EVENTS CALENDAR

Exhibition

"Markus Lupertz Exhibition": Neo-Expressionism master Markus Lupertz is considered one of the most important living contemporary artists in Germany. With vigorous brushwork, the living master created not only archeology which shows a variety of styles in art history, but also the memories of something that was constituted by collective imagination. Represent spiritual poverty in contrast to the material affluence after the war, Lupertz created a unique painting style of "dithyrambic painting," an expressive and figurative approach that stood in stark contrast to the abstract tendencies of the day. Lupertz`s Seoul exhibition will show his paintings of the 1980s and the recent "Nude Back" series as well as his superb sculptures. The exhibition runs through May 7 at Seoul Arario Gallery near Anguk Station, Subway Line No. 3, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.arariogallery.com

"Paul Klee: To draw, To Paint": Known as a "magician of lines and colors," the late Swiss artist Paul Klee (1879-1940) was an artist who drew out the deepest human emotions in simple lines and colors. Today, Klee is considered as one of the most intellectual modern painters who produced a vast range of work. With his mastery of lines and color, Klee formed a unique art world full of wit, humor and satire. The artworks Klee produced during his life numbers more than 9,100, so diverse in themes and techniques that a few words could not possibly summarize his immense talent and efforts. With his interest in music, Klee applied musical polyphony to art, as he overlapped transparent color rectangles to create a different color effect, resulting in graphic depth and the interaction of colors. The exhibition runs through July 2 at Seoul Olympic Art Museum near Mongchontoseong Station, Subway Line No. 8, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.somamuseum.org

"George Nakashima & Serge Mouille exhibition": Two of the greatest contemporary artisans have come together in Seoul, as the delicate Eastern style woodcrafts of George Nakashima (1905-1990) and splendid Western lighting fixtures of Serge Mouille (1922-1988) are being exhibited side by side. A Japanese-American woodworker, the late Nakashima is considered as one of the leading innovators of 20th century furniture design and also a father of the American craft movement. Throughout his career, Nakashima presented hundreds of pieces of beautiful wooden furniture, giving a second life to wood by accentuating its texture and grain with delicate Eastern techniques. Mouille`s lifelong devotion as a designer of lighting fixtures began as a silversmith. The year of 1953 became an important turning point for Mouille as he began to design lighting fixtures for the first time, encountering an art to which he devoted the rest of his life. From then on Mouille came up with creative lighting fixtures throughout the 1950s, designing large, angular, insect-like wall-mounted and standing lamps with several arms and smaller, more curved wall-sconces. The exhibition runs through May 18 at Kukje Gallery near Anguk Station, Subway Line No. 3, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.kukje.org

"Another Worlds": Arario Gallery has prepared a two-part exhibition bringing together works by 22 emerging artists of various nationalities. As a rare chance to view works of young artists from different cultural backgrounds together, the exhibition is to indicate new directions for contemporary art circles all over the world. The artists in part I of the exhibition work on the themes that anyone can share such as social concerns, questions on the essence of contemporary art and historical issues. The group of artists includes some of the most well-known figures in the contemporary art scene such as Pablo Alonso, Lionel Esteve and Os Gemeos. The participants in part II represent not only the realities of modern society but also the changing viewpoints of its members who are increasingly making discrete culture. The artists participating in part II include not only talented young foreign artists such as Hannah Dougherty, but also promising Korean artists including Hwang Eun-jung and Lee Ji-hyun. Part I of the exhibition will run through May 14, and part II will open May 19 to run through June 18 at Cheonan Arario Gallery located at Shinbu-dong, Cheonan City, South Chungcheong Province. For more information, visit www.arariogallery.co.kr

"Colors of Asia: Paul Jacoulet`s Prints": The late French woodblock artist Paul Jacoulet (1896-1960) is considered as one of the few Western artists who chose Asia as the main theme of artwork in the 20th century. As a Frenchman, the late artist spent most of his life in Asia, producing striking multicolor portraits of the natives of Asia and the South seas. Born in Paris, Jacoulet was raised in Tokyo from the age of 4. After his mother remarried a Japanese medical doctor who was professing at the current Seoul National University, Jacoulet visited Korea on a regular basis which led to a great number of artworks with Korea as the main theme. Jacoulet used some very elaborate techniques for the creation of his prints. His woodblock prints are a mixture of Japanese traditional ukiyo-e printmaking of highest standards and new lavish techniques invented by the artist himself. Jacoulet took many of the subjects for his woodblock prints from the South Sea, but also from travels to Korea, Manchuria and of course, Japan. Transcending nationalities, Jacoulet`s works carry a sense of philanthropy which shows that his observation of Asia was not merely that of a foreigner. The exhibition will run through June 4 at the National Museum of Korea near Ichon Station, Subway Line No. 1 and 4, Exit 2. After Seoul, the exhibition will move to Jeju National Museum to run from June 13 through July 30. For more information, visit www.museum.go.kr

"Debbie Han solo exhibition": With a deluge of images forcing commercialized ideas of beauty into our heads today, we are led to believe that the terms of beauty parallel portraits of skinny actresses seen on TV. Korean-American artist Debbie Han puts her foot down against the typical terms of beauty. Denouncing the canonical proportion of a formal beauty constructed by Western and male-dominant cultures, Han alters the face of a classic Western beauty Venus de Milo with Asian eyes, a Jewish nose and African mouth, and turns its body into that of a typical Korean "ajumma." In her third solo exhibition in Korea, the 37-year-old artist exposes and mocks the falsified cultural phenomena of contemporary consumer society with her satirical construction pointing critically at the idealization of the Western beauty standard. In this exhibition, works of Han will be exhibited in four different parts of "The Survival of the Fittest," "Beauty," "An Everyday Venus" and "Food and Sensuality." The "Food and Sensuality" series draws parallels between food and feminine sensuality in the appropriated context of commercial cosmetics advertisements. In her "Beauty" series, Han shows that beauty does not always come from the ideal images of young and gorgeous faces and bodies. The exhibition runs through May 31 at Gallery Sun Contemporary near Anguk Station, Subway Line No. 3, Exit 1. For more information, visit www.suncontemporary.com

Concert

"Euro-Asian Philharmonic Orchestra Concert": Conductor Gum Nan-se will lead the Euro-Asian Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert celebrating the first anniversary of Naru Arts Center, northeastern Seoul. The program for May 12 includes Britten`s Simple Symphony Op.4, Mozart symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 and Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1. Pianist Cho Young-hyeon is the featured pianist. Concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range in price from 11,000 won to 33,000 won. Exit No. 5, Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No.2 or Exit No.4 on Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No. 7. For more information, visit www.naruarts.co.kr or call (02) 2049-4700.

"Pianist Isao Sasaki Recital": The popular New Age pianist well known for his drama and movie music will perform 7 p.m., May 13 at the Naru Arts Center in northeastern Seoul. "Skywalker," "Princess of Flowers" and "Forest" are among the pieces to be performed. Tickets range in price from 22,000 won to 44,000 won. Exit No. 5, Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No.2 or Exit No.4 on Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No. 7. For more information, visit www.naruarts.co.kr or call (02) 2049-4700.

"Midnight Sun": Denis Matsuev, the winner of the 1998 International Tchaikovsky Competition, will perform at 5 p.m., May 14 at the Nartu Arts Center, northeastern Seoul. A fast-rising star in classical music, Matsuev will perform Tchaikovsky`s "The Seasons," Op. 37b and Stravinsky`s "Petrushka" among others. Tickets range in price from 22,000 won to 44,000 won. Exit No. 5, Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No.2 or Exit No.4 on Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No. 7. For more information, visit www.naruarts.co.kr or call (02) 2049-4700.

"Lachrimae": Violist Richard Yongjae O`Neill will perform with Joy of Strings at 8 p.m., May 16 at the Naru Arts Center, northeastern Seoul. A member of Sejong Soloists, O`Neill will perform Offenbach`s "Les Larmes de Jacqueline," Paganini Sonata NO.6, Op.3: Andante and Rossini`s "Une Larme," among others. Tickets range in price from 22,000 won to 33,000 won. Exit No. 5, Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No.2 or Exit No.4 on Konkuk University Station on Subway Line No. 7. For more information, visit www.naruarts.co.kr or call (02) 2049-4700.

"Garden of May": Clarinetist Lee Im-soo will hold a recital at 8 p.m., May 7 at Seoul Arts Center Recital Hall. The program for the evening includes Norbert Burgmuller Duo Op.15 Clarinet and Piano, Messiaen`s "Abime des oiseaux" and Paul Hindemith Sonata for clarinet and piano, among others. Accompanying on the piano is Lee Hyeong-min. Tickets are 20,000 won. Exit No. 5, Nambu Bus Terminal Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02)587-5961.

"Kevin Kern Concert in Korea": The master of the simple melody with a heartfelt message will offer a recital at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on May 24. The new age pianist`s music has been inserted in films and television commercials in the U.S. and abroad, including Korean television series "Autumn in My Heart" and commercials for Mitsubishi. Tickets are 30,000 to 80,000 won. Exit No. 5, Nambu Bus Terminal Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02) 751-9607.

Festival

"Green Tea Festival": Boseong in South Jeolla Province, the largest producer of green tea in South Korea, hosts a festival May 6-9. Visitors can try hand-picking green tea leaves and tasting various teas from around the world in a picturesque setting.

For more information, call (061)850-5223 or visit the web site at dahyang.boseong.go.kr

"Namwon International Herb Expo & Chunhyang Festival": About 100 companies, including 16 from nine foreign countries, diplays herb products during the Namwon International Herb Expo, held through May 8 in the city of North Jeolla Province. Various products from natural cosmetics and skin care products to herbal oil are displayed. Visitors can also enjoy the 75th Chunhyang Festival, which will feature traditional culture. For more information, call (063)620-6979 or visit the web site at www.herbexpo.or.kr

"Paleolithic Age Festival": Jeongok-ri, Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, the largest area of paleolithic relics in Korea holds a festival through May 8, offering a chance to take a look at prehistoric living experiences, such as making stone tools, throwing javelins and making fire.

For more information, call (031)839-2561 or visit the web site at www.iyc21.net/festival

"Daegu Yangnyeongsi Herbal Medicine Festival": Daegu had been known for the herbal medicine market, formerly the largest during the Joseon Dynasty. The city is holding a festival, through May 7, offering a chance to experience Korea`s unique oriental herbal medicine, as well as various performances and exhibitions of medicinal herbs.

For more information, call (053)253-4729 or visit the web site at www.herbmart.or.kr/festival.

"Jeonju Pungnam Festival": The Pungnam Festival held in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province through May 7, combines a marketplace and traditional arts performances. More than 10,000 merchants from across the nation participate in the festival, which also includes an international movie festival, Daesaseup Nori, and a paper festival. For more information, call (063)277-2515 or visit the web site at www.jjpnj.com

"Hadong Wild Tea Cultural Festival": Hadong, South Gyeongsang Province, where the first green tea tree in Korea was planted about 1,200 years ago, will hold a wild green tea festival in Hwagae Valley and the vicinity of Ssanggyesa Temple, May 18-21.

The four-day festival includes picking tea leaves, boiling tea and experiencing a massage with tea.

For more information, call (055)880-2114 or visit the web site at www.hadong.ilinza.com

Opera

"Madama Butterfly": Gloria Opera Company celebrates its 16th anniversary with the Puccini`s tragic lovestory, "Madama Butterfly" May 24 through 27 at Seoul Arts Center Opera House. Soprano Kim Hyang-ran and tenor John Bellemer are in the lead roles of Madame Butterfly and Captain Pinkerton, respectively. Conductor Mark Gibson will lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets range in price from 200,000 won to 30,000 won. Exit No. 5, Nambu Bus Terminal Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02)543-2351 or visit www.gloriaopera

Drama

"Encore Happy Together": This comedy about two armed robbers storming into the house of a rich old woman will run through Aug. 31 at Small Theater Happy Together in Seoul. Tickets are 10,000 won and 20,000 won. Exit No. 2, Hyehwa Station on Subway Line No. 4. For further information, call (02) 742-7262 or visit www.artpama.co.kr.

"Shakespeare Nanjang-Market": Under the theme "Language of the World, Shakespeare," the third annual Shakespeare Nanjang-Market, co-hosted by the National Theater of Korea and the Shakespeare Association of Korea, will raise the curtain today at the theater with the opening piece, "Extreme Romeo and Juliet" by Theater Company Ensemble, which will go on until May 28. During the festival, Shakespearean plays will be revived through various, dazzling interpretations of some of the country`s leading theater companies. Tickets are 15,000 won to 30,000 won. Exit No. 6, Dongguk University Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02) 2280-4115.

Musical

"Les Dix Commandements": The musical based on the famous biblical episode about the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt will be staged at the Gymnastics Gymnasium of Olympic Park, eastern Seoul, until May 9. Premiered in 2002, more than 2 million music and dance lovers went to see the epic in France alone, which has led to sales of CDs and DVDs reaching 4.2 million copies in total. Tickets are 30,000 won to 150,000 won. Exit No. 3, Olympic Park Station on Subway Line No. 5. For more information, call (02) 512-7986.

"Funky Funky": A musical directed by comedian Geong Seong-han is on an open-ended run at Funky House in Myeong-dong, downtown Seoul. Near Exit No. 6, Myeongdong Station on Subway Line No. 4. Tickets are 20,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 1588-1089 or visit www.funkyfunky.co.kr

"Subway Line 1, 2005": A tried-and-true rock musical by the Hakchon Theatre Troupe portrays a wide range of Seoulites in the 1990s is on open-ended run at Hakchon Theater. Tickets range from 17,000 won to 28,000 won. Exit No. 2, Hyehwa Station on Subway Line No. 4. For more information, call (02) 763-8233 or visit www.hakchon.co.kr

"Palae (Washing)": Based on the director Choo Min-joo`s six years` experiences living in Noyu-dong, eastern Seoul, the musical features socially disadvantaged people struggling to survive in a society full of prejudices. The award-winning musical will run through May 14 at Sangmyung Art Hall in Daehangno, downtown Seoul. Tickets are 30,000 won and for more information, call (02) 762-9190.

"Dracula": The Korean rendition of the Czech musical about Count Dracula will run through July 23 at Hanjeon Art Center in Southern Seoul. Since it premiered in 1995 in Prague, "Dracula" attracted 1 million visitors in two years and 2.5 million spectators alone in the European city so far with its extravagant stage sets, exotic costumes and dance, combined with the suspenseful and highly lyrical music by Karel Sbovoboda. Its soundtrack album sold over 250,000 copies. Tickets are 10,000 to 120,000 won. Exit No. 1, Yangjae Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02) 3141-8425.

Dance

"Burn the Floor": The internationally acclaimed ballroom dance troupe will scorch Seoul`s Olympic Hall of the Olympic Park, eastern Seoul until May 1. For six days, 36 top dancers from 12 countries including Germany, Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia will make the audience go wild with their perfectly sculpted bodies, as well as scintillating kicks and turns. Tickets are 40,000 to 150,000 won. Exit No. 3, Olympic Park Station on Subway Line No. 5. For more information, call (02) 548-4480.

"Don Quixote": Korea National Ballet Theater invites art lovers to the comic ballet that runs at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House from May 12 to 17. Kim Joo-Won, the principal dancer of the ballet company who won the first award in women`s division of the 14th annual Benois de la Danse, last month, will play Kitri (Quiteria in the original novel). Tickets are 10,000 to 100,000 won. Exit No. 5, Nambu Bus Terminal Station on Subway Line No. 3. For more information, call (02) 587-6181.