Europe. She places multiple layers of paint and other materials on the canvas, creating a rich texture.
Starting a new painting is like a new adventure for Gal, who admits she does not plan what she paints in advance. But once she starts working on a piece, she won't stop until it is finished.
``If I'm doing a painting, I can't think of anything else. I have to do one painting at a time. I have to start one, and finish it. When I start it, I don't know when it is going to be finished, but I can't leave it alone,'' she said.
Sometimes, she does not even know how many layers the painting has. Gal trusts her instincts enough to know when to stop putting on layers of colors or details.
Anat Ilan Brauner, a close friend who accompanied Gal to Seoul, says the multiple layered paintings really do represent the artist as a person. ``She has so many layers as a person. We don't even see it or know it,'' Brauner said.
With the prevalent exotic animals and figures, plus vibrant colors, the paintings also seem to have some African influence. Gal spent most of her childhood in Africa, but says she does not consciously infuse her works with African symbols.
Gal, who cites Jean Michel Basquiat, Jean Dubuffet and Lea Nikel as artists she admires, says it is important to make people feel good when they see her works.
``I'm pleased when people can see my work, feel something and connect with it,'' she said.
Perhaps it is the aura of innocence and happiness in the paintings that provoke positive reactions from the audience. Gal, a mother of four, says she still feels like a child herself sometimes.
``My paintings represent me. I think I'm still a child in a way, although I have children and I'm already grown up. I think there's a naivete in the works that come from the point of view of a mature person. There's a special tension in it,'' she said.
``Magic Mixture'' runs through Dec. 30 at Opera Gallery, Nature Poem Building, Cheongdam-dong. Visit www.operagallery.com or call (02) 3446-0070.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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| Andy Warhol’s 15 Minutes in Seoul |
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Thomas Sokolowski, director of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, visited Seoul for the opening of the “Andy Warhol, The Greatest” exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art. / Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
``If you want to know everything about me, just look at the surface of my paintings, it's all there, there's nothing more,'' Andy Warhol once famously said.
People can discover more about the enigmatic Pop Art icon at the recently opened exhibition ``Andy Warhol, the Greatest'' at the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA).
You Hee-young, SeMA director, said this was an invaluable opportunity to examine Warhol's art works that continue to influence contemporary art and pop culture 22 years after his death.
What exactly is the appeal of Warhol's works that has endured the decades?
``What people love about Warhol's works is that it is recognizable, and people can say that it's so-and-so. … Warhol's work speaks to the everyday person. That's part of the appeal, that he liked Muhammad Ali, and so did we. There was that familiarity that joined him with the people, no matter where they were in the world,'' Thomas Sokolowski, director of The Andy Warhol Museum, told The Korea Times.
The ``Andy Warhol, the Greatest'' exhibition is divided into 10 thematic sections that span Warhol's career as an industrial designer, artist and filmmaker. Over 400 pieces, on loan from The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, Penn., include many representative works such as the Campbell Soup Cans and Brillo boxes, portraits of world-famous people like Marilyn Monroe and the Beatles, as well as drawings and personal keepsakes. It is interesting to see how Warhol combined pop culture and fine art in his works and turned it into a commercially successful career.
The first section of the exhibition features well-known pieces such as ``Flowers,'' ``Dollar Sign'' and ``Marilyn'' (Monroe). Sokolowski noted that when Warhol was starting as an artist, someone advised him to ``paint what you like the most.''
``So he painted money. He wanted to silkscreen dollar bills, but the printer thought it might be seen as counterfeiting. So Warhol drew a $1 bill and made it into a painting. … He grew up during the Great Depression, so he realized that money can buy stuff. He knew that money is the currency of the real world,'' he said. Incidentally, Warhol's silkscreen painting ``200 One Dollar Bills'' recently sold for $43.7 million at an auction.
 Born Andrew Warhola to working class immigrant parents in 1928, Warhol was obsessed with fame and money. ``In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes'' is probably his most cited quote and quite prescient, in light of society's current obsession with celebrity status.
His portraits of celebrities and important figures in politics, art, business and Hollywood will obviously attract the most attention at the exhibition. There are colorful silkscreen portraits of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, the Beatles, Sylvester Stallone, Ingrid Bergman, Albert Einstein and Mao Zedong.
Warhol started making the Mao's portraits after going to Hong Kong and later Beijing in the 1960s and 70s. He found it interesting that there were huge photos of Mao throughout China, at a time when there was intense speculation whether or not the Chinese Communist Party leader was still alive.
``I think Warhol made this image because there was a phrase in Latin: `life is short, but art endures forever.' In a sense, whether Chairman Mao is dead or not, as long as his image remains, then the power of the person would exist,'' Sokolowski said.
A section is also devoted to many of Warhol's self-portraits, which show him in typical celebrity photo poses, like slightly covering his lips with his fingers or wearing sunglasses.
Sokolowski, who knew the artist for 20 years, says there were many aspects of Warhol that were always hidden from even his closest friends. Despite his high profile as a celebrity, Warhol always cultivated a mysterious persona, wearing outlandish wigs when going out in public.
``I once asked him, `Andy, why are you making the wigs so strange?' And he said, `If people look at the wig, they won't see my face.' … The person who walked in the streets was Andy Warhol the famous artist, but the man who was born Andrew Warhola, what he loved, what tragedies he suffered, we would never know. What he was saying was `If you want to see me, look at my work because that's my mirror,''' Sokolowski said.
``Andy Warhol, the Greatest'' runs through April 4 at the SeMA, downtown Seoul. It is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays. On weekends, it is open until 6 p.m. through February, and to 7 p.m. from March to April. Tickets range from 8,000 to 12,000 won. To get there, get off at City Hall Station Line 1 or 2, exit 10. Visit www.warhol.co.kr or seoulmoa.seoul.go.kr.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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| The Killers to Bring a Bit of Vegas to Seoul |
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American rockers The Killers promises to give a memorable performance in its first concert in Seoul, Feb. 6, Olympic Hall, Olympic Park.
/ Courtesy of Yellow Nine |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
American alternative rock band The Killers will put on an electrifying stage performance in Seoul this coming February.
Frontman Brandon Flowers promises to display some of the band's hometown vibe when they perform on Feb. 6 at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park.
``We try to bring a little bit of Las Vegas everywhere we go, a little bit of Elvis. You'll see,'' Flowers told The Korea Times in an e-mail interview.
The group was formed in the capital city of Nevada in 2002, with Flowers on vocals and keyboards, Dave Keuning on guitar, Mark Stoermer on bass and Ronnie Vannucci on drums. Flowers met Keuning after responding to the latter's newspaper ad looking for band members that listed Oasis, The Cure, U2 and The Beatles as influences.
British rock music has always been a big influence on The Killers' music. The name of the band was taken from a fictional band in New Order's ``Crystal'' music video.
So it was appropriate that The Killers got their break in the U.K. They signed with a British indie label, and started playing in England where they attracted fans and critical acclaim. Their success in the U.K. helped them land a deal with Island Def Jam records in the U.S.
The Killers released their debut album ```Hot Fuss'' in 2004. The songs ``Mr. Brightside,'' ``All These Things That I've Done'' and ``Somebody Told Me'' helped them find mainstream success.
Since then, The Killers have released the albums ``Sam's Town'' (2006), ``Sawdust'' (2007) and ``Day & Age'' (2008).
Their breakout song, ``Mr. Brightside,'' was voted the number one song of the decade in a Nov. 29 poll of British radio listeners by XFM London. Another one of their hits, ``Somebody Told Me,'' ranked at number nine.
The Killers recently came out with ``Live from the Royal Albert Hall,'' a CD/DVD of their July 5 and 6, 2009 concerts in London.
``(Royal Albert hall) is a beautiful building, an iconic place. It was so special to play like that. So we took advantage of making a DVD out of it. I think it turned out great and I am happy with that,'' Flowers said.
Despite the intensity of their tracks, Flowers attributes the band's success to ``clean living.''
``I could not perform the way that I performed if I wasn't healthy. That's the fact. It's `new rock & roll.' And we are also involved in creating a stage set. So if we want to, we can say this is what we want, or we don't like it. We can work with people. Hopefully, as time goes by, we will grow better and things will get more exciting,'' he said.
It's only been a year since The Killers released ``Day & Age,'' but Flowers is already talking about the next one: "I've just got a feeling that it's going to be the heaviest album.''
Tickets to ``The Killers Live in Seoul'' are 77,000 and 99,000 won. The concert starts at 7 p.m. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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| D’Sound Has New Album, Concert |
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Norwegian pop duo D'Sound returns to Seoul for a concert at Melon-AX Hall, Saturday.
/ Courtesy of Private Curve | By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
Norwegian pop group D'Sound will perform in Seoul Saturday, with a new album ―``Starts and Ends'' ― but one less member.
In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, D'Sound's Simone and Jonny Sjo talked about their sixth album, their first effort as a duo after original member Kim left.
``Starts and Ends is maybe the most important D'Sound album ever. It is very energetic and more inspired by pop and rock than our previous records. Some of the songs are retrospective and there is quite a lot of melancholy,'' they said.
They started working on the album as a trio, but Kim dropped out during production. However, Simone and Jonny decided to continue work with producer Jorn Dahl, as they felt very strongly about the material.
After losing Kim, D'Sound admitted it was strange to be working as a duo at first. But they were able to adjust quickly, as Simone and Jonny had done most of the songwriting in the past.
``There is a natural rhythm between us and it felt only natural to go on. We felt so excited about the new songs,'' they said.
Since their debut in 1997, the band has released five albums: ``Spice of Life,'' ``Beauty Is a Blessing,'' ``Talkin' Talk,'' ``Doublehearted'' and ``My Today.''
Because the members came from different musical backgrounds, the group was able to create a distinctive sound. Jonny has experience in gospel and jazz, while Simone is a pop singer and songwriter.
``We have always inspired each other to mix different styles and dare to take it a step further,'' they said.
D'Sound has always been known for its sophisticated sound, which mixes elements of pop, acid jazz, funk, R&B and soul music.
``We've definitely gone towards a more popish sound, but the main idea behind D'Sound is not to commit to any specific genre and to stay free to explore all our musical ideas and inspirations,'' they said.
The duo said the new album offers something new and distinct from their previous works. ``Starts and Ends is my favorite song on this album. It's such a dramatic, sad and beautiful song. And it is so different from our previous body of work,'' Simone said.
For Jonny, his favorite song is ``Live Forever'' because of its ``unique energy, which I haven't felt in previous D'Sound works.''
D'Sound has performed in Seoul several times before, and said all their trips had been ``fantastic,'' thanks to the love and enthusiasm from the audience.
For their up-coming Dec. 19 concert at Melon-AX Hall, the pop duo says fans can expect a show filled with energy. The set list will include songs from their latest album and past hits ``Talkin' Talk,'' ``Do I Need a Reason,'' ``Tattooed on my Mind'' and ``People are People.''
``We will be passionate musicians excited to move the crowd and be moved by the crowd. Our Korean audience has a special place in our heart, and every chance we get to visit with our music, we want to grab the opportunity and hold on to our faithful musical friends … When we feel the energy, then the concert always has the potential of becoming the best ever,'' they said.
Tickets are 77,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com. For English reservations, email info@privatecurve.com or call (02)563-0595. To get to Melon-AX Hall, get off at Gwangnaru Station, Line 5, Exit 2.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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| Eric Benet Talks About 'Love & Life' |
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Eric Benet will serenade fans with R&B songs at a concert Dec. 19 at Yonsei University Auditorium, Seoul. / Courtesy of Private Curve | By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
R&B singer Eric Benet is thrilled to be heading to Seoul for his first solo show next weekend.
``I can tell that the Koreans are very anxious to see me perform, so you guys must be feeling my music. It makes me even more excited to come and reciprocate that excitement. What you can expect is a whole lot of positive emotion, a whole lot of feeling good and experiencing Eric Benet at his very best,'' he said, in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.
Fans quickly snapped up tickets for the concert, which will take place at Yonsei University Auditorium, Dec. 19. Benet is one of most popular R&B musicians among Korean fans because of his soulful vocals and romantic songs: ``You're The Only One," ``Chocolate Legs" and ``Spend My Life with You."
His latest effort, ``Love & Life,'' which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B album, showed Benet's more optimistic side.
``With `Love & Life,' I guess I want to say that life is worthy to be celebrated, to be enjoyed and whenever there is a challenge in your life, keep love and light in your heart and mind, and you will make it through your challenges,'' he said.
It was also the first time in his career that Benet had full creative control over making an album. ``There was no real involvement with the record label at all, just made it and turned it into them. I feel like this album is the purest representation of me because of that,'' he said.
As a singer and songwriter, Benet says he tries to be very honest in conveying real emotions.
``When you hear great artists' music, you can hear the music and feel the pain and the beauty in their life, and when you read the lyrics, you can feel that it all came from a very honest place. And that's how I try to write music too,'' he added.
The album also featured Benet singing with his young daughter India for the first time. Like any proud father, he says India has a beautiful voice and wanted to give her a chance to show it off.
``I thought, `Why not get her to sing a little bit of back up for me?' and that's how it started. Also, India loves to sing and that's what she wants to do with her life in the future, but she understands that she needs to get her education done first,'' he said.
Benet made his debut in the music business with ``True to Myself" in 1996. Before getting a record deal, he worked for years as a singer, earning $50 a week.
``I did it for passion and love of music. I'm from the school of you know … keep practicing what you do and keep working and try to improve your game. Now that I've been in this for about 20 years, working hard and appreciating all my life experiences, I feel that when I perform on stage, my music really comes to life and takes on a whole other dimension,'' he said.
Despite his success, he still has more to accomplish. His to-do list includes: spending more time with his daughter; writing a screenplay and having a chance to work with legendary singer Chaka Khan.
Benet is very enthusiastic about his career right now, saying, ``I'm at the top of my game and I couldn't be happier.''
Tickets are 88,000 and 99,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com. For reservations in English, email info@privatecurve.com or call (02)563-0595.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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| Swell Season Stay Together After Romance Is Over |
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The Swell Season, composed of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, has recently released a new album ``Strict Joy.'' / Courtesy of SonyBMG |
By Cathy Rose A. Garcia
Staff Reporter
When musicians Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova fell in love, it seemed like a perfect match. After all, viewers had seen the chemistry between the two in the 2007 indie film ``Once.''
Like the film, it turned out the relationship was not destined for a "happily-ever-after" ending. Hansard and Irglova broke up a few months ago, but to the surprise of many, their musical partnership is still going strong. The duo, the founding members of The Swell Season, recently has released the eagerly-awaited album ``Strict Joy.''
In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Hansard says despite the break-up, nothing has changed when it comes to their music or live performances.
``It has not changed the way we perform together. I can't really say why it is, but thankfully, that's the one aspect of our friendship that's never changed. When we play music together, it always works. It definitely changed the way we write together, just by virtue of the fact that we're not under the same roof as much. I write my songs, and she writes hers, and I'll help her, and she'll comment on mine, but ultimately, it's a separate act,'' the Irish singer said.
Their musical relationship is obviously something special to have withstood their personal issues. Hansard and Irglova are well aware of the unique musical bond they share.
Irglova says she has always appreciated Hansard's craft as a songwriter, his poetic lyrics and his passionate live performances.
``When he is playing music, he is always very present, and gives the song everything. His passion comes across and makes people stand up from their seats, just like the quieter songs create an air of intimacy that makes one feel they are the only person in the audience being sung to,'' she says.
The 39-year-old Hansard says he has learned much from the 21-year-old Czech singer. ``She teaches me new things every day with her talent and perspective. Her songs on this record are just so mature and so clear. I envy her ability to speak clear and true,'' he said.
The album's title was taken from ``Strict Care, Strict Joy," a poem by Irish writer James Stephens that Hansard says ``really, really floored me.''
```Strict Joy' ― the idea is that if you really work, and you really get to it and you work with your art and you really dig and you really find the essence of your sadness and the essence of your troubles, often, joy can come of it. The idea is that if you take strict care ― the poem is actually called `Strict Care, Strict Joy' ― if you take real care over your work, all that can truly be born of it is good,'' he said.
Some people might look more into the lyrics of the songs on ``Strict Joy'' and jump to the conclusion that it is Hansard and Irglova's ``break up" record. ``To refer to `Strict Joy' as a `break up' record exclusively, I think would be untrue, although it does play a part in the fabric of the songs. This new bunch of songs tries to find more hope or redemption in the idea of loss or sadness,'' Hansard said.
The album comes three years after the highly-acclaimed ``Once'' soundtrack, which included the Academy Award-winning song ``Falling Slowly.'' Expectations were high for The Swell Season's next work, but Hansard says he didn't feel too much pressure.
``It is always important to try to make your music as good as it can be. But we knew that after `Once,' it would be next to impossible to match the size of the soundtrack, so we didn't even try. We just made the record as good as we could make it and the rest is up to the audience,'' he said.
The Swell Season has performed in Korea twice this year, and each time, the overwhelming enthusiasm of Korean fans has made it a memorable experience. Hansard and Irglova, who are on tour right now, hope to come back and perform again.
``It has been a very exiting time for us there. You've always given us a great time at the shows, your passion and enthusiasm has lifted our spirits and made us play better than we thought! Thank you and I hope we will see you again in the near future. In the meantime, support your local music and form your own bands! It does not matter if you can't sing! When you sing from the heart, there are no wrong notes,'' Hansard said.
cathy@koreatimes.co.kr |
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Snoop Dogg
Kaori Muraji
Jason Mraz 
Britney Spears
2PM 
Leona Lewis 
Westlife 
Dylan's ``Christmas In The Heart'' is straightforwardly nostalgic, from the traditional cover featuring a horse-driven sleigh to the selection of songs. At first it sounds disconcerting to hear him sing about Santa Claus, snowflakes, angels, drummer boys and winter wonderlands, but there's a touch of warmth in the songs. 
On the other hand, Archuleta, who finished as the runner-up on season 7 of "American Idol," releases his first holiday album ``Christmas From the Heart.'' The album mainly features slow, soulful versions of ``Joy to the World,'' ``Silent Night,'' ``O Come All Ye Faithful'' and ``O Holy Night.'' 
Warner Music Korea has re-released ``The Christmas Song,'' featuring the 16 original tracks plus four bonus songs. Thanks to music technology, Natalie Cole sings with her father on a lovely new version of ``The Christmas Song,'' while R&B singer Anthony Hamilton lends his vocals to ``Buon Natale.''
Queen 
Various Artists 
Snow Patrol 
Robbie Williams 
John Mayer 
The Killers
Recently, a Korean fast fashion brand SPAO was launched by leading fashion retail conglomerate E-Land. It hopes to challenge foreign brands by offering a Korean take on fast fashion. The name SPAO is an acronym for ``specialty retailer of private label apparel original,'' which means the company produces its own clothing line and sells it exclusively in its stores.
