music stories in October 2009

'Angelic' Mariah Carey in Seoul to Promote 'Imperfect' Album

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop superstar Mariah Carey's new album might be called ``Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel,'' but she charmed everyone at a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. Wearing a fitted black mini-dress and knee-high boots, Carey made her grand entrance at the press conference with a flurry of camera flashes lighting up the room. ``Annyeonghaseyo,'' Carey said, smiling at the room full of local and international reporters at the Rose Hall of the Grand InterContinental Hotel, Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. ``I'm very excited to be back here in Korea after six years. I always said I wanted to see my fans and experience different things in Korea again,'' she said. She arrived Monday evening in Seoul to promote her 12th album. ``Yesterday, at the airport, we were tired, but when we saw the fans there, and the fans were beyond supportive. I feel like I have a family all over the world, and here is part of my family too,'' she said. Asked about how she came up with the album's title, Carey said she originally co-wrote a song with her husband Nick Cannon about society's obsession with perfection. ``Society seems to make people feel bad about not being perfect, especially in the entertainment business. I thought, wouldn't it be cool if that would be the theme of the album and speak to the people who may be growing up, and you feel you're not good enough ... It's one of those things when the title makes the record,'' she said. While she had a lot of fun making the album, working with producers like Tricky and Dream, Carey said she wanted to make an album she really liked. ``We weren't trying to make hits, we just wanted to make good music,'' she said. Known for her glamorous image, Carey looked particularly youthful with her bouncy curls and sexy curves. When asked for her secret to looking so young, she admitted she is ``eternally 12.'' ``Because when I was 12, there was good and bad things, but I'm still the same person when I was 12, so why not still be 12? But 12 with the nice hair and makeup artist,'' she laughed. It's an image she shed when she played a dowdy social worker in the film ``Precious,'' produced by Oprah Winfrey. ``Lee Daniels, the director, told me to look homely and ugly so that no one would recognize me. `I don't want any type of hair that looks like you, and I'm going to put a small mustache on you and stuff under your eyes. You're going to be hideous and then you're going to lose yourself in the part,' he said. That's what we did." "Yes, I hated looking like that, and yes, I walked past the mirrors (gesturing with hands over her face) and like ugh, but the main thing I had become the character. I was fortunate to be part of the movie,'' she said. Carey already has a long list of accomplishments, including five Grammy Awards, 18 number one hits on the Billboard charts and millions of albums sold, but she's still trying to find the right balance between her career and personal life. ``Some people didn't live their lives wanting to be entertainers. I did. I make music, I perform, this is who I am. I do definitely want to have a family. I got married a year and half ago ... It is difficult to do both things. I have to take time to eventually to have a family with no dysfunction, it's hard, and also try to make music. It's a balancing act,'' she said. During her stay in Seoul, Carey will appear on several TV shows, including MTV Korea and ``Yoo Hee-yeol's Sketchbook," which will air Oct. 23 at 12:15 a.m. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Kasabian Talks About New Album 'Lunatic Asylum'

British rockers Kasabian introduced a new dark, electronic-infused sound with their album "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum." / Courtesy of SonyBMG By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter With the quirky title "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum," fans and critics alike have been trying to figure out what British rock band Kasabian's latest album is really about. But frontman Tom Meighan says the title has no relation to anything, other than "it's the words that I actually like." "I like the idea of madness, and music kind of entwines. If you call an album that, it pretty much gives you the freedom to go wherever you want. That's what I was interested in," he said in an e-mail interview. "West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum," the band's third album, topped the U.K. charts this June. Meighan says guitarist Sergio Pizzorno was inspired to make the album after watching a TV show about a mental asylum. "One night, Serge watched a program on a mental asylum on TV, and he had this thing to make an album that's really out there and the journey. It's the kind of thing, (where) each song's different and has a different characteristic and that's how it happened," he said. With dark, electronica songs "Underdog," "Vlad the Impaler" and "Fire," the album is nothing like the rock music their fans are used to. Critics gave mixed reviews, but Kasabian is not affected by them. "It's an album with 12 really good songs on it, that's all to me what it is. It just throws it into another world and it's completely different to the first two records, which is what we're about," Meighan said. Kasabian was formed in Leicester in 1999, with Meighan on vocals, Pizzorno on guitar and Chris Edwards on bass. Drummer Ian Matthews joined in 2004. Kasabian, who won the Best Live Act award at the 2007 NME Awards, impressed Korean fans when they performed at the Pentaport Rock Festival in 2007. Meighan says it was also an "amazing" experience for the band to perform here. "The energy there was, you know, monstrous," he added. Although there's no word on a Kasabian concert in Seoul anytime soon, Meighan said fans can always expect their shows to be magical. "You can literally be on fire," he said. Amid their success, Kasabian still manages to keep it real. The secret, Meighan says, is "you just gotta be yourself." cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Shakira 'She Wolf' (SonyBMG) Colombian superstar Shakira is back with her third English-language album filled with Latin-infused electronic tracks. The title track ``She Wolf" offers hip disco beats and wolf howling, but oddly enough it works. Shakira's voice goes from falsetto to throaty growls, creating songs with multilayered vocal tracks. The Neptunes produced several songs, including ``Did It Again" and ``Long Time" with its thumping Latin beats, while Wyclef Jean worked on their duet ``Spy." The 32-year-old made some risky choices in her attempt to break away from her pop-rock image, but it paid off. Overall, ``She Wolf" offers fresh and innovative music that stands out from the rest of the pack. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Mercedes Sosa 'Cantora' (SonyBMG) Legendary Argentine folk singer Mercedes Sosa died of kidney and liver failure on Oct. 4, but her music legacy lives on. ``Cantora," which means ``woman singer" in Spanish, is Sosa's last album. It is filled with collaborations with Latin musicians from different genres, including pop, rock and tango. Sosa's voice is powerful and expressive, even at 74. She sings with both old friends and well-known stars, such as Joan Manuel Serrat on ``Aquellos pequenas cosas" and Shakira on ``La Maza". ``Cancion Para un Nino en la Calle," (Song for a Street Kid) is a brilliant collaboration, combining Rene Perez's rapping with Sosa's singing. Another good duet is ``Razon de vivir" with Lila Downs. This amazing collection of collaborations ensures Sosa's career ended on a high note. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Pop Singer Mika to Perform in Seoul

Pop singer Mika will be performing in Seoul for the first time, Nov. 28. / Courtesy of Yellow Nine By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop sensation Mika will be bringing his fun, catchy music to Seoul for the first time next month. Mika, whose hit songs include ``Grace Kelly'' and ``Big Girl (You Are Beautiful),'' is holding his first solo concert Nov. 28 at the Melon AX-Hall, Gwangjang-dong, Seoul. Mika was born Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. Aug.18, 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon. He grew up in Paris, and later London where he attended Westminster School and the Royal College of Music. He left school to make his debut album with Casablanca Records. In 2007, the London-based singer-songwriter quickly gained critical acclaim for his first album ``Life In Cartoon Motion,'' filled with fresh-sounding pop music. Mika has said the songs mostly deal with coming-of-age issues he dealt with when he was growing up. The first single ``Grace Kelly'' spent five weeks on the number one spot in the U.K. charts, and the album sold four million copies in just 10 months in Europe. His falsetto voice and music earned him comparisons with Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Prince, Robbie Williams and David Bowie. Mika also became known for his flamboyant on-stage persona and eccentric personality. Mika won British Breakthrough Act in the 2008 Brit Awards, where he also received nominations for British Male Solo Artist, Best Album and Best Single. ``Grace Kelly'' also received a nomination for Record of the Year at the 2007 Grammy Awards. The 26-year-old Mika, who also plays the piano, just released his second album ``Boy Who Knew Too Much.'' It included catchy and upbeat songs ``We Are Golden,'' ``Blame it on the Girls,'' and ``Blue Eyes.'' Mika's popularity in Korea has been helped by the fact that his songs have been widely used in Korean TV shows and commercials, such as SK Telecom, Asiana Airlines and KB Kookmin Bank. When the concert date for Seoul was finalized, Mika posted the message ``Seoul here we come" on his Twitter account (twitter.com/mikasounds). He is also scheduled to hold concerts in Tokyo and Hong Kong next month. Tickets are 99,000 won. Melon AX-Hall is located near Gwangnaru Station Line 5, Exit 2. For information, call concert organizer Yellow Nine at (02) 3444-9969(English booking available). Tickets are also sold on Auction Web site ticket.auction.co.kr (1566-1369) or Yes 24 Web site ticket.yes24.com (1544-6399). cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

'Fierce' Beyonce Rocks Seoul

American superstar Beyonce performs "Deja vu/ Crazy in Love" at her concert at Olympic Gymnasium, Olympic Park, Seoul, Tuesday evening. / Courtesy of SonyBMG By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Superstar Beyonce once again proved she's currently one of the best stage performers in the world, as she hit Seoul, Tuesday, for the first of two concerts. Whether she was dancing with a fiery attitude or singing soulfully on stage, she captivated the crowd from start to finish. Never mind if the show started 30 minutes later than the 8:30 p.m. start time, the crowd roared with approval as the lights dimmed and Beyonce appeared on stage, looking like a golden goddess in a sexy costume. The pop icon started the "Beyonce I AM" concert brimming with high energy as she performed "Deja vu/ Crazy in Love." "Welcome, Seoul, Korea! Are you ready to dance," she asked, as the crowd responded with deafening screams. She showed her seductive Sasha Fierce side with strong and sexy dance moves with "Naughty Girl," "Freakum Dress" and "Get Me Bodied." The concert transitioned to a much slower pace, when the Texan native, who was wearing a white leotard and cape, performed the ballad "Smash Into You." For "Ave Maria," she donned a stiff white skirt and veil, making her look like an angelic bride. In the middle of the song, she switched to Sarah McLachlan's "Angel" and Schubert's classical version of "Ave Maria." Beyonce once again changed costumes, this time wearing a tough-looking black leather outfit for "If I Were a Boy," which included lyrics from Alanis Morrisette's "You Oughta Know." Fans were treated to home video clips of a five-year-old Beyonce singing and dancing for her family during "Radio." Her old clips were shown on the screen side-by-side with live images at the concert. Then, she appeared on a small stage in the middle of the concert hall, delighting fans in the standing section. She cajoled the crowd into singing "Irreplaceable," and also performed a medley of Destiny's Child hits, "Bootylicous," "Bug A Boo" and "Jumpin Jumpin." No matter how complicated or strenuous the dance moves seemed, she always made it look effortless. One lucky male fan got the chance of a lifetime, when Beyonce approached him and asked for his name. The fan looked obviously thrilled at the fact that the singer had just said his name. Once again changing into a body-hugging sparkling gown, she reappeared to sing the Etta James classic "At Last," followed by another crowd favorite, "Listen." For the finale, the crowd was treated to a montage of YouTube clips of people dancing to the monster hit "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Then the 28-year-old, wearing a beaded black leotard, recreated the iconic dance choreography she made famous in the music video as the crowd screamed. The concert stage was simple, with a glass mini-stage for the all-female band, stairs and a LED screen that showed impressive visual effects and videos. But it was renowned designer Thierry Mugler's glamorous costumes that showed off Beyonce's hourglass figure and long legs, which certainly caught everyone's attention. For the encore, she dedicated "Halo" to the late pop icon Michael Jackson, who she had always admired. By the end of the show, Beyonce graciously thanked her Korean fans. "Thanks for being a beautiful audience tonight. It's been so much fun. Every time I go on tour, I always look forward to being in Korea. Thank you," she said, flashing a brilliant smile. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Eric Benet, D’Sound to Perform in Korea This December

R&B singer Eric Benet will perform for the first time in Seoul on Dec. 19 at Yonsei University Auditorium in Seoul. / Courtesy of Private Curve By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter R&B singer Eric Benet will be performing in Seoul for the first time in December. Benet, whose soulful R&B songs are quite popular among Korean fans, will be holding a concert Dec. 19 at the Yonsei University Auditorium. This is part of concert organizer Private Curve's new "Music Likes Me" series featuring local and foreign artists from Dec. 18 to 31. Benet made his debut in 1996 with the album "True to Myself." He followed it up with "A Day in the Life" in 1999, which included the smash hit "Spend My Life With You." The song, a duet with Tamia, also topped the U.S. R&B charts and received a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group in 2000. Benet married actress Halle Berry in 2001, but they divorced in 2003 amid allegations of infidelity. But Benet bounced back, releasing his third album, "Hurricane," in 2005. It was his 2008 album "Love & Life" that showed the R&B singer-songwriter had returned to top form. The single "You're The Only One" became his first Top 20 hit in two years. He received two more Grammy Award nominations, including Best R&B Album. With his soulful vocals, Benet is one of the most admired R&B musicians among Korean R&B singers and idol groups. Korean fans are already abuzz over Benet's upcoming concert. He is expected to perform hit songs such as "You're The Only One," "Chocolate Legs," and "Spanish Fly." Meanwhile, Norwegian pop jazz group D'Sound is scheduled return to Seoul with a concert Dec. 19 at the AX-Hall, also part of the Music Likes Me series. D'Sound is known for its unique sound combining elements of pop, acid jazz, funk and soul music. After the departure of original member Kim, D'Sound is now a duo composed of vocalist Simone and bassist Jonny Sjo. The band has released several albums since 1997, including "Talkin' Talk," "Doublehearted" and "My Today." Some of their popular songs include "Enjoy," "Talkin' Talk," "Do I Need a Reason," "Tatooed on my Mind" and "People are People." Korean fans are also eagerly awaiting D'Sound's concert, as the duo is expected to perform new music. Their first album in four years, "Starts and Ends," will be released next month. For Benet's concert, tickets are 99,000 and 88,000 won. For D'Sound's concert, tickets are 77,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com. For reservations in English, e-mail info@privatecurve.com or call (02)563-0595. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Backstreet Boys `This is Us' (SonyBMG) The Backstreet Boys are back with their 7th album. "This is Us" represents the group's return to the dance music that made them famous in the 1990s. The Boys have made a keen move, especially with electro pop dominating the airwaves these days. "Straight Through My Heart" and "All of Your Life (You Need Love)" are filled with trendy European dance beats, with the help of Lady Gaga's producer RedOne. The album isn't just dominated by dance tracks. The Boys also include hip-hop and R&B-infused songs like "She's a Dream," featuring T-Pain, and "If I Knew Then." Fans won't be disappointed with pleasing pop ballads "This is Us," and "Undone" (produced by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder), that show off their vocals. Overall, the album has a surprisingly mature sound for the Boys, but offers nothing we haven't heard before. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Kings of Convenience 'Declaration of Dependence' (Warner Music Korea) If you're looking for some stripped down music, then pick up a copy of "Declaration of Dependence." The latest album from Norwegian folk duo Kings of Convenience, composed of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe, features more of their quiet acoustic tunes. They continue to impress with refreshing guitar music (plus some bass and violin), and open and honest lyrics. From the first track "24-25," the album's numbers are always soothing and easy on the ears but never dull. There's a mix of breezy songs such as "Mrs. Cold," "Me in You" and "Rule My World," while a somewhat melancholic sound can be heard on tracks "My Ship Isn't Pretty" and "Riot on an Empty Street." ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Beyonce Brings 'Sasha Fierce' to Seoul Show

Superstar Beyonce returns for two concerts, Oct. 20 and 21, at the Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park, as part of the “Beyonce I AM ... ” tour in Seoul. / Courtesy of B4H Entertainment By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop superstar Beyonce is hoping fans will enjoy seeing not just her real self, but also her fabulous alter-ego Sasha Fierce, when she hits the stage for two concerts in Seoul this week. "This tour will be really special for both me and for my fans. This is the concert that I show my two real sides of my personality. I really hope you enjoy and meet the 'real' me, myself, Beyonce, and Sasha Fierce at the show," she said, in an email interview. Beyonce, who arrives Monday, will be performing Oct. 20 and 21 at the Gymnastics Stadium of Olympic Park, as part of the "Beyonce I AM …" tour. The pop diva performed here in 2007, and the experience proved to be as memorable for her as it was for fans. "Seoul was the only place that I had two night shows. I still remember that people got so excited and so passionate during the show, and I could feel that they were enjoying the music itself. I even got so excited even after the show was finished. Seoul was a beautiful city by itself, but the people were so good, too. I will always remember them forever," she said. The multiple Grammy Award-winning artist introduced Sasha Fierce as her sexy alter-ego when she released the two-disc CD "I AM… Sasha Fierce." Stepping into Sasha's glamorous heels on stage has gotten easier through the years, but it does not involve the high-maintenance rituals that everyone might assume a diva would demand. "I can make the transition from Beyonce to Sasha Fierce really fast. I don't have any crazy rituals beforehand. I get in maybe two-and-a-half to three hours before each show. I do my makeup on tour myself and get my hair done. Then we all come together, say a prayer and do a little stretch," she said. But preparations for the concert tour sound grueling, as Beyonce talked about 12-hour-long rehearsals and practicing choreography in heels. "I have a rule that when I have my heels on, everyone has to have their heels on too. Sometimes the dancers are like, 'Oh, God, we hope Beyonce comes in late,' because I'll go all day. And in the end, I'll have blisters and my toes will have bruises," she said. The demanding workouts do help the pop star maintain a sexy figure, which she shows off in concerts and music videos like "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)." Standing out for its simplicity and choreography, "Single Ladies" nabbed the Video of the Year award at the recent MTV Music Video Awards. Out of all her videos, it was the least expensive and took the least amount of time. "And it ended up being the most iconic. I absolutely did not expect that," she admitted. On days off from the tour, the Texas-born beauty enjoys sightseeing, visiting churches and museums and even riding a bike around the city. "It's great to do something normal every day. It keeps me grounded," she said. Beyonce, who is married to hip-hop superstar Jay-Z, is in no hurry to start a family ("In five years, yes probably," she says). She has a lot going on right now, with a world tour and a "sexy and seductive" fragrance to be launched next year. And she's already thinking of new projects, like developing a videogame-incorporating dance choreography, and producing films, perhaps a documentary about her life or a film loosely based on her father's childhood. Despite her busy schedule, Beyonce clearly loves what she's doing. "The truth is I really love what I do. I live for it. I've invested so much of myself in my career that I cherish it. I've worked too hard to do something to damage what I've basically dedicated my life to. I still definitely get a high every time I get onstage. But it's not just the performing. It's also coming up with creative marketing ideas and doing cool collaborations, like my fragrance," she said. "I love everything about this." Even after working her exhausting concert tour ends, Beyonce is not the type to go on extended vacations. "I think after maybe a month or two months, I'd be really bored. But I don't see myself working this hard for the rest of my life. It's just too much to do forever. I thank God I started touring and building a fan base when I was really young. So now if I took off a couple of years, I think I'd still be able to come back, go on tour and do records. I'm still a young woman," said the 28-year-old. She also describes herself as an "all or nothing" type of woman. "Either I'm doing absolutely nothing and relaxing ― reading a book, sitting by the ocean and not answering any questions ― or else I'm hands-on and giving 100%, working really hard," she said. Tickets range from 80,000 to 160,000 won, and are available at ticket.auction.co.kr (1566-1369) or YES24 www.yes24.com (1544-6399). The concerts start at 8:30 p.m. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Barbra Streisand `Love is the Answer' (SonyBMG) Barbra Streisand's latest album ``Love is the Answer'' debuted at number 1 on the U.S. charts, proving the legendary diva is still very popular. With the help of producer and jazz singer Diana Krall, Streisand makes an impressive return to the music scene with an album of jazz tunes. Streisand's warm voice is as clear as ever and brimming with a rich maturity. All the songs are about love and heartbreak like ``Make Someone Happy,'' ``Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,'' and ``You Must Believe in Spring,'' making it the perfect soundtrack for a quiet, romantic evening. Streisand gives such stirring, unflinchingly honest interpretations of each song. Krall also took to the piano on ``In the Wee Hours of the Morning'' and ``Here's that Rainy Day.'' As this album shows, Streisand only seems to get better with age. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Trey Songz `Ready' (Warner Korea) With his third album ``Ready,'' American R&B singer Trey Songz is poised to fill in the void left by R&B stars like R. Kelly and Usher. Just a look at the song titles, ``Ready to Make Luv,'' ``I Invented Sex'' and ``Yo Side of the Bed," and you'll know what most of the album is about. Songz's album is a solid effort, with its mix of R&B, rap, hip-hop, racy lyrics and radio-friendly beats. He enlists rappers Drake, Fabolous, Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy to give his songs a bit of edge. Standout tracks include ``I Need a Girl,'' ``Successful,'' the immensely catchy ``I Invented Sex'' and the fun ``LOL :-)." ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia

Martin Solveig to Play This Week

French DJ Martin Solveig will liven up the club scene with shows in Seoul and Busan this weekend. / Photo by Romina Shama By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter French house music DJ Martin Solveig has performed in some of the hottest clubs and parties around the world, but he can't forget his time in Seoul. ``It was quite memorable. I played in a hotel lobby," he told The Korea Times, in an e-mail interview. "It's very rare for us in Europe to play in a hotel because that would bother the customers too much and we wouldn't be allowed to do that. It seemed that everyone in the hotel came to the party and it was big, but also like a home party so that was quite exceptional.'' Solveig is in town this week, with two gigs in Seoul and Busan. He's looking forward to performing before enthusiastic Korean crowds, adding that the city's club scene is fast gaining a good reputation among Europeans. ``It's extremely famous for us Europeans because we know it's a very good one. People in Seoul are extremely interested in music, very aware of the artists or the DJs they go check out. They know exactly what they want, what to expect: if you're doing well, they will give you ten times more than the Europeans. If you don't do well, then you're in trouble,'' he said. Born in Paris in 1976, Solveig grew up listening to classical music, but as an adolescent he was drawn to different kinds of music. ``When I was 13, I asked Santa Claus for a turntable to be able to mix records over the radio. That was the way I learned how to beat sync music and to get the first feel of being a DJ,'' he said. While he really liked electronic music as a teenager, Solveig admitted that part of the allure of DJ-ing was ``the idea of organizing parties with my friends in my parents' garage and obviously getting the girls!'' By 18, he landed a residency at the famous La Palace club in Paris. ``Of course, I was a lot into electronic music, so I found it interesting to interact with the music as I was not a musician in a traditional way. I found it very easy,'' he said. His ideas for music come almost naturally for Solveig. ``Most of the time, it's when I'm on my scooter. I have a melody that pops into my head, then I just translate it with a microphone or a keyboard and that's it,'' he said. Among his musical influences are rhythm-and-blues and black music from 1960s and '70s, funk, Prince, Bjork, Fela Kuti and Serge Gainsbourg. These days, he also listens to Lykke Li, Architecture in Helsinki, The Strokes and Daft Punk. Solveig does not follow any of the trends in music today. ``Honestly, I don't really know where the music is headed. It moves faster and faster and it's also a lot more global than it used to be. At this time, it's all about electronic and even a lot about digital music, computerized. I'm okay with that and I think it's just an element of creativity and that everyone can make something out of it. Probably, it will go back to some more acoustic or organic things. As long as we have fun, it's cool,'' he said. Solveig will be a special guest at Club Heaven, Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, Friday. Tickets are 20,000 won before 11 p.m., and 30,000 won after 11 p.m. Call 1644-8466. He will also be the main draw for French Night at the Murpii Club, Novotel Busan, at 10:30 p.m., Saturday. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Album Reviews

Mariah Carey `Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel' (Universal Music Korea) Superstar Mariah Carey is back with her 12th album ``Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.'' Expectations were high, but Carey's first single ``Obsessed''' failed to make much of an impression despite grabbing headlines for its supposed references to rapper Eminem. For the second single, Carey does R&B version of the somewhat mushy Foreigner song ``I Want to Know What Love Is.'' Fans who are used to Carey's blustery vocal style will be disappointed, since she chose a more laidback vocal style. The album leans heavily to slow jams like ``H.A.T.E.U.,'' ``The Impossible,'' and ``More Than Just Friends,'' and not enough of the show-stopping ballads she's known for. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Jay-Z `The Blueprint 3' (Warner Music Korea) Jay-Z is undoubtedly one of the greatest rappers of all time, but his album ``The Blueprint 3'' does not quite live up to the hype. He makes quite a splash with ``D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune),'' which probably hit a nerve with many singers and rappers who rely on the popular program to keep them in tune. In the album, Jay-Z worked with the hottest acts around such as Rihanna and Kanye West on ``Run This Town,'' Young Jeezy on ``Real as it Gets,'' Pharrell on ``So Ambitious,''' but it does not sound particularly fresh. His duet with Alicia Keys ``Empire State of Mind'' is one of the better tracks on the album, along with the Timbaland-produced ``Off That'' featuring Drake. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia

art stories in October 2009

Glimpse of Contemporary Asian Art in Seoul

Clockwise from top left, Turkish artist Hakan Onur's “My Mother Only Wants Me to be Happy,” Chinese artist Bai Yiluo's “Spring and Autumn” and Japanese artist Masaharu Sato's “Avatar11” at the “City_net Asia 2009” exhibition ongoing at the Seoul Museum of Art. / Courtesy of Seoul Museum of Art By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The vibrant art scenes in Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing are already well known, but contemporary art from Istanbul is still shrouded with an air of mystery at least for the local audience. Elusive samples of Turkish contemporary art are shown side-by-side with works by Korean, Japanese and Chinese artists at the City_net Asia 2009 exhibition at the Seoul Museum of Art (SeMA), downtown Seoul. This biennial art event hopes to encourage people to discover the current state of the art scene in four cities. Over 100 pieces by 40 up-and-coming artists were gathered by curators from SeMA, Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Today Art Museum in Beijing and Istanbul Modern in Turkey, and shown in four separate sections. ``The City_net Asia 2009 is designed as a venue to provide visitors a valuable opportunity to collectively establish their thoughts on the identity of Asia and to explore the present and future of Asian contemporary art that reflect particular social and cultural issues of their own countries,'' the organizers said. The first section ``A Double-edged Sword,''' curated by SeMA's Cho Ju-hyun, revolves around matters of cultural identity, politics and globalization. The nine artists participating in the Korean section were all born between the 1960s and 1980s. Lee Byung-ho addresses the issue of ``lookism'' and people's desire to look younger in his moving sculpture ``Vanitas Bust,'' where a woman's wrinkled face slowly smoothens out. Kim Jong-ku uses steel powder, in reference to Korea's industrialization, to create calligraphy on the floor for ``Mobile Landscape,'' while Jung Yoon-suk questions his generation's memories in ``Video Killed the Radio Star,'' a video made of clips from news, films, TV, ads and cartoons. Perhaps the most interesting section is the one on Turkish contemporary art, since it is relatively undiscovered here. ``Istanbul as the New Continent'' is organized by the Istanbul Modern chief curator Levent Calikoglu. ``In the 2000s Turkey ― and Istanbul ― were `rediscovered' by the rest of the world. However much they may occasionally suffer from Orientalist blinders, Europe's attitudes towards and its interest in this region down through the millennia have always been overwhelmingly lively and dynamic. Here in Istanbul one experiences an environment in which culture and tourism are intimately intertwined everywhere and in everything from nightlife to alleyways, from historical monuments to bathhouses, and from dignified museums to outre artistic endeavors,'' Calikoglu said, in an exhibition essay. Video installations by Turkish artists Haluk Akakce, Guslsun Karamustafa and Sukran Moral offer insights into the exotic culture and modern society. In the video ``Road to Tate Modern,'' Sener Ozmen and Erkan Ozgen play Cervantes' iconic characters Don Quixote and Sancho trying to find a way to London's famous museum through the mountains, which is obviously an impossible feat. Tokyo offers one of the most diverse and exciting art scenes today, and the section ``Off the Center'' reflects this. There are striking wall murals by Yusuke Asai, colorful images by Yuichi Yokoyama, Masaharu Sato's series of animated portraits ``Avatar 11,'' and Takahiro Iwasaki's small sculpture made out of a pair of black socks. ``These artists ― mainly born after 1970 and witnesses to the weakening of Japan's economic development, the end of its success story, and its diversifying values ― have unique perspectives that don't accommodate transient trends. They remain detached and keep their own pace during the creative process. As such, perhaps they represent a new value that reflects Japanese society today,'' said Mori Art Museum curator Natsumi Araki. Interest in Chinese contemporary art has grown significantly in recent years, and the fourth section ``Sedimentation'' features a new generation of artists. ``Although most artists of this generation appear indifferent to political and social issues, and often purposefully avoid such subject matter in their work, their art demonstrates strong personal style, even self-indulgence, eventually provoking insight into society,'' said Beijing's Today Art Museum deputy director Li Xiaoqian. Bai Yiluo's ``Spring and Autumn,'' which is composed of a tree with rakes and hoes as branches, and a donkey covered in armor made of black-and-white ID photos. In ``Why Should I Love You?,'' Chi Peng shows a cityscape of Beijing, except the landmark CCTV Tower has been turned into a Transformer robot. He addresses the questions of what the CCTV Tower, a symbol of China's modernity, really means for the Chinese people. The City_net Asia 2009 exhibition runs through Nov. 22. Admission is 700 won. Visit http://seoulmoa.seoul.go.kr. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Color Is Olafur Eliasson’s World

“Your Shared Space” is a work of Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, who is holding a solo show “Is the Sky Part of the Landscape” at PKM Trinity Gallery, Cheongdam-dong, through Nov. 30. / Courtesy of PKM Trinity Gallery By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Huge color wheels seem to pulsate with shades of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet. The longer you stare at the painting, the more intense the colors become ― almost with an energy of its own. These are part of the "Colour Experiment" series by internationally renowned Danish artist Olafur Eliasson, who is known for his research with color, light and space. Eliasson created several new works for his solo show, ``Is the Sky Part of a Landscape," at the PKM Trinity Gallery, Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. He has been doing experiments with color for the last two years, and established a studio laboratory for spatial experiments in Berlin, where he is currently based. Eliasson's artworks provide sensory experiences that engage the viewers with the space not just physically but mentally. For the Color Experiment series, he worked with a color chemist to try to mix one color for every nanometer in the spectrum of light, or in simple terms, a "rainbow." A nanometer is equivalent to 1 billionth of a meter. "It was an attempt to see if a color for every visible nanometer can be mixed, to represent a wavelength. We came up with 360 different colors. Each color was individually mixed and represents 1 nanometer," he told reporters at the gallery, Friday. ``Colour experiment no. 7" features 360 colors, but it is hard to distinguish each and every color that the artist was talking about. Instead, the colors seem to intensify or lighten as it bleeds into the next one. Staring at his Color Experiments can become overwhelming at times, as the colors seem to have a life of their own. The Dane admitted the human eye is not sensitive to each individual color, and can only discern the differences in color between 5 to 10 nanometers. The differences in color are only apparent if one uses a nanospectrum device. In the light installation "Your Shared Space," Eliasson played with light and color, showing how a color system can become three-dimensional. A circular mirror is placed at an angle on the wall, while six colored spotlights are trained on it, creating colored shadows on the wall. Eliasson said this plays with the idea of human perception. "Black is the absence of color, while white is the mixture of all the colors. If you put purple with white, then the white becomes more yellow. Yellow is only created in the context, but it is actually not there. We see things by perception rather than what's there," he said. Taking this one step further is "Complementary Colour Chart," wherein a fog-filled room is lit up only by a red and green lamp at opposite ends. "When someone walks from one end, the movement of the body changes the color of the room. Walking around would change the colors. A person walking one way, and another person walking the other may see different colors. It's a situation where color is created by the presence of a person and movement," Eliasson said. These works are only the start of what Eliasson sees as a long-term involvement with color research. ``I'm only at the beginning of a long project to make a color system or color theory. I want to create a color system for me. You can also create your own color system. Everyone can have their own color system, instead of a universal one," he said. The exhibition runs through Nov. 30 at PKM Trinity Gallery, located in the basement of The Trinity Place, Cheongdam-dong. Visit www.pkmgallery.com or call (02) 515-9496. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Artist Brings 'Abraham Obama' to Seoul

American artist Ron English stands in front of his work ``Bunny Spring'' at Opera Gallery Seoul, Cheongdam-dong, Monday. / Courtesy of Opera Gallery Seoul By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter American artist Ron English may not be a household name here but you might remember the memorable mash-up of U.S. Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama's faces called ``Rainbow Abraham Obama.'' English visited Seoul earlier this week to attend the opening of ``Bright Society,'' a joint exhibition with Korean artist Park Young-gyun at Opera Gallery Seoul, Cheongdam-dong. The 50-year-old artist looked tired from his flight the previous day when he met with The Korea Times at the gallery, Monday. He admitted he was still functioning on New York time which then was around 2 a.m., but gamely talked about the guerilla street art and ``Popaganda'' studio art he became famous for. ``Popaganda'' is the term he coined for his works that combine pop culture characters and American symbols to express satirical metaphors. Aside from the Rainbow Abraham Obama, Opera Gallery is also showing paintings such as the fat Ronald McDonald ``MC Supersized,'' genetically modified cowgirl ``Cowtown Cathy'' and dark humorous works featuring a three-eyed rabbit, which he says is meant to represent himself. English, who grew up in Decatur, Illinois, says he was always controversial ― even his childhood drawings got him in trouble in school. ``(My) teachers always said `he's trouble.' I was always getting in trouble for my art. I wasn't trying to be mean or anything. I would just draw a monkey peeing on a fire hydrant, while a dog looked at him like `that's my fire hydrant'. That's just the way I thought,'' he said. As a student in Texas in the early 1980s, he was already hijacking billboards and replacing them with his own work, long before people knew what street art was. In New York, he became an even bigger name with his critical but humorous way of subverting corporate America's ad campaigns. He created billboards of ``Cancer Kids'' with Camel Joe children smoking, and turned Apple's Think Different ads on its head by featuring Bill Gates and Charles Manson. The fat Ronald McDonald was prominently featured in Morgan Spurlock's Oscar-nominated documentary ``Super Size Me.'' ``I thought it would be funny to show what Ronald McDonald would look like if he really ate at McDonald's every day. He won't be skinny or anything. I did the billboards as if McDonald's were putting them out, so it had a very prankster-ish and playful way,'' English said. His street art has attracted a lot of attention, and last year, English was one of the street artists asked by the Obama campaign to contribute works inspired by the presidential candidate. Immediately thinking of the similarities between Obama's and Lincoln's presidential campaigns, English merged their images in a rainbow of colors. ``Obama pretty much had the same experience as Lincoln had, and no one seemed to have argued with his abilities. Then I realized there were similarities between these two skinny guys from Illinois,'' he said. Asked about what he thought of the U.S. president receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, English admitted people may have given Obama a place of history before he even earned it. ``Maybe Obama's like the Paris Hilton of politics. She's never done anything but she's famous all over the world,'' he said. Some of his works may have some political undertones, but English says ``art is about life.'' ``I try to make art not just about a very myopic slice of life, but kind of the whole spectrum of life. … My goal isn't to alienate people. That's why I use a lot of humor,'' he said. In the past, he used pop culture icons like Mickey Mouse and Marilyn Monroe in his works, but English is now using more of his own quirky characters. ``Everyone was making toys and doing licensing deals, and I found I couldn't do that because I can't license crucifying Mickey Mouse on a mousetrap. So I've been doing a lot of my own characters. With a little luck, we're trying to get a TV show about some of the characters and stuff. There's this new world that opened up to me because I wasn't doing Mickey Mouse anymore,'' he said. English no longer hijacks billboards these days, preferring to do things the legal way. It started when he and his band toured ten cities in the U.S. to promote ``Rainbow Abraham Obama.'' English made sure everything they did was legal, since any hint of illegality would perhaps affect Obama's campaign. ``In the process of doing that, I realized it was sort of an addiction to doing billboards. I've been doing billboards for 30 years,'' he said. ``I'm trying to be on the right side of the law, which can sometimes be very difficult. I think being a 50-year-old man going out and committing crimes is probably not good. At some point, you probably need to grow up,'' he wryly admitted. But judging from the array of amusing, surrealistic artworks at Opera Gallery, growing up does not mean English's art will be dull and boring. Opera Gallery Seoul is located on the first floor of the Nature Poem Building, Cheongdam-dong. Email seoul@operagallery.com or call (02) 3446-0070. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Exhibition Explores Art’s 'Flexible Aura'

Goldin+Senneby’s “After Microsoft” is an image of the same landscape in Sonoma Valley, Calif., which was the basis for the “Bliss” landscape used as the default Microsoft Windows desktop image. / Courtesy of Brain Factory By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter In the age of the Internet, art lovers don't even have to leave the confines of their home to admire the Mona Lisa or see the latest Damien Hirst. Artwork is just a click away on the Internet. High-quality images are easily available, saved and can even be printed out. So how does this affect the artwork, the artists and the experience of viewing art? This is one of the issues central to the ongoing "Flexible Aura" exhibition at Brain Factory, Tongui-dong, Seoul. Curators Byeon Hyun-joo and Christine Takengny wanted to explore "the notion of the aura and the experience of art in the age of digital reproduction where limitless global communication and image distribution is possible via the World Wide Web." The exhibition took its cue from Walter Benjamin's 1936 essay "The Work of Art in the Age of its Mechanical Reproducibility" wherein the author claimed the "exclusive experience of an artwork's unique aura has been replaced by a collective experience of mass reproducible art." "Our theory is the aura nowadays can be flexible and can be changed," Takengny told The Korea Times. The works are accessible from different places ― inside the museums or online ― and can be transformed depending on the setting. Candida Hofer's photographic series "Twelve" depicts all 12 casts of Rodin's "The Burghers of Calais," showing how its aura changes depending on where it is located. The Internet was also used as a tool to curate the exhibition. Byeon and Takengny used the medium to communicate with each other, find information on the artists and look at digital images of artwork. "We exchanged information on the Internet, checked links to the artists' homepages. We did it for nine months, corresponding through e-mail or Skype," Byeon said, although she added there is still nothing like seeing the artwork in person. For example, the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous and widely reproduced works of art, but people still line up at the Louvre for a glimpse of the Da Vinci portrait. "Art has become more accessible and democratic, and can be seen outside the gallery. It reflects how through digitalization, how banal an artwork can become. But at the same time the aura of the original one seems to become so important now that people go to the museum to see it and take a photograph of the original artwork," Takengny said. You don't even need to go to the Louvre when you can have the Mona Lisa on toast, thanks to Danish artist Kristoffer Akselbo's "The Mona Lisa Toaster." The toaster imprints the image of the famous Da Vinci portrait on a piece of bread, which can then be eaten. Artists Tasha Aulls and Niina Hartikainen worked on "November Telepathy," a series of digitally printed drawings. They tried to use telepathy to send images of their drawings to each other, when Aulls was in Canada and Hartikainen was in the U.K. and Finland. "I was interested in the idea of dissolving the sense of self and removing the barrier between self and others. Niina was interested in the consciousness. We thought telepathy would dissolve the boundary between self and others," Aulls told The Korea Times. London-based artist Tina Hage's "Dream Start" is a triptych of sports scenes, showing people cheering and celebrating after scoring goals. Hage re-enacted the scenes, placing her image in each of the figures in the crowd. Microsoft Windows users may vaguely recognize the dull brown fields in the landscape featured in Goldin+Senneby's "After Microsoft." It is the same landscape which was the basis for "Bliss," the default desktop image on Windows showing bright blue skies and green slopes. Goldin+Senneby tracked down Charles O'Rear, the photographer who took the photo of the landscape in Sonoma Valley, Calif., in the late 1990s. They revisited the area, and took the photo of the largely changed landscape. Popular video streaming Web site YouTube has also become a curatorial tool, as shown in Supercream/Catherine Borra's "The Setting of X." A link to the work, a playlist of YouTube videos with the theme of migration, can be found on the exhibition Web site flexibleauras.blogspot.com. The exhibition also featured London-based artist Jee Oh's performance piece broadcast live through Skype at the opening party. Additionally, artist Bona Park hired an actress to "play" herself at the party, "playfully exploring how the contextual integration of the aura can be transformed when an artwork is immaterial." "Flexible Aura" runs through Nov. 1 at Brain Factory (Gyeongbokgung Station line 3, exit 4). Visit www.brainfactory.org or call (02)725-9520. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Yang Holds 1st Solo US Exhibition

“Yearning Melancholy Red” is the centerpiece of Korean artist Yang Haegue’s exhibition at the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis. By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Yang Haegue, one of the fast rising Korean artists in the international scene, is once again attracting attention for her first solo U.S. museum exhibition ``Haegue Yang: Integrity of the Insider'' at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minn. She is presenting her photographs, paper works, videos, sculptures, slide projections and installations at the exhibition. Yang, who was the first female artist representing Korea at the Venice Biennale last summer, is primarily known for her abstract works. ``Abstraction is the language I choose to give true value to the presence of narrative inside of me as well as the narratives I have encountered and realized as relatives, which exist outside of me,'' Yang said, in a press statement. ``I think what fundamentally lies beneath these narratives can be shared without being told as a story. For me abstraction is not anti-narrative, it is not a language that attempts to negate narration but rather allows a narrative to be achieved without constituting its own limits. The form of language I choose to experiment with is abstract even if the motivation is always concrete.'' Doryun Chung, exhibition curator, said Yang creates ``carefully orchestrated and nuanced installations that operate as a microcosm of sensory experience.'' ``These works result from Yang's ongoing engagement with certain historical figures of interest ― people whose life narratives are characterized by a political commitment shared with others, coupled with personal failings or tragedies.'' In the exhibition's main work ``Yearning Melancholy Red,'' Yang explores the life of the late French writer and filmmaker Marguerite Duras, who is best known for her autobiographical novel ``L'Amant'' (The Lover). The installation is composed of venetian blinds suspended from the ceiling and arranged in interconnecting forms around mirrors, heat lamps, fans, theater lights and a drum kit. While there are no specific references to Duras in the work, Chung says that through geometry, light and sound ``Yang's practice translates the landscape of her own emotional and intellectual life into a democratic space of experience.'' Also included at the exhibition are smaller works, such as the ``Gymnastics of the Foldables,'' ``Dehors'' and ``Hippe Dippie Oxnard.'' Yang says that while the titles of her works are mostly descriptive, her exhibition titles are often controversial, such as ``Integrity of the Insider.'' ``I was interested in how the title could create an introductory moment of skepticism, one that could only be resolved through the experience of my exhibition. `Integrity of the Insider' came to my mind out of my constant interest in the location of the self, subjectivity and community. I have been interested in questioning how we might be able to create a non-excluding frame to accommodate ideas, existence and emotions without loss,'' she said. Yang is currently an artist-in-residence at the Walker to take part in the experimental project ``Shared Discovery of What We Have and Know Already.'' In the project comprised of seminars and workshops, Yang will be both teacher and student as she tells others about the wide range of subjects that have influenced her work. Born in Seoul in 1971, Yang divides her time between her hometown and Berlin. She gained attention in 2006 for two solo exhibitions: ``Sadong 30'' in a dilapidated house in Incheon and ``Unevenly'' at BAK in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Yang made her debut in the U.S. when her installation ``Series of Vulnerable Arrangements ― Blind Room'' was featured in the group exhibition ``Brave New Worlds'' at the Walker Art Center in 2007. The exhibition at the Walker Art Center runs through Feb. 28. Visit www.walkerart.org. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Light, Hope Fill Su Kwak’s Paintings

U.S.-based artist Su Kwak stands beside one of her works that incorporate light and time on exhibit at the Sun Gallery, Insadong, Thursday. / Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia By Cathy Rose A.Garcia Staff Reporter Light has always fascinated U.S.-based artist Su Kwak. Her canvases have always been filled with sparkling yellows and rich blues that seem to exude a feeling of hope. And hope is exactly what Kwak wants people to feel whenever they see her artwork. ``I felt I wanted to do something that makes other people feel good and feel hope and peace, instead of trying to achieve fame," she told The Korea Times at Sun Gallery, Insadong, Thursday. Kwak expanded her art to include not just light, but also the element of time. Her current exhibition at Sun Gallery features new works that express the interwoven nature of the two elements. ``I've been working on the time element for only about a year or two. When I work with light, I think of day and morning, while evening is darkness ― there's no light … I realized time and light are closely related," she said. ``Eternity" features three panels, each depicting the past, present and future of the world through light. ``There's the beginning of creation. The present is filled with slashes, symbolizing how in order to give light, you have to go through difficulties and sufferings. Then, the future is the world of light," Kwak said. Her works are filled with bright colors and lightness, but upon closer scrutiny, you'll find layers of Korean Bible pages. She tears off the pages, places them on the canvas, and covers them with paint. ``By coincidence, there are few words showing, and people have fun trying to read it. It's like a jigsaw puzzle," she said. Born in Busan, Kwak grew up Catholic and converted to Judaism when she married her husband in the U.S. Now she's a Catholic again. Although religious by nature, Kwak does not see ripping out the Bible's pages and using them in her artwork as a sign of disrespect. ``The only thing I thought is the Bible is like the riddle of life. It's a book of riddles. You can read it and read it but you don't always get the meaning. I thought it was the most important thing to attach it (on the canvas). … For me, the spirit of the bible is more important than just having the physical book," she said. When she was 23, Kwak moved to the United States to study at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, and later pursued graduate studies in fine art at the University of Chicago. She recalled having difficulties as a young Korean woman living alone in the U.S., dealing with a different language and culture. But with the help of many people, she overcame these challenges. ``Being an artist and going through these hardships, it helps you realize what's most important in life, and that's how I started with light,'' she said. Perhaps it's because of these experiences that Kwak has always managed to convey a spirit of hope in her paintings. Kwak, who currently lives in Washington, D.C., has held several solo exhibitions at the June Kelly Gallery in New York, Sun Art Center and Jean Art Center in Seoul. In 2000, she received a Korean government award for advancing culture overseas. Her exhibition at Sun Gallery runs through Nov. 6. Visit www.sungallery.co.kr. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

British Photographer Walks From Busan to Seoul

A photograph from Oliver Raw's exhibition "Korea on Foot" at Gallery M. / Courtesy of the artist By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Armed with a camera, a good pair of walking shoes and a handful of Korean words, British photographer Oliver Raw set out to walk from Busan to Seoul in April 2008. Raw, a Shanghai-based illustrator, wanted to capture the true essence of Korea by exploring the countryside, meeting people and taking photographs of his journey. A selection of Raw's photographs are currently on display as part of his solo exhibition ``Korea on Foot'' at Gallery M, Jung-gu, Seoul, through Wednesday. ``I've lived nine years in Asia, usually in big cities. I thought it would be good to travel and walk, but where? Korea is a good idea, because one, it is not as big as China, and two, it's a country that not many people know about. I wanted to get a new look at Korea,'' he told The Korea Times at the gallery, last week. Throughout his trip, Raw discovered many unusual things about Korea, which most tourists will probably overlook or ignore. ``This is what was good about a walk, you see unique things that you don't see in other countries, or something you probably won't see if you just took a tour bus in the big city,'' he said. One of the things that surprised him was the hospitality and warmth of the Koreans he met during his travels. ``The hospitality was something that was very special in Korea. In England, I can't imagine seeing that kind of hospitality. People are more reserved there, whereas here in Korea, they would welcome me. It's more hospitality than I've ever come across before… I didn't expect so much goodwill from people here.'' Raw walked most of the way, and sometimes hitch-hiked, but he always found people to be extremely helpful. Sometimes, he would find a Buddhist temple, where he would be given a meal and even allowed to spend the night. The usual tourist spots did not interest Raw, who instead focused on little interesting things and quirks about Korea and its people. The contrast between modern and traditional Korea was always a source of fascination for the British photographer. He took over 1,000 photographs, but only picked a few to represent each leg of his trip. There are photos of rice fields with buildings being constructed in the background in Suwon, a fish vendor in Busan, a couple enjoying the beach, temple food, street stalls and motel rooms. When he's taking photographs of people, Raw found that Koreans were generally accommodating and would smile for the camera, unlike in China were people were more wary. One of his favorite photos is of three teenage girls who are admiring their reflections on their phones, with an old king's tomb in the background. Another one is a close-up of a pretty Korean girl with a patch over one eye and holding a colorful juice box. Raw hopes to publish a book of his photographs of Korea, and is even planning another walk in another country, maybe Tibet, next year. The exhibition runs through Nov. 4. To get to Gallery M, get off Exit 5 of Chungmuro Station, go straight and turn right at the second corner. Walk for about 200 meters, and you'll find Gallery M on the first floor of Keumpoong Building, in front of Joong-bu Police Station. Call (02) 2277-2437or (02) 2273-5066. Visit www.gallery-m.kr. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr