art stories in March 2010

Bojagi' Tradition Reborn as 'Bobos' in US Korean-American artist Patricia Lee is introducing the Korean traditional wrapping fabric ``bojagi,'' with a modern twist, to the U.S. market, through her Bobo Wrapping Scarf Company. / Courtesy of Patricia Lee By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter It only takes one glance at the zebra prints, bright floral patterns and polka dot fabrics of Bobo Wrapping Scarf Company to know that these are not your grandmother's ``bojagi.'' The traditional Korean wrapping cloth has been updated with a fresh and funky twist for the American market, thanks to Korean-American artist Patricia Lee. Lee came up with the idea of introducing bojagi as an eco-friendly alternative to gift wrapping paper in the U.S. In a telephone interview with The Korea Times, Lee said she was disgusted with the amount of trash generated from gift wrapping and packaging during the Christmas holidays. According to the U.S. Clean Air Council, an additional 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags are generated during the holiday season. ``Even worse was the thought that so many other American families were going through the same mindless ritual we were and creating millions of tons of garbage! That's when I decided to try wrapping with bojagi for my family and friends, and never wrapped with paper again,'' she said. Lee, who lives in Connecticut with her husband and two children, began learning how to sew and make her own bojagi. She started giving bojagi-wrapped gifts to her friends, and it proved to be an instant hit. What started as a hobby for Lee eventually became a business. ``It really touched a nerve with people. Everyone wants to become more eco-friendly. People think I'm a genius for this, but I keep telling them, no, I didn't invent it,'' she laughed. ``It's a tradition that's been around for centuries in Korea. ... I remember when I was in college, I visited my aunt in Korea and she was using bojagi. I thought she was a genius, but she thought I was laughing at her because many people in Korea think it's very old-fashioned and only used by old people.'' But Lee saw bojagi's potential, especially in the U.S. where people are becoming more conscious about reducing their carbon footprint. To make it more appealing to the American consumer, she began calling it ``bobos,'' a catchy name that would be easy for people to remember. Described as ``eco-luxe reusable wraps,'' the bobos are now available in luxurious Asian-inspired brocades, trendy animal prints, quirky stripes and floral patterns. Lee uses fabrics purchased on the secondary market in New York City ― where designers' leftover materials are sold ― and then creates all the styles and color combinations of the doubled-sided wrapping scarves. Lee, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, also published a book, ``The Wrapping Scarf Revolution,'' last September. The book, which details the history of the wrapping scarf and various wrapping styles, targets DIY enthusiasts who want to learn how to make their own wrapping scarves. The Bobo Wrapping Scarf Company has only been around for two years, but it is slowly taking off. During the busy holiday season, Lee appeared on several TV shows, including the popular Good Morning America, to introduce this Korean tradition that combines style with functionality. ``It is definitely a challenge to try to convince Americans that they can actually tie the knots and I invest a lot of time communicating to people how simple it is to use wrapping scarves,'' she said. The bobo wrapping scarves are available in 60 stores nationwide in the U.S., as well as in Japan and Canada. Prices range from $14 to $48, depending on the size and fabric. Ironically, the bojagi tradition is not as popular in Korea as before. ``While we can treasure and cherish the ancient bojagi tradition, we must redesign and reinvent it for the modern world. ... I think people should take a look at the things that allowed Korea to so quickly become such an advanced country and take pride in things like the ingenious bojagi, which is so indicative of the Korean spirit to be resourceful and not waste,'' she said. Lee, who moved to the U.S. when she was five, is happy to share this aspect of Korean culture with Americans. ``When I was young, there were no other Koreans at my school. No one knew where Korea was and (people) kept calling me Chinese or Japanese. There are so many uniquely wonderful things about Korean culture that are not widely known and I hope to share more of our culture with the global community,'' she said. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Debbie Han Wins Top Asian Art Prize

Debbie Han's ``Seated Three Graces'' won the jury prize at the 2009 Sovereign Asian Art Prize in Hong Kong last January. / Courtesy of the artist By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The first thing that you notice about Korean-American artist Debbie Han is her hair: perfectly gelled to stick out in different directions, like a character from Dragon Ball. ``A lot of people ask me about my hair,'' Han admitted with a laugh during an interview with The Korea Times at her home in northern Seoul last week. These days though, Han is attracting more attention for her art, after she won the jury prize at the 2009 Sovereign Asian Art Prize last January. Han became the first artist representing Korea to receive the award, whose $25,000 prize is the largest in Asia, for the piece ``Seated Three Graces.'' Her work, which challenges the Western standard of beauty, features three nude Asian women with prototypical Western classical heads, seemingly chatting while squatting on the floor. ``This award to me really validates my decision, my vision and the crazy, creative journey I've been through to actualize these visions in the last six years in Korea,'' she said. ``My work really took off on a very different level after I moved back to Korea.'' The Korean-born Han migrated to the U.S. with her family when she was in elementary school. She majored in art at the University of California, Los Angeles and received a master's degree from Pratt Institute in New York. As an artist working in Los Angeles, Han still felt a strong urge to return to her home country. So, in 2003, she came back to take part in an artist residency program. ``I had a vision, a strong desire to document what was happening in Korea and Asia at this moment, through my own eyes. I grew up in the U.S., and when I came to Korea, I wanted to get in touch with my heritage, and feel an Asian cultural identity. But what I saw was a strong Westernization in every level of society, arts and culture, not just in Korea but in Asia. I thought `Why is there such an obsession with keeping up with the Western trends?''' she said. Her first solo show here was ``Idealistic Oddity'' in 2004 where she criticized the art education system in Korea, which required students to make exact copies of classical European figures, such as Venus de Milo, as part of their applications to universities. ``It's once again like worshipping and idealizing the Western standard of art, and passing it down as art,'' she said. The longer she stayed in Korea, the more Han realized this obsession to conform to Western standards was becoming more widespread in society, like with the plastic surgery craze. Through her works, Han continued to challenge people's perceptions of beauty and conformity to Western standards. In the series ``Terms of Beauty,'' she created sculpture busts of Venus, a symbol of Western classical beauty, with altered facial features to have the stereotypical featrues such as slanted eyes, hooked noses and wide mouths. Instead of marble, she used the ancient Korean ceramic tradition of celadon, which proved to be an arduous process. In three years, she tried to perfect the technique, making 173 casts but only seven survived. It's the same kind of passion that Han feels when she's tackling the issues of beauty, identity and perception. ``For me, it has to be a journey to get to the essence of the meaning of life. Why are we the way we are and why do we think the way we do? Sometimes you have to deconstruct your own system of perception in order to understand the meaning of it all through your own eyes,'' she said. Apart from challenging the Western standards of beauty, Han also sought to idealize Asian beauty in her ``Graces'' photograph series. It depicted nude Asian women, with every skin pore and hair on the body digitally removed to make it smooth like marble, and their heads replaced with goddess sculpture heads. ``I'm an Asian woman and I had to do that since no one was doing that. Everyone is pressuring Asian women to conform to the Western standards. Someone has to come and justify and validate the beauty and existence of Asian beauty as it is, not in a didactic way but in a way that can be revealing,'' the 41-year-old artist said. However, Han is ending these series of sculptures and photographic works this year, and will start fresh with a new series in 2011, although she does not know what it will be yet. Looking back on her six years in Korea, Han admitted she went through times where she felt like ``an idiot who couldn't give up her impossible visions.'' ``I felt the last six years of my time in Korea has taught me to endure, stay with the vision and go through with it no matter what. It made me stronger and I became more mature as an artist, and I think that's the greatest thing I learned, and my work reflected that,'' she said. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

New Shows to Be Held at Art Sonje Center

Ham Yang-ah’s “Chocolate Head” is part of the “Adjective Life in the Nonsense Factory” at Art Sonje Center, Hwa-dong, Jongno. / Courtesy of Samuso By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Art Sonje Center is opening two shows by two Europe-based Korean artists, Ham Yang-ah and Jeuno JE Kim, on Saturday. Ham, who has been working in the Netherlands since 2006, is presenting new works of chocolate sculptures, multimedia installations and videos at the exhibition ``Adjective Life in the Nonsense Factory'' on the second floor of the center. Ham's pieces focus on the individuals in contemporary life, rooted in her deep-seated interest in ``the idea of the individual as the smallest and densest unit of life.'' ``Chocolate Head'' is a series of head sculptures of famous curators around the world, while ``Out of Frame'' is a video installation that shows performances with the chocolate sculptures. ``Pole Installation as Individual in the Society'' is an interactive work that features a group of poles with video screens, speakers and microphones. ``Each pole represents one individual, showing the characters, emotions and grouped ideas by using diverse devices such as sound, video and objects. By installing a group of poles together, the artist also tries to reflect `individuality' and `universality of contemporaries' at the same time,'' organizers said in a statement. Another interesting piece is ``Collected Anonymous 2006-2007,'' featuring a collection of elastic hair bands that Ham found in the streets of Amsterdam. She brought them back to Korea and conducted DNA tests, even though there was little way of finding out whom the hair bands belonged to. ``Our lives are normally defined with nouns or verbs. However, Ham discovers various `adjectives' through diverse aspects of life within a society. These adjectives in life represent individual identity as well as emotions, insecurity, fantasy, desire and frustration that occur in reality or relationships with others, leading us to reflect upon myself and further define ourselves,'' organizers said. ``Fog Dossier,'' which can be found on the third floor of the center, is an exhibition showing the results of a research project by Kim, who resides in Sweden, and Tokyo-based curator Kyongfa Che. ``The project thinks about our relation to history, whether it is to observe, escape or to be free from it, and different personal and public collections/archives that offer new points of departure,'' organizers said. Included in the exhibition are three new works: a video ``The Collectors,'' a drawing installation ``The Collectors' Parade'' and ``Fog Research Dossier,'' a blueprint of the project with two books with images and text by the artist and curator. The project probes certain figures, events and history, and uses discovered material to generate new historical information and perspective. Kim and Che focused on four historical figures ― Yanagi Soetsu (1889 -1961), William Morris (1834-1896), Isabella Lucy Bird (1831-1904) and Georg Eberhard Rumphius (1627-1702). These historical figures do not seem to have anything in common, except for the vast number of records and archival materials they left behind. Their project operates between fiction and fact, generating art works that provoke unexpected responses. ``Each work, via narrative, collage and montage, is an attempt to collect relations and material, inserting in the historical layers personal experiences, so that it may become a part of a collective articulation that resists a monolithic take on history. In doing so, the project produces its own archive, a Fog Dossier,'' the organizers said. A curator's talk about Kim's show will be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. Ham will lead an artist's talk on March 26 at 7 p.m., and a video screening March 25 and 26 at 5 p.m. For more information, e-mail artsonje_edu@hanmail.net. Both exhibitions, curated by Samuso: Space for Contemporary Art, run until April 25 at Art Sonje Center, located in Hwa-dong, Jongno. Opening hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closed on Mondays. Tickets are 3,000 won for adults and 1,500 won for students. Visit www.artsonje.org/asc or call (02) 733-8945. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Rodin Exhibition to Open April 30

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Famed French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840-1917) will be coming to Seoul next month. ``Hand of God: Rodin Retrospective,'' touted as the first major Rodin retrospective in the country, will be held at the Seoul Museum of Art, downtown Seoul, from April 30 to August 22. The exhibition, organized by the Seoul Museum of Art, Hankook Ilbo and KBS, will feature 180 works from the collection of the Rodin Museum in Paris. This includes 110 sculptures and 40 sketches and drawings made by Rodin throughout the decades. Rodin is widely considered as the artist who revolutionized the world of sculpture. ``Rodin was the first sculptor to depict man not as god-like, but as human,'' said Seo Soun-jou, Hankook Ilbo Cultural Project Center director. Visitors will have a chance to marvel at the beauty and fluidity of Rodin's masterpieces, at the exhibition. ``I have always tried to render inner feelings through the mobility of the muscles... Without life, art does not exist,'' Rodin once said. Among his masterpieces to be displayed at the show are ``Hand of God,'' ``The Thinker'' and ``The Kiss.'' ``Hand of God,'' also known as ``Creation,'' is a beautiful marble sculpture of a gigantic hand holding a nude figure. In this piece, Rodin broke away from conventional compositions and adopted a form appealing to imagination. ``The hand powerfully molding the matter from which the human being is created represents the divinity bringing forth humanity from emptiness. It is also a symbolic image of the artist inventing a world,'' the Rodin Museum said, on its Web site. Rodin was also known as a sculptor of the erotic, for many of his pieces that explored sensuality, eroticism and passion. In ``The Kiss,'' two figures are locked in passionate embrace. The two figures were originally meant to represent Paolo and Francesca, characters from Italian poet Dante's ``Divine Comedy.'' Rodin's most famous work is probably ``The Thinker,'' which was originally intended to show Dante contemplating on his work and placed at the summit of ``Gates of Hell.'' The sculpture's meaning evolved to represent a man in a meditative pose. It was Rodin's first work to be placed in a public space, in front of the Pantheon in April 1906. It was later moved to the garden of the Rodin Museum. Another significant piece to be shown is Rodin's sculpture of French novelist Honore de Balzac, which ushered in the ``new sculptural language of the 20th century.'' Commissioned by the Societe des Gens de Lettres in 1883 to pay homage to Balzac, Rodin chose to depict the novelist not by physical appearance but the ``essence of his personality.'' The final work ``Balzac'' caused a stir and was rejected by the society. ``The Head of Camille Claudel'' is another representative work by Rodin, showing his mistress and fellow artist Claudel. Claudel, an aspiring sculptor, was only 17 when she met the 41-year-old Rodin in Paris in 1882. For years, they engaged in an intense affair, and Claudel became an artist, but was plagued with psychological problems and institutionalized for 30 years before her death. Other Rodin sculptures to be shown include ``Crouching Woman,'' ``Iris, Messenger of the Gods,'' ``Rodin's Hand'' and ``Eternal Spring.'' The Rodin exhibition in Seoul is expected to attract around 550,000 to 600,000 visitors during its nearly four-month run. This is the latest in a series of high-profile exhibitions of master artists, such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Pierre Auguste Renoir, in Seoul in recent years. So far, the most successful exhibition was the Van Gogh exhibition, which attracted 820,000 visitors during its run from Nov. 24, 2007 to March 16, 2008. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

art stories in February 2010

Lee Bul Pioneers Korean Contemporary Art

Lee Bul, widely considered as the leading Korean artist of her generation, talks to The Korea Times at the Bartleby Bickle & Meursault office, downtown Seoul, Friday. / Korea Times By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter World-renowned artist Lee Bul, whose cyborg sculptures and decomposing fish installations made her a name to be reckoned with on the international art scene, offers an interesting piece of advice to aspiring artists: "Don't 'try' to be an artist." "Becoming an artist is not possible from trying. If somebody tries 'not' to be an artist, the person will have a greater possibility of becoming an artist," the 46-year-old Lee told The Korea Times, in an interview at the Bartleby Bickle & Meursault office, downtown Seoul, Friday. Based on her own experience, Lee certainly did not "try" instead simply "is" an artist. In her two decade-long career, she has been celebrated in Korea and around the world for her innovative, intellectual oeuvre that includes female cyborgs, mythical monsters, karaoke pods and gleaming imaginary landscapes. It's no wonder Lee is often described as the "leading Korean artist of her generation." She was born in 1964 in a secluded Korean village where her dissident parents were hiding from the government. Growing up during the turbulent '70s and '80s, Lee majored in sculpture and graduated from Hongik University in 1987. "I don't remember 'beginning' as an artist. It's too far back for me to remember. Sometimes I think about what an artist is. I have a childhood memory that I wanted to be an artist, but every artist is probably the same. Maybe I was an artist when I was born," she said. Early on, her public performance art in Seoul's streets attracted controversy, but Lee found herself in the international spotlight when she presented "Majestic Splendor" at New York's Museum of Modern Art in 1997. The installation, which featured rotting fish adorned with sequins, had to close ahead of schedule because of the awful smell it caused. The following year, Lee became a finalist for the prestigious Hugo Boss prize at the Guggenheim Museum, and in 1999 she received an honorable mention at the 48th Venice Biennale. Her drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations, which explore the body, beauty, feminism, nature and technology, have been featured in numerous museums including the Fondation Cartier pour l'Art Contemporain in Paris, Domus Artium in Salamanca, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney and The New Museum of Contemporary Art, New York. Futuristic as her works may be, Lee constantly finds ideas from "everywhere and from life, not just mine." The process of creating her art is simple: she gets an idea, writes it down, puts it on a wall and lets it stay there until one day she feels like expounding on it. "Almost every day, I take notes and drawings of my ideas, even small ideas because sometimes I forget them. I put these pieces of paper on the wall. Every day, I pass these drawings. Some days, I suddenly want to develop an idea. After that I draw and make notes again. This is the usual process. I am not focused on one piece from start to finish because I have too many things ongoing," she said. Currently working on new pieces, Lee is busy preparing for up-coming exhibitions, such as a solo show at Lehman Maupin in New York City (April 8-June 19), and various group shows in Minneapolis, Brussels, London, Rotterdam and Ottawa. In 2011, a retrospective of her works will be held at the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, before traveling around the world. Despite her success and fame, Lee remains unaffected by it all. "I feel pressure, but the pressure is not about fame. (Whether I'm) famous or not, that's not important to me anymore. But I do have pressure about my work, especially when I feel my work is not so good and I want to develop it more. It's hard and difficult," she said. While the pressure can be overwhelming, and even affects her health, Lee knows it is impossible to avoid. "Pressure is a part of my life. It's killing my body, I'm getting sick. But it's not possible to erase the pressure," she said. With cropped, silvery hair and piercing eyes, Lee may appear serious and intimidating at first, but always has a laugh to spare. After posing for The Korea Times photographer, she jokingly complained that she always seems to look angry in photographs. "I don't know why I look angry, but I'm not," Lee said, with a smile that was nowhere to be seen in front of the camera. Lee often gets invitations to give lectures to art students in universities. "When they invite me to symposiums or class, they ask me to give my energy to the students. But I'm older than them!" she chuckled. "They have more energy than me. Why should I give my energy to them? They should give me their energy." Asked about what is the biggest accomplishment so far in her 20 year career, Lee shakes her head: "I don't know. I never compare my works. But probably right now... that I'm still alive." cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Arario Gallery Nurtures Emerging Artists

``24'' by Shine Kong is part of the ``Artists with Arario'' exhibition at Arario Gallery. /Courtesy of Arario Gallery By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Arario Gallery, one of the biggest commercial galleries in Korea, is welcoming the Lunar New Year with its first group show that gathers its ``exclusive'' artists. ``Artists with Arario,'' featuring 19 artists from Korea, India and the Philippines, opens at the Arario galleries in Seoul and Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Feb. 9. ``This exhibition will be an opportunity to commemorate the memories and fruitful artistic accomplishments of the artists with special connections to the gallery, who for the last five years have been represented by Arario Gallery, as well as providing the public a chance to encounter the leading works of the Korean contemporary art scene,'' organizers said in a press release. Arario Gallery, founded by businessman and influential art collector Kim Chang-il in Cheonan in 1989, has led the way in the Korean art scene by introducing the exclusive artist system in 2005. In the past, Korean galleries did not represent artists or provide financial support for them, but Kim believed taking emerging artists into its fold and supporting them would be a way to help them achieve international recognition. In an interview with The Korea Times late last year, Kim said Arario's role is to find and nurture an artist who will make an impact in the global art scene. ``The role of Arario is to find a good artist and create an environment where he can improve his art to a higher level, and support him financially so they can focus on their art. We're behind the artist to help improve their works so they can create powerful works,'' he said. The gallery now has over 30 Korean and international artists. Arario generously supports its artists by providing financial support, management and a residency program on Jeju Island. Arario has a work studio and residency space in Hado-ri, Jeju, where artists can reside and solely concentrate on their art. ``Artists with Arario'' showcases diverse, innovative works by artists, who have been gaining recognition at home and abroad. Kang Hyung-koo, who makes hyper-realistic portraits of famous figures like Van Gogh and Marilyn Monroe, is preparing for a solo show at the Singapore Art Museum in 2011. On display at the Arario Seoul are his striking works, ``Van Gogh in Red,'' and ``Marilyn Monroe in the Night Sky.'' Gwon Osang, known for his ``photographic sculptures,'' was the first Korean artist to have had a solo exhibition in the Manchester City Art Gallery in 2008. He uses photographs to create unique sculptures, such as ``with Lean,'' which can be viewed at the Arario Seoul. Lee Hyung-koo, who presented at the Korean Pavilion at the 2007 Venice Biennale, is showing his ``Animatus'' series, wherein he created anatomical depictions of cartoon characters like Donald Duck and Bugs Bunny. Lee, as well as Chung Sue-jin, who participated in the Louis Vuitton exhibition in 2008, have been more active in the international scene than in Korea. Three international artists Tallur L.N. and Jitish Kallat from India and Leslie de Chavez from the Philippines added a multicultural dimension to the exhibition. De Chavez ponders on Philippine history and society through his dark paintings filled with various symbols, while Tallur L.N. expresses his critical views of globalism and capitalism in his mixed media works. Other Arario artists who are showing their works at the shows are Chang Sue-jin, Kyung Sung-hyun, Shine Kong, Kim In-bai, Kim Jae-hwan, Hanna Kim, Park Se-jin, Park Young-geun, Baik Hyun-jhin, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Seung-ae, Lee Ji-hyun and Lee Jin-yong. The Cheonan show runs through March 21, and admission is 3,000 won. The Seoul show, which runs through March 30, is free. The galleries are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visit www.arariogallery.co.kr. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Wolfgang Joop Presents 'Death & Faith' in Seoul

German fashion designer and artist Wolfgang Joop stands in front one of his sculptures from the ``From Dusk till Dawn’’ series, currently on display at Michael Schultz Gallery Seoul, Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul. / Korea Times Photo by Cathy Rose A. Garcia By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter German fashion designer-turned-artist Wolfgang Joop likes to say ``fashion is my passion, art is my obsession.'' Joop first became known for his ``passion,'' establishing the designer clothing and cosmetics brand Joop!, and later with the avant-garde brand Wunderkind. But even as he designed his fashion collections, art has always been his ``obsession.'' ``In fashion, they told me I was too artistic, and in art, they told me I was too chic. Now after going back and forth, I know what I'm doing and I know what I want to do,'' he told The Korea Times, last Friday. Joop was in town for the opening of ``Death and Faith'' at Michael Schultz Gallery Seoul, his first not just in Korea but in Asia. At the gallery, one can find a row of neo-classical sculptures of angels, with wings in mid-flight and faces frozen with expressions of shock or awe, depending on your interpretation. On the walls hang gauzy white and black batiste fabrics delicately embroidered with cherry blossoms, skulls and brides, with titles such as ``Eternal Love'' and ``Just Married.'' ``Art, for him (Joop), is the expression of an aesthetic, life-embracing state of mind and that this world in its constant change is beautiful and should be savored, especially for its transitoriness,'' Christoph Tannert said, in the exhibition catalogue. Joop is not a fan of conceptual or experimental art, and recalled a recent visit to the Venice Biennale, where he was disappointed with the experimental direction of contemporary art. In his art works, he uses familiar icons and symbols but with a twist. ``For me, art is something that has to do with emotions, dreams and fears. ... I use things that are common to people but with a twist of irritation, something familiar but not too familiar,'' he said. His sculptures and fabric pieces show contrasting colors of black and white, as well as themes of love, existence, solitude and death. ``The duality of life is another aspect of my work. It's like you can only know beauty if you know ugliness. You can only know luck if you know misfortune,'' he said. For instance, in ``Eternal Bride,'' Joop depicted a skeleton bride surrounded by cherry blossoms and sparkling jewels. ``Cherry blossoms are very fleeting, while skulls can last thousands of years. The skeleton brides mean that love is not forever but death is everlasting. I also included rings and jewels in the pieces to mean that these can last forever, compared to the fragile nature of the textile,'' he said. Joop was born in Potsdam, East Germany in 1944. He grew up not having toys to play with, so he started drawing. He formally studied drawing, sculpture and art theory, and worked as a freelance artist. He became a designer, founded the brand Joop in 1987 and sold it off in 2001. He established Wunderkind in 2003, which offers luxury ready-to-wear collection and accessories, available throughout the world. Joop made the transition from fashion designer to serious artist, through a solo exhibition ``Eternal Love'' at the Kunsthalle Rostock last year. Michael Schultz, chief director of the gallery, said he was very impressed by Joop's show and decided to invite him to Seoul. Clad in a red and gray checkerboard top and scarf from his Wunderkind label accented with religious necklaces and bracelets, Joop still very much looks a fashion icon, but he has grown disillusioned with the fashion industry and will likely quit soon. ``I feel alienated and estranged from the audience of fashion... Very soon, I will quit fashion. Fashion is ruled by the youth,'' he said. Joop said he won't miss being in the fashion world. ``In fashion, I had to follow certain rules. But in art, I can make my own rules,'' he said. The exhibition runs through March 20. The gallery is located at the third floor of Nature Poem building, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam. Visit www.schultzgallery.co.kr or call (02) 546-7955. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Gwangju Biennale's '10,000 Lives' to Open in September

Massimiliano Gioni, director of the 8th Gwangju Biennale, recently announced that the theme of the upcoming contemporary art biennale will be ``10,000 Lives.'' / Courtesy of Gwangju Biennale By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The 8th Gwangju Biennale, widely considered Korea's biggest contemporary art event, will unfold in September under the theme ``10,000 Lives.'' The biennale, held in Gwangju opens Sept. 3 and runs through Nov. 7. Massimiliano Gioni, director of the Gwangju Biennale, said the title of the upcoming biennale will investigate the relationships that connect people with images. The biennale will feature art works by more than 100 artists made between 1901 and 2010, plus several new commissions. The exhibition will be turned into a temporary museum, where artworks and cultural artifacts are ``brought together to compose an idiosyncratic catalogue of figures and icons, faces and masks, idols and dolls.'' "The history of art is largely one of people looking at people, of eyes staring at bodies, of objects and figures created as surrogates of ourselves," Gioni said in a statement. The title is taken from renowned Korean author Ko Un's 30-volume epic poem ``Maninbo'' (10,000 Lives). Ko was imprisoned in 1980 for participating in the South Korean democratic movement, and started writing an epic poem where he went on to describe every single person he'd ever met in his life, including historical figures and fictional characters. The work has been described as a ``magnum opus that reads as a personal encyclopedia of humanity.'' At the biennale, a diverse range of media will be showcased, particularly portraiture. It will deal with the ``obsession with images, and our need to create substitutes, effigies, avatars and stands-in for ourselves and our loved ones.'' "From ancient mythology we learn that images were created to capture the shadow of lovers. Images are the children of nostalgia; they keep us close to our dear ones, and keep them alive. It is this perennial state of iconophilia, this maniacal love of images, that we wish to examine in Gwangju," Gioni added. Gioni, who is the director of special exhibitions at New Museum in New York, said the exhibition will examine the power of images, how they are ``fabricated, circulated, stolen and exchanged.'' The Italian curator is the youngest artistic director in the history of the Gwangju Biennale, and the first European to take on this position. Gioni is the current artistic director of the Nicola Trussardi Foundation, Milan. He also worked as the co-director of the 2006 Berlin Biennale and director for Manifesta, the European Biennial of Contemporary Art, in 2004. In 2003, he was the curator of the Venice Biennale's special exhibitions. The Gwangju Biennale, Asia's first contemporary art biennale, started in 1995. Since then, it has attracted international artists, performers, curators and critics throughout the years. In 2008, the 7th Gwangju Biennale, with Okwui Enwezor as artistic director, had no central theme, instead focusing on three parts: ``On the Road,'' ``Position Papers'' and ``Insertions.'' More details about the list of participating artists, programs and venues for the 8th Gwangju Biennale will be disclosed in April. Visit www.gb.or.kr. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Korean Contemporary Art Goes to New York

Do Byung-kyu's ``Twelve Babies'' is one of the art works to be shown at the Korean Art Show at La.venue, New York, March 3-7. / Courtesy of organizers By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Korean contemporary art is going to the Big Apple. The Korean Art Show, organized by the Galleries Association of Korea and Korea International Art Fair (KIAF), will be presented from March 3 to 7 at La.venue, New York City. This is the first time Korean galleries will be gathering to showcase the best of contemporary Korean art to an international audience in New York. ``Our mission is to show the world the talent and unique vision of Korean artists while connecting them to international collectors from across the globe," organizers said, in a statement. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports is supporting the show, with the primary goal of globalizing Korean contemporary art. Around 24 Korean galleries, representing the most exciting contemporary Korean artists, will be participating in the event. The landmark exhibition will be held to coincide with some of New York's major art fairs ― The Armory Show, SCOPE, PULSE, Red Dot and Volta. Despite a growing interest in Asian art in recent years, Korean contemporary art has been overlooked in the international art market, which has lavished attention on Chinese and Japanese artists. The Korean Art Show just might just be the push that will elevate Korean contemporary artists to the forefront of the art world. The show will feature 100 artists from top Korean galleries such as Gallery Hyundai, Gana Art Gallery, Pyo Gallery, Cais Gallery and Leehwaik Gallery. A diverse selection of works by established and young, up-and-coming artists such as Bae Bien-U, Kim In-sook, Han Young-wook, Kim Dong-yoo, Oh Yong-seok, Choi So-young and Chun Kwang-young, will be introduced. The event also hopes to promote more awareness of the KIAF, Korea's largest art fair. The KIAF 2010 will be held in Seoul from Sept. 9 to 13, with the United Kingdom as the guest country. The Korean Art Show is also being supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Arts Council Korea, Korean Cultural Service of New York and The Korean-American Association of Greater New York. Doors are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., March 3 to 7, except March 4 when it is open until 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. La.venue is located on the first floor of The Terminal Stores, 608 West 28th Street, between 11th and 12th Avenue, New York. Visit www.koreanartshow.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Blossoming Flowers, Colors at Kukje Gallery

“I Am Still Growing!!! (#1)” by French artist Louise Bourgeois is part of her “Les Fleurs” exhibition at Kukje Gallery Space 2. By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Delicate drawings of blossoms by renowned French artist Louise Bourgeois and colorful works by rising Korean artist Park MeeNa are being unveiled at Kukje Gallery. The two artists have drastically different oeuvres, which makes for an exciting visit to the gallery, located in Sogyeok-dong, Jongno, downtown Seoul. ``Les Fleurs'' is an on-going exhibition of Bourgeois' 29 new drawings and three sculptures with the themes of nature, motherhood and women at the Kukje Gallery Space 2, located behind the main gallery. This is the French artist's fourth solo show with the gallery, the last one being in 2007. Bourgeois is known for her diverse works, ranging from huge spider sculptures, handsewn patchworks, dolls and installations. The title ``Les Fleurs'' refers to Bourgeois' choice of the flower and women as ``symbols of vitality, desire and sexuality.'' ``Her paintings painted in a bold, red color, illustrate passion, blood and a feminist belief in the power of women,'' organizers said. Bourgeois has always been drawing, since she was a child when she helped draw patterns for her family's textile company. ``Bourgeois has continued to transcribe her emotions and memories on paper as if she was writing them in diary. She has observed that the repetition of drawing helps her to find peace of mind and a source of healing,'' organizers said. This exhibition also celebrates the artist's centennial birthday. Bourgeois, who was born in Paris in 1911, is considered one of the most important living artists in the 21st century. She has worked with various materials: plaster, latex, bronze and marble. Bourgeois was the first artist to hold a retrospective exhibition at the MoMA in New York in 1992, and received the Lion d'Or at the 48th Venice Biennale in 1999. ``19988888" by MeeNa Park is part of the ``BCGKMRY'' exhibition at Kukje Gallery Space 1, Seogyeok-dong, Jongno. / Courtesy of Kukje Gallery Meanwhile, Park will open ``BCGKMRY,'' her first solo show with Kukje Gallery Space 1, Wednesday. The somewhat baffling title is actually an anagram for colors CMYK: cyan, magenta, yellow, black; and RGB: red, green, black. These are the same colors that Park used in her work for the exhibition. ``Once the title's meaning is revealed, it further unveils the themes central to Park's work: control and manipulation of pre-existing symbols and codes, pre-fixed standards and formulas,'' the gallery said. The exhibition features recent paintings from her ``BK'' and ``Dingbat'' series, plus 200 drawings from her more than 10 year career. Park met with reporters at the gallery on Tuesday, as she was overseeing the installation of her works. For her ``BK'' series, Park explained the process of layering circles of yellow, red, blue and green colors on a canvas, until it becomes black. The paintings are seen as homage and challenge to the history of monochrome paintings. In contrast, her ``Dingbat'' series, which started in 2007, are brightly colored with different images and symbols from the dingbat font. These images can reveal different meanings, depending on the viewer. Through her works, Park explores ``predetermined structures such as 'ready-made' paint colors available in the market or symbols hidden in dingbat fonts'' that are carefully placed on the canvas, and allows changing interpretation of the works. On the second floor of the gallery, Park transports viewers back to their childhood, with 200 drawings featuring pages from children's activity books. Filled with images of Disney and fairy tale characters, she uses marker pens, stickers and colored pencils to give them a humorous twist. Bourgeois' show runs through March 31, while Park's show ends on April 4. Kukje Gallery is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. Visit www.kukjegallery.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

album/ music stuff February 2010

Album Reviews

Various Artists `(500) Days of Summer' (Warner Music Korea) One of the best things about the Marc Webb film ``(500) Days of Summer'' is the music. Described as an ``anti-love story,'' the film's hip soundtrack is appropriately devoid of mushy love tunes and cheesy lyrics. It is a cool mix of old and new music, from The Smiths and Simon & Garfunkel to Regina Spektor and Feist. It's a great way to remember the film's funniest moments like Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) playing The Smiths' ``Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want'' to get Summer's (Zooey Deschanel) attention, or Tom prancing in the streets to the tune of Hall & Oates' ``You Make My Dreams.'' Also included is former supermodel and now France's First Lady Carla Bruni's lovely 2002 song ``Quelqu'un M'a Dit'' (Someone Told Me). ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Diane Birch `Bible Belt' (Warner Music Korea) Diane Birch is a preacher's daughter with a smoky voice that invites comparisons to Carole King, Norah Jones and Aretha Franklin. Her debut album ``Bible Belt'' offers songs that blend soul, jazz, blues and pop, a welcome relief from all the electronic-driven songs that are clogging the airwaves. Birch also plays the piano, and writes thoughtful lyrics about love and heartbreak. Her voice soars in tracks such as ``Fire Escape,'' ``Rewind'' and ``Magic View.'' Some of the songs may sound like it's from the 70s, but that's part of Birch's refreshing appeal. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Chris Brown `Graffiti' (SonyBMG) It's hard to talk about Chris Brown without mentioning last year's high-profile scandal where in he assaulted girlfriend and pop star Rihanna. In his new album, Brown is eager to put this behind him, packing 20 songs, mostly club-ready dance numbers and sappy love songs. Unlike Rihanna who addressed the scandal through her album ``Rated R,'' Brown tries to skirt the issue, except with some pointed lyrics on ``Famous Girl'' and ``So Cold.'' He comes across as a tad obnoxious when singing about partying, wooing girls and enjoying the good life. Fellow hip-hop stars Lil Wayne (``I Can Transform Ya''), Trey Songz ``Wait,'' Sean Paul (``Brown Skin Girl),'' and Lupe Fiasco (``Girlfriend'') lend their help. However, Brown's album is a retread of his previous efforts, and doesn't really offer anything innovative. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Whitney Houston Kicks off World Tour American pop diva Whitney Houston performs in Seoul for the first time at Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park, Saturday evening, as part of her “Nothing But Love” 2010 world tour. / Courtesy of Hyundai Card By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Pop diva Whitney Houston kicked off her first world concert tour in 10 years in Seoul, Saturday evening. Approximately 11,000 fans flocked to Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park for a chance to see the six-time Grammy winner perform in Korea for the first time, as part of her ``Nothing But Love'' 2010 world tour. A few minutes past 7 p.m., Houston emerged clad in an all-black outfit: a turtleneck, leather pants and a floor-length coat. She sounded shaky at first, performing fast-paced songs ``For the Lovers'' and ``Nothing But Love.'' Her entrance was marred by audio and technical problems, with the backing tracks appearing to overshadow Houston's own voice. ``Good evening, Korea. Welcome to the Whitney Houston show. This is the first show of our world tour and we're starting here. We're working out a lot of details, but hopefully you've come here to hear me sing. I'm going to sing to you from my heart. It's hard for me to lip synch. I tried to do it, but I can't,'' she said. The 47-year-old singer appeared to need some time to warm up her voice, which obviously was not the same powerful voice that fans remember from her memorable hits in the '80s and '90s. But after the slow start, Houston sang the ballad ``Didn't Know My Own Strength,'' showing that she can still hit the high notes. ``It's been so long, 10 years since I've been on tour ... You've been so kind to me, so loving, caring and warm, even though it's so cold. Thank you so much,'' she said. Houston still has a charismatic stage presence, giving fans a glimpse of the pop diva that reigned the music world in the late '80s and '90s and has sold over 200 million records. However, it was obvious Houston and her concert staff were still trying to iron out the kinks of the tour. There were awkward silences between songs, last-minute changes to the set list and on two occasions, Houston suddenly stopped singing and asked the band to start over. During ``My Love,'' she stopped to pick up a piece of her shoe from the floor and re-attached it. Perhaps the first half of the show was too much for Houston, who looked out-of-breath and drenched in sweat. She asked the crowd to watch a video montage while she changed clothes backstage. During the break, the band performed ``For the Love of You,'' while the back-up singers and dancers got the crowd excited with ``Queen of the Night.'' Two of the dancers had formerly worked with the late pop superstar Michael Jackson. Houston later re-emerged in a white floor-length coat for the ``unplugged'' segment of the concert. She reminded the crowd that this year is the 25th anniversary of her debut album. ``Can you believe that? I don't want to tell you this but I've been in show business for 30 years now. I can't believe it myself. It seems like it was only yesterday,'' she said, looking emotional. Her voice sounded strong as she performed ``Saving All My Love,'' ``The Greatest Love of All,'' and ``All At Once,'' although the songs had new arrangements. Houston had the crowd grooving to the hit song ``Dance with Somebody,'' then slowed down the pace once more with the gospel song ``I Love the Lord,'' from her 1996 film ``The Preacher's Wife.'' Houston looked like she was cold on stage, as she tightly belted her coat to keep her warm. ``For some reason, there's a breeze on stage. I don't like singing in the cold, but for you I will continue singing,'' she said. She sang the deeply personal title track from her latest album ``I Look to You,'' while taking sips from a mug in one hand. Then with renewed energy, Houston sang, danced and ran from one side of the stage to the other for ``Step by Step.'' The concert would not be complete without Houston performing her trademark song ``I Will Always Love You,'' and she didn't disappoint. Throwing kisses and bowing, she graciously thanked the crowd and left the stage. After a nearly two-hour show, Houston returned for an encore, singing her latest single, ``Million Dollar Bill,'' and receiving loud cheers from the audience. Houston gave another concert in Seoul on Sunday evening, then hit the road again for concerts in Japan, Australia and Europe. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Chicago Shares Secret to Longevity Legendary pop-rock band Chicago will be in Seoul to perform at the Olympic Fencing Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul, Feb. 23. / Courtesy of We Networks By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Chicago, one of the longest-lasting pop-rock bands in the world, shares some secrets to its longevity. Robert Lamm, one of the founding members of Chicago in 1967, believes their secret is in the music. ``It is original music and most of songs are very, very good, very sophisticated and people around the world, they sense that the music is authentic, and that's what keeps us going,'' he said, in an email interview with The Korea Times. It's been more than 40 years since the band was formed in the Windy City, with Lamm, saxophonist Walter Parazaider, guitarist Terry Kath, drummer Danny Seraphine, trumpet player Lee Loughnane, trombonist James Pankow and bassist Peter Cetera. While the lineup has changed over the years, Chicago has continued to delight fans around the world with their music. Throughout their career, Chicago has sold more than 120 million records, including 20 Top 10 hits and 12 Top 10 albums. Their songs ``Hard to Say I'm Sorry,'' ``If You Leave Me Now,'' ``Love Me Tomorrow'' and ``You're the Inspiration'' remain favorites among music lovers to this day. Lamm said Chicago's music has always been very original, and never copied the style of other bands. ``If someone listens to the first album through the last album today, the songs on those albums sound so fresh until today, because it's totally original and because Chicago did not want to imitate the music of other bands. We just wanted to make our own music and I think that is the key,'' he said. Throughout the years, Chicago has remained strong, survived many challenges and have become like a real family. ``Over 40 years in any family, there are changes such as marriage, divorce, death and all kinds of things, like in our band. ... Finally, we are coming (back) to Korea and we sound so good right now. I think of our history and I always feel good even though some bad things have happened because, as you say, we survived,'' Lamm said. Chicago is coming back to Seoul for a second concert on Feb. 23 at the Olympic Fencing Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. It's been seven years since the band performed in Seoul in 2003. Lamm said he was surprised and happy to be asked to return to Seoul, and his wife, who was born in Korea, was even happier. However, she can't make the trip this time. ``We hope that it won't be seven more years before we come back again,'' he said. ``We are so excited and honored to be invited to return to Seoul. We have very good memories about last time and we want to make another good memory with the audience when we have a concert in February.'' Tickets to Chicago's concert are 150,000 won, 90,000 won, 70,000 won and 50,000 won. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Visit ticket.interpark.com (1544-1555). cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Album Reviews Various Artists `2010 Grammy Nominees' (Warner Music Korea) The ``2010 Grammy Nominees'' album gives listeners a chance catch up on some of the year's best songs. The compilation includes big Grammy winners such as Kings of Leon's ``Use Somebody,'' which won Record of the Year, and Taylor Swift's ``You Belong With Me'' from Album of the Year ``Fearless.'' Beyonce's ``Single Ladies,'' which won Song of the Year, is missing from the compilation, although ``Halo,'' which was nominated, is included. While the album is dominated by pop and rock hits from Green Day, Coldplay, Kelly Clarkson and Lady Gaga, there's some country flavor courtesy of Best New Artist winner Zac Brown Band (``Chicken Fried'') and Lady Antebellum (``I Run to You''). ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Them Crooked Vultures `Them Crooked Vultures' (SonyBMG) Nirvana and Foo Fighters drummer Dave Grohl came up with the idea to form a super group with legendary Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Joshua Hommes. They named themselves Them Crooked Vultures, and released a self-titled debut album that melds classic and modern rock. Grohl and Hommes are big fans of Led Zeppelin, and working with Jones obviously brought out their best attempts to pay homage to the celebrated band. It is especially evident in the nearly seven-minute-long ``Elephants.'' Roaring riffs abound in this album as heard in ``No One Loves Me & Neither Do I,'' ``New Fang,'' ``Mind Erase, No Chaser'' and the trippy ``Interlude with Ludes.'' ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia The Clash `London Calling' (SonyBMG) To commemorate its 30th anniversary, a special edition CD-DVD version of legendary punk rock band The Clash's ``London Calling'' has been released. This album is packed with 19 songs, arguably The Clash's best work, such as the title track, ``Death and Glory,'' ``Train in Vain (Stand by Me)'' and ``Revolution Rock.'' There's little doubt why the album has been a perennial fixture on manyTop 100 album lists. What makes this release worth buying is a DVD with ``The Last Testament,'' a documentary on how the band made the album. It features performances and interviews with The Clash, including lead singer Joe Strummer before he died in 2002. But the best part is the unseen home video footage of the band's 1979 recording sessions with producer Guy Stevens, who can be seen throwing chairs around Wessex Studios. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Bob Dylan to Perform in Seoul for First Time Bob Dylan will be performing March 31 at Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. / Courtesy of Access Entertainment By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will be performing in Seoul for the first time at the end of March. Concert organizer Access Entertainment announced Dylan's first concert in Korea will be held March 31 at Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. In a statement, Access Entertainment said news of Dylan's concert has generated significant interest from many fans between the ages of 30 and 50 in Korea. In order to allow more people to enjoy Dylan's first concert in Seoul, concert organizers have adjusted the ticket pricing scale to make it more affordable. Tickets for the one-night-only concert start from 66,000 won to limited VIP seats worth 198,000 won. Prior to coming to Seoul, Dylan will be holding a series of 12 concerts in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka starting March 12. Access Entertainment noted that tickets to Dylan's 12 concerts in Japan sold out in 10 minutes. Tickets for the Japan shows were also more expensive than the ones in Seoul ― 12,000 yen and 20,000 yen (approximately 157,000 won and 262,000 won). Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman and grew up in Duluth, Minnesota. He moved to New York City in 1961, where he was signed by Columbia Records. His second album, ``The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan,'' released in 1963, placed Dylan in the spotlight. Dylan, considered one of the most influential songwriters in the last half century, has continued to perform around the world as part of his ``Never Ending Tour.'' Since starting his career in 1959, he has released over 40 studio albums, including the acclaimed ``Modern Times'' and ``Together Through Life.'' His albums have always been deemed among the best of all time. Rolling Stone magazine ranked ``Highway 61 Revisted'' as number 4, and ``Blonde on Blonde'' as number 9 in its 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. ``Modern Times'' was ranked number 8, and ``Love and Theft'' ranked number 11 in the magazine's Top 100 Albums of the Decade. Among his best known songs are ``Blowin' in the Wind,'' ``The Times They Are a-Changin','' ``Like a Rolling Stone,'' ``Knockin' on Heaven's Door'' and ``Shelter from the Storm.'' His songs were anthems for the civil rights and anti-war protests in the 1960s, striking a chord with the rebellious generation. Dylan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. He was described as `` the uncontested poet laureate of the rock and roll era and the pre-eminent singer/songwriter of modern times. ``Whether singing a topical folk song, exploring rootsy rock and blues, or delivering one of his more abstract, allegorical compositions, Dylan has consistently demonstrated the rare ability to reach and affect listeners with thoughtful, sophisticated lyrics,'' it said, on its Web site. Dylan has been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1991. In 2008, he received a special citation from the Pulitzer Prize jury for ``his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.'' Tickets go on sale at 12 p.m., Feb, 17 on Interpark (ticket.interpark.com). Call 1544-1555. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr The Swell Season to Return in April The Swell Season will return to Korea for a concert in Seoul, April 7. / Courtesy of Piper Ferguson By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the Oscar-winning stars of the indie film ``Once,'' will be coming to Seoul for the third time in April. Hansard, Irglova and the rest of The Swell Season will be performing April 7, Olympic Indoor Hall, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. The Swell Season is a favorite among many Korean fans, who embraced their low-budget film and made it a hit in Korea. In ``Once,'' Hansard and Irglova played musicians who fall in love, and their on-screen chemistry carried on off-screen. A big part of the film's success was attributed to the music, mostly composed and written by Hansard. Hansard and Irglova's lovely duet ``Falling Slowly'' won the Academy Award for Best Song in 2008. The Swell Season finally released its long-awaited album ``Strict Joy,'' last fall. Hansard and Irglova had broken off their romantic relationship, but their musical partnership still continued. The album title was taken from ``Strict Care, Strict Joy," a poem by Irish writer James Stephens that Hansard had read. ```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 had said in a previous interview. The release of ``Strict Joy'' came three years after the acclaimed ``Once'' soundtrack, but The Swell Season did not think about the pressure to equal or surpass its previous efforts. Hansard said they just focused on ``making the music as good as it can be.'' The Swell Season has performed in Korea twice in the last two years, and the Korean fans have made a lasting impression. ``It has been a very exciting 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,'' Hansard said. Other members of The Swell Season are violinist Colm Mac Con Iomaire, bassist Joseph Doyle, guitarist Robert Bochnik and drummer David Hingerty. Vocalist Mark Geary will open for The Swell Season. Tickets range from 77,000 to 99,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. For English-language information and reservations, call (02)563-0595 or email info@privatecurve.com. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Album Reviews Vampire Weekend `Contra' (Kang & Music) American indie band Vampire Weekend first grabbed listeners' attention with the irresistible ``A Punk'' from their self-titled debut in 2008. The band, whose members met while studying at Columbia University, have managed to avoid the sophomore slump with a clever and catchy new album, ``Contra.'' ``Contra,'' which debuted at number 1 on the Billboard album charts, has more of the band's indie pop-rock tunes, with a dash of hip-hop, African rhythms and electro music. ``Horchata'' (incidentally, a Mexican rice drink) sets the pace of the album with its easy charm, followed by the laidback ``White Sky.'' Vampire Weekend continues to impress with their witty lyrics and unique musical styling, particularly with the standout tracks ``California English,'' ``Diplomat's Son'' and ``I Think Ur a Contra.'' / Cathy Rose A. Garcia Corinne Bailey Rae ``The Sea'' (Warner Music Korea) Corinne Bailey Rae returns to the music scene with ``The Sea.'' Her vocals are as sweet as ever, but this time they are also filled with sadness. She made the album after her husband Jason Rae's death due to an accidental drug overdose in March 2008. Bailey Rae gets personal and emotional but not overly sentimental with the music and lyrics on ``The Sea.'' Loss and grief are themes that run throughout the album. It gently unfolds with the dreamy ballads ``Are You Here'' and ``I'd Do It All Again.'' Bailey Rae picks up the pace with ``The Blackest Lily,'' ``Closer'' and the rock-influenced ``Paper Dolls.'' It's a solid and mature album from the 31-year-old British singer-songwriter. Fans who miss the bubbly pop-jazz sound from Bailey Rae's first album will find it in the catchy ``Paris Nights/ New York Mornings.'' / Cathy Rose A. Garcia Pat Metheny `Orchestrion' (Warner Music Korea) Grammy-winning jazz guitarist Pat Metheny undertook an ambitious project to recreate a modern version of the 19th century mechanical orchestra called orchestrion. With the help of this new contraption, Metheny literally became a one-man band. On this new album, Metheny showcases just what the orchestrion can do. There are only five tracks, but it's enough to impress listeners with the orchestrion's breadth. The title track ``Orchestrion'' is a soaring number that fulfills expectations. ``Expansion'' and ``Spirit of the Air'' are sparkling tunes. The album offers an exciting new concept, but the true test will be whether Metheny's orchestrion will be as good live on tour. / Cathy Rose A. Garcia Backstreet Boys Share Secrets to Success Backstreet Boys will return to charm Korean fans at a concert at the Melon-AX Hall, Wednesday, as part of its ``This is Us World Tour." / Courtesy of Nine Factory By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Boy bands are as popular as ever in Korea, with groups like 2PM, Big Bang, SuperJunior and TVXQ. But in the United States, the trend peaked in the late 1990s and early 2000s when Backstreet Boys (BSB), N'Sync and 98 Degrees sent millions of teenage girls swooning with their cute looks, mushy love songs and slick dance moves. While most of the boy bands have disbanded and been forgotten, Backstreet Boys has remained together, still making music and touring around the world. BSB members AJ McLean and Brian Littrell said the group has always remained focused on their music throughout the years. ``There were a lot of things going on but music was always our main focus. It is quite hard to survive in the music industry but we managed. We tried to stay focused for the past 17 years and understand each other, which made our bond stronger and that's our secret. We spend the best days of our lives together, there is no reason why we can't in the future," said McLean and Littrell in an email interview with The Korea Times. The group also includes Nick Carter and Howie Dorough. Kevin Richardson left the group in 2006. The group, formed by producer Lou Perlman in Orlando, Florida, made their debut in 1993. Since then, the group has sold over 130 million records and had 14 Top 40 hits on the Billboard charts. McLean and Littrell said the members continue to be good friends because of their openness with one another. ``We open our hearts and talk to each other. It is important to realize that all members can have different opinions about different things and situations. BSB is like marriage. It can't be sweet all the time. You have to share feelings and understand each other. As years go by, it's becoming easier to understand each other better," they said. In terms of their music, Backstreet Boys believe they've become more mature and improved their singing. Their seventh album, ``This is Us," which was released last year, included electronic pop dance songs and ballads in collaboration with T-Pain, RedOne and One Republic's Ryan Tedder. ``This album shows what we are, the current sound of BSB and hopefully the future sound, too. This album shows where we're headed with music," they said. Looking back on their career, BSB finds it hard to believe it has achieved so much. ``None of us expected to go this far. But I think we're still humble. Some people might have criticized us since we were so focused on success, but we're still a bunch of regular guys. We are blessed to have been able to do what we want for 15 years and hopefully 15 more, but that would be a goal hard to achieve," McLean and Littrell said. Backstreet Boys returns to Korea for a concert Wednesday at the Melon-AX Hall. The members have fond memories of visiting Korea, and are looking forward to meeting their loyal fans and eating a lot of ``bulgogi" (marinated beef). ``Our favorite food is bulgogi. This time, we're going to have some as soon as we arrive. Korean fans are really passionate and we are looking forward to seeing that again," the members said. Right now, BSB is on tour, hoping to connect with their fans around the world. They have upcoming concert dates in Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. ``We would like to let people know that we're still here. We didn't quit and would like to let the fans know that. We're proud of this album and hope that fans keep it close for a long time," they said. The BSB concert starts at 8 p.m., Feb. 24. Tickets are 110,000 won. For English booking, visit ticket.interpark.com/global. To get to Melon-AX Hall, get off at Gwangnaru Station, line 5, exit 2. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr Album Reviews Sade `Soldier of Love' (SonyBMG) Sade makes a huge comeback with its first album of new work in 10 years. ``Soldier of Love'' is old-school R&B and jazz at its best, dominated by ballads and acoustic tracks about love. Lead singer and songwriter Sade Adu seduces listeners with her smoky vocals in this 10-track album, backed by a band that puts in a solid effort. The first single ``Soldier of Love'' lingers in your ears with its haunting beats, while ``Babyfather'' offers some reggae. ``Morning Bird'' is the standout track, with poetic lyrics set to a sparse piano and percussion melody. Overall, the album is beautiful in its simplicity. The band's minimalist approach appears to have been embraced by many, since the album topped the Billboard album charts during Valentine's Day weekend. / Cathy Rose A. Garcia Chicago `The Best of Chicago: 40th Anniversary Edition' (Warner Music Korea) Chicago celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2007, releasing a two-disc greatest hits album. However, it was only released in Korea earlier this month in time for Chicago's concert. The album is packed with 30 songs, showing Chicago's blend of pop, rock, jazz and R&B, throughout their career, from Chicago Transit Authority (1969) to Chicago XXX. Songs include ``Colour My World,'' ``If You Leave Me Now,'' ``Hard to Say I'm Sorry,'' and ``You're the Inspiration.'' While tracks have been remastered, these are the shorter versions released for radio play, and not the original album versions. / Cathy Rose A. Garcia David Bowie `A Reality Tour' (SonyBMG) David Bowie was no doubt one of the most creative forces in pop music in the '70s and '80s, but he has been absent in the music scene in recent years. ``A Reality Tour'' is a double CD with 33 remastered tracks from concerts recorded on Nov. 22 and 23, 2003 in Dublin, Ireland. The DVD was earlier released in 2004. Bowie's set list is a mix of classics with a fresh twist and includes ``Rebel, Rebel,'' ``All the Young Dudes,'' ``The Man Who Sold the World,'' ``Fame,'' and ``Ashes to Ashes,'' and newer songs ``New Killer Star'' and ``The Loneliest Guy.'' The 63-year-old Bowie is in his element at the concert, giving fans an exuberant and memorable performance. It's been seven years since Bowie released an album, and this CD will no doubt make his fans clamor for his return. / Cathy Rose A. Garcia Brian McKnight to Return in April American R&B singer Brian McKnight will returns for a concert at the Jamsil Gymnasium, southern Seoul, on April 1. / Courtesy of Vincero By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter R&B singer Brian McKnight will return to Seoul to serenade fans with his romantic ballads such as ``One Last Cry," ``Back at One" and ``Shoulda Woulda Coulda'' in April. The ``McKnight at Night'' concert will be staged April 1 at the Jamsil Gymnasium, Jamsil, southern Seoul. McKnight is a favorite among Korean fans, having held concerts here in the past few years. The 40-year-old American singer-songwriter is known for his smooth voice and sophisticated R&B tunes. He has released 11 albums, of which seven have gone platinum, and has sold over 20 million copies around the world. McKnight can also play nine instruments, including the piano, guitar, drums, and tuba. In 1992, McKnight made his debut with a self-titled album, followed by ``I Remember You'' in 1995. ``Love Is,'' his duet with Vanessa L. Williams, became a hit and was nominated for Best Pop Collaboration at the 1994 Grammys. McKnight's solo breakthrough came with ``Anytime,'' released in 1997, selling over two million copies and resulting in a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Performance. McKnight came out with another album, ``Back at One,'' in 1999, selling over three million copies. It was nominated for Best R&B album at the 2000 Grammy Awards. His subsequent albums have also earned him nominations for Grammys, giving him a total of 16 nominations throughout his career. He holds the record for having the most number of Grammy nominations without winning. McKnight has also collaborated with a diverse array of musicians such as Mary J. Blige, Justin Timberlake, Quincy Jones, Mariah Carey and Josh Groban. In recent years, McKnight has expanded his resume to include late-night television talk show host, radio show host, ``Celebrity Apprentice'' contestant and Broadway actor (he played Billy Flynn in ``Chicago'' in 2007). He has also received American Music Awards, Soul Train Awards, NAAC Image and Blockbuster Awards, and was the Billboard Songwriter of the Year. Last October, McKnight released ``Evolution of a Man,'' offering more of the seductive and romantic ballads that has made him popular throughout the years. The album includes the first single ``What I've Been Waiting For,'' plus duets with Stevie Wonder on ``Without You'' and with Jill Scott on ``More Than Just a Thing.'' Tickets for McKnight's concert in Seoul range from 50,000 to 110,000 won. For English bookings, visit ticket.interpark.com/global. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr

Kimie Kim Offers 'Infinite Loop' of Street Jazz Jazz guitarist Kimie Kim talks to The Korea Times about his project group Infinite Loop, at his studio in Hongdae, Monday. / Courtesy of Kimie Kim By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Jazz is not quite as popular in Korea as pop or rock music. But jazz musician Kimie Kim hopes to build a small community of jazz musicians together to bring street jazz to a wider audience. Kim has formed jazz fusion band Infinite Loop, inspired by British acid jazz group Incognito, which has a rotating line-up of musicians and vocalists. Infinite Loop released its first album, ``Across the Ocean,'' last December on an independent record label. ``I once talked to the leader of Incognito, who said he liked the idea that he can call other players to join the band. So for this project, I called three other players to form a band and play together. It's flexible. I can invite anyone to join the band for the next project. ... I want to have a community of musicians who can play together,'' he told The Korea Times, in an interview at his studio in Hongdae, Monday. Kim, a guitarist, is the bandleader for Infinite Loop. He invited long-time friend and drummer Tagg, noted pianist Lee No-kyung and bassist Yoon Du-young to join the group for the first album. ``Across the Ocean'' is an instrumental album of eight tracks with funk, rock and acid jazz influences, all composed by Kim. Most songs run seven to eight minutes long, with a lot of improvisation. Kim's favorite on the album is the title track, but he noted many of his friends prefer ``Scrambled Eggs.'' ``My friends told me it really sounds like scrambled eggs,'' he laughed. Kim grew up on Jeju island with his music-loving family, his policeman father played saxophone while his elder brother played the guitar, which inspired Kim to take up acoustic guitar. ``I started with classical, but I switched to electric when I was in high school. I wanted to play rock and roll, like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin,'' he said. At 19, Kim moved to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute, and later lived in Canada, where he discovered jazz music. He returned to Korea for his military service, but he felt he needed to learn more about jazz music. So he moved to Austria, where he studied at the Vienna Conservatory. ``I was really into jazz and I thought I should go to some place where I can learn more about jazz,'' he said. In 2005, he returned to Korea and started working as a writer for Guitar Lab magazine, but didn't have time to concentrate on his music. Now, Kim is back to being a full-time musician, and wants to make jazz more accessible to listeners. `` Some people might think jazz is boring, but I want to make it fresh and new,'' he said. The 35-year-old musician is setting his sights on the international scene. Infinite Loop's music is available for download on Apple's iTunes, the CD can be bought on Amazon.com, and the band's Web site is in English (www.infiniteloopjazz.com). Kim, who occasionally plays in small clubs and bars around Seoul, said he was invited to perform at the Beijing Jazz Festival in the fall. He is also planning some gigs in Japan this year, and maybe Europe next year. Kim is already planning Infinite Loop's next album, this time with another guitarist. Yet, he's not expecting to become famous. ``I'm expressing myself through music, but I want to achieve a higher level, not just with music but as a human being. I don't want to be famous, but I just want to do something good in the future, through music,'' he said. cathy@koreatimes.co.kr