미술전시도 3D로!

Galleries join 3-D craze

 

Art galleries and museums are joining in the worldwide 3-D craze stirred up by the mega-hit movie "Avatar."

Led by the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art, 17 galleries and museums in Seoul are holding a 3-D exhibition titled "United Museum Collection" together online.

The 3-D exhibition is underway at the website www.artseoul-museum.com. The virtual museum is similar to a real museum in the sense that as it is hard to renovate or expand its rooms due to the complicated nature of special 3-D effects.

The exhibition is divided into five divisions displaying 17 representative works, one from each gallery. The participating galleries include the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul Arts Center, Daelim Contemporary Art Museum, Kumho Museum, Art Center Nabi and Posco Art Museum.

Clicking on the arrows placed on each side of the screen, visitors can move around the virtual museum. It is furnished with couches, stairs and lights, just like in real museums.

Further information on displays, such as the size or artist profile, is available through clicking on the artwork. The only downside for now is that services are provided in Korean only.

Museum curator Gang Jae-hyun said that the 3-D museum will be continuously upgraded to provide multi-language services and offer works of various genres.

"After this exhibition, special exhibitions that feature certain themes are planned to be held in the latter half of this year. We are preparing to exhibit different kinds of artworks then, including sculptures and installation works," said Gang.

The website, which has been created to establish a network between national, public and private art museums and galleries throughout the country, also showcases collections of each participating gallery.

"It is organized so that more people can enjoy different museums' collections at one stop - online. Currently 90 artworks from 17 museums and galleries are on display, but the number will increase in the future," said Lee Myung-ok, director of the Savina Museum of Contemporary Art.

Online educational art programs will also be offered through the website within the year.

"When opened, children will easily be able to learn more about art at home with their parents," said Gang.

The current exhibition runs through July 31.

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young

Enjoy Italian ceiling frescoes at eye level

The chance has come to enjoy Italian frescoes right here in Seoul and up close without having to crane your neck.

The paintings, supposed to be high up on chapel ceilings, have come down to the human eye level at the exhibition "Masterpieces of Italian Renaissance Frescoes" running at Hangaram Art Museum in southern Seoul.

It was the renowned Lazzari family of Italy who replicated the huge fresco paintings by 20 great Renaissance artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raffaello Sanzio, better known as Raphael, into relatively minimized paintings.

The family has restored frescoes since the 1700s with their unique technique called "affregraphy." After taking photos and copying the original frescoes as elaborately as possible, they transferred the images into wet plaster and colored them in the traditional way - using fingers. Their works have received favorable reviews from art critics and viewers worldwide.

"Through the exhibits, we can finally see the whole paintings with our own eyes. Most of the parts in the original versions are out of human view because they are so high up," said exhibition director Stefano Lazzari.

"There was never a chance where people could enjoy frescos by great masters at the same place at the same time, because they cannot be moved. It is amazing how the works are now shown here, all the way over in Korea, for the first time in the world. They have never even been shown in Italy."

The exhibition features 51 frescos, starting from the works by Giotto di Bondone of the 14th century and finishing up with the paintings by da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael of the early 16th century.

About 1,900 artisans, including 300 restoration professionals, worked on the replicating project for three years at the Lazzari studio in Umbria, Italy.

The crew was divided into different teams that each covered different artists' works. For instance, 15 professionals replicated Michelangelo's "Universal Judgments" for five months.

Other than the painting, highlights of the show also include the copies of Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam," da Vinci's "The Last Supper" or "The School of Athens" by Raphael.

Michelangelo's original paintings can be found at Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, da Vinci's at Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, and Raphael's at the Apostolic Palace, also in the Vatican.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 21 at Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets are 13,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for adolescents and 8,000 won for kids. For more information, call (02) 3471-2020 or visit www.frescoart.co.kr

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young

재외한국청년미술제 U.S.B.

Works by artists between cultures

 

You Sun, a Korean artist who currently lives and works in New York, often receives some unintended responses from Americans when she holds exhibitions there.

"No matter what kind of work I show, some simply understand it as a work of 'Korean style.' I usually make my works using colorful vinyl, and some critics said that the pink and light green colors of the vinyl remind them of hanbok. I had never realized that before," You told The Korea Herald.

Including You, 24 young up-and-coming Korean artists who have had similar experiences are showcasing their works at the exhibition "Emerging Korean Artists in the World 2009 - U.S.B" at Seoul Arts Center.

The artists are overseas ethnic Koreans from eight different countries including Germany, Argentina and Japan. Although they have Korean nationality, they are better known in their resident countries and they say that Korea is unfamiliar.

So for them, it is ironic that their unintended nationality provides so much bias to the viewers. The irony continues in Korea, as here, they are once again treated as aliens who are somewhere in between Koreans and foreigners.

It was obvious at the recent press conference, as the press kept on asking, "so does the work reflect Korean sentiments or cultures or not?"

"What exactly is Koreanness? Now is time to compete with art itself and the artist themselves, not with countries," said curator Gu Jeong-won.

As well as meaning memory stick, as a metaphor for the artists who easily travel around the world, "U.S.B" in the title of the exhibition stands for "Urban Nomadism," "Species of Singularity," and "Becoming Gestalt."

With or without any stereotypes concerning the artists' nationalities or current country of residence, however, the 100 exhibits are simply fun, original and sometimes a bit peculiar.

For example, Lee Wonho, who resides in Germany, photographed himself posed in an inverted V-shaped prone position - head and feet rested on books with arms folded on his back. Named "Eolcharyeo," the position is actually used in the Korean military for punishment. Lee said the purpose of the picture was to express how hard it is for an artist to survive in the competitive art market.

Hwang Eunok, resident of France, decided to give a sneak peek of Parisian life, as if in a reality program. In her video "#8 Wrapping bodies project," Hwang and her friends each hid inside black vinyl bags, scattered themselves in the middle of a street in Paris and communicated with curious Parisians.

Other than the interesting status of the artists or the originality of the works, another factor of the exhibition that could attract visitors is that it received the most-ever financial support for a single exhibition - 300 million won ($255,000) - from the government. It is the third most including the Gwangju and Busan Biennales.

The exhibition runs through Dec. 6 at Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Admission is 2,000 won for adults and 1,000 won for students and adolescents. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young

[여름방학맞이 재밌는 전시들] Fun exhibitions open for summer

The scorching sun or the pouring rain can be tiresome, but summer vacation is too short to waste on the couch.

If a trip to the beach is too much, why not head for an exhibition underway in Seoul?

Many are starting this week, from blockbuster shows all the way from far away continents to very Korean exhibitions filled with oriental paintings. The choice is yours. Enjoy!

"Miffy at the Museum"

Our beloved childhood character Miffy has visited Seoul for the summer. Taking place at the Seoul Arts Center, "Miffy at the Museum" is the character's first official show in Korea.

Miffy's creator Dick Bruna, who still draws the character six days a week at the age of 81, displays some of his original drawings. Visitors can also see 2,000 pieces of his earlier work as a book designer before he came up with the hit character.

Korean contemporary artists also participated in this exhibition through reinterpretations of Miffy. Whimsical sculptures, installations and exciting works of interactive media greet visitors.

One-hundred celebrities, including movie director Bong Jun-ho and actress Choi Yeo-jin also designed their own versions of Miffy for the show.

The exhibition runs through Aug. 30 at Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets are 15,000 won. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1705~5.

"Voyage to the World of illustration"

Anyone who has enjoyed fairy tale books will be happy to find hundreds of illustrations displayed at the first floor of COEX this summer.

More than 420 works by 55 renowned illustrators from all over the world are showcased at the exhibition "Voyage to the World of illustration."

The genres vary from fairy tale illustrations to advertisement illustrations.

Most of the participating artists are world-famous, including Anthony Browne, Barbara McClintock, Herve Tullet, John Burningham and Robert Ingpen.

Anthony Browne in particular is popular among Korean mothers. Visitors can find the original drawing of Browne's famous fairytale book, "Gorilla."

The exhibition runs through Aug. 23 at COEX in Samsung-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets range from 5,000 won to 10,000 won. For more information, visit www.illust2009.co.kr or call (02) 6000-0030.

"Funny! Funny! Performance Art Gallery"

"Funny! Funny! Performance Art Gallery" at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts offers a full-course show from looking at paintings, enjoying performances to experiencing various art programs.

With "Light" and "Color" as its basic theme, the show features more than 30 impressionist paintings, a play about Jean-Claude Monet and many playgrounds where kids can learn how to paint like Monet and Georges Seurat.

The paintings at the show are not original but certified copies, so kids can feel free to touch them.

The show runs through Sept. 27 at Sejong Center near Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. Tickets are 15,000 won. For more information, visit www.thinkbridge.co.kr or call (02) 578-0262.

"Hello. Into. Ink, Paper. 2"

If you are tired of all the Western art, how about some Korean paintings for a change?

Hello Museum introduces Korean paintings by seven young Korean artists at the exhibition "Hello. Into. Ink, Paper. 2."

"There are many blockbuster exhibitions for famous foreign artists but exhibitions for Korean paintings are rare. Children only get to learn about Korean art in school. This exhibition can give them a chance to meet Korean art," said museum director Kim Yssac.

"Kids can find it difficult to understand ancient paintings for the first time. So we prepared works by contemporary Korean painters."

The paintings are familiar, easy and fun. Among the exhibits, a nice-looking tiger gives a broad smile, showing all of his bright white teeth. Named "Happy Hoya," this painting can teach children about the importance of health.

Reservations are obligatory to receive a docent tour. It takes about 70 minutes, and is provided by professional curators who majored in art education or children's education. Following the tour, children not only get to see art but participate in various experience programs. The tour is also available in English.

The exhibition runs through Sep. 30 at Hello Museum in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets for the docent tour and full one day experience are 20,000 won for kids and 2,000 won for parents. Regular admission to the museum is 5,000 won. For more information, visit www.hellomuseum.com or call (02) 562-4420.

"Junk Art: From Trash to Green Art"

Samsung Children's Museum will offer the exhibition "Junk Art: From Trash to Green Art" to teach children about environmental protection.

The winning works of the Junk Art Contest, hosted by the Korea Environment & Resources Corporation, will be on display. Art made of various recycled goods such as broken down motorcycles, old bottles and newspapers are original and interesting.

Some of the works will be hidden here and there in the museum to make it more fun for the kids. Children will receive a kit at the exhibition which will help them find the hidden works and also think about the environment. Kids who complete the kit will be given an eco-friendly gift.

The exhibition runs from July 14 to Aug. 30 at Samsung Children's Museum in Jamsil, southern Seoul. Tickets range from 3,000 won to 5,000 won. For more information, visit www.samsungkids.org or call (02) 2143-3600.

"Mommy, Photography is Easy!"

Ever wondered what "limited edition" really means in photography? Gallery Kong is holding the special exhibition "Mommy, Photography is Easy!" to tell visitors many secrets about photography.

Divided into five sections, the exhibition explains from A to Z about color photos, black-and-white photos, printing technologies, know-how in making photography and editions.

The actual works from the gallery's collection by many local and international photographers are used as examples.

It runs through July 31 at Gallery Kong in Palpan-dong, central Seoul. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.gallerykong.com or call (02) 738-7776.

(claire@heraldm.com)

By Park Min-young

[동화책 속 세계여행] Welcome to storybook world

2009.4.16

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Do you remember the last storybook you read?

The exhibition "Voyage to the world of illustration" running at Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong invites you to the world of childish innocence.

More than 450 original storybook illustrations by 65 world-renowned illustrators, including Anthony Browne, Helen Oxenbury, Herve Tullet, and Korean illustrators such as Go Ji-young, Choi Sook-hee and Choi Hyun-mook are on display.

This is the second exhibition of the same title since 2007. Compared with the first time, this exhibition has doubled in size and the number of exhibits. The organizers had to connect two large pavilions to accommodate all the pieces that came from more than 10 countries.

The show spreads out in a winding maze-like space. More graceful than cartoons and easier to understand than complex contemporary art, the showcased illustrations easily catch viewers' eyes regardless of age.

They are not only for kids but also for adults, according to curator Anne Park.

"Most of the artists have already settled down in the commercial illustrations field, so their work is not silly at all. Many students who major in illustrations or design come to see them," Park said.

But the most excited visitors are naturally children. Some intently listen to the stories their mothers instantly make up based on the exhibits. Some run about, clutching a workbook which the exhibition hands out to all kids from three to 12 years old.

Children can make their own illustrations on their workbooks while looking around the exhibition. Aside from the exhibits, the 7,000 storybooks strewn around on the sofas in the "Imagination Library" section would also be good references for the young illustrators.

Various events and classes are offered for children everyday. Some require reservations in advance.

The exhibition runs through June 23 at Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets are 10,000 won. For more information, call (02) 585-9991 or visit www. sangsang2009.co.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[카쉬전] Check out 'Karsh-Look'

2009.3.9

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If you want to be a great photographer, maybe you need the guts to snatch a lighted cigar from the lips of a prime minister.

Yousuf Karsh, considered one of the world's greatest photographers, did. Barely 33 at the time, the Canadian photographer of Armenian heritage snatched a cigar out of Winston Churchill's mouth to record him on the day he had addressed the Canadian Parliament.

"Instinctively, I removed the cigar. At this the Churchillian scowl deepened, the head was thrust forward belligerently, and the hand placed on the hip in an attitude of anger," Karsh reminisced in his book, "Faces of Our Time."

Karsh pressed on the camera shutter. The photo captured Churchill and Britain of the time perfectly: defiant and indomitable. Naturally, the British prime minister was furious, but later said to him, "You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed," allowing Karsh to take one more photo.

That is how the legendary photograph "The Roaring Lion" was taken. It was sold to many reputable magazines, and Karsh soon rose to stardom. Since then and throughout the 60-year career that continued until his death in 2002, Karsh was referred to as the portrait photography master.

To commemorate the master's 100th birthday, about 70 of his representative works, including the portrait of Churchill are displayed at the exhibition "Faces of Our Time," at the Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul.

The exhibition has three divisions. The first part, "Portraits," is the main one. Leading figures of the 20th century like Albert Einstein, Mother Teresa, Audrey Hepburn, Ernest Hemingway, Helen Keller, Pablo Picasso and Jacqueline Kennedy posed for Karsh.

While most photographers at that time had the guests visit their studios, Karsh packed up his cameras to visit their homes or offices. That way, he could adequately arrange the backgrounds using the subject's personal belongings or space to better express their characters.

"He always went through in-depth research about his subjects beforehand, to create photos that reveal not only the subjects' looks but also their occupations and personalities," said exhibition curator Ahn Sun-young.

What is more amazing is that all his masterpieces took three shots at the most, many just a single shot.

"The photos are so delicate that it looks like they have been retouched by Photoshop, which wasn't even there then. Karsh printed the original vintage films much more delicately than we handle digital films now," Ahn said.

Karsh was especially brilliant at using light. He would deliberately darken one-quarter of the photo to make the subject appear more dramatic. This unique style is known as the "Karsh-Look," and is still favored by many photographers today.

In the other two parts of the exhibition, viewers can see the photographer's earlier works, featuring nude models and Canada's postwar years.

The Karsh exhibition runs through May 8. Tickets are 8,000 won for adults, 7,000 won for adolescents and 6,000 won for kids. For more information, call 1544-1682 or visit www.karshkorea.com

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)

[험블마스터피스] New eye for design in everyday life

2008.11.7

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Post-its, paper clips and ball-point pens are not the first things a person usually thinks about when hearing the word "masterpiece."

The exhibition "Humble Masterpieces - Everyday Marvels of Design," now at Seoul Arts Center, however, challenges visitors to look at them in a new light. The free-of-charge show is organized by the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Paola Antonelli, the senior curator of MoMA`s Department of Design and Architecture, visited Seoul on Wednesday to promote the exhibition. Antonelli is known as one of the world`s best design experts, and was recently included in "The Power 100" list of "Art Review."

"Everyday we use dozens of tiny objects, but we do not pay them much attention," Antonelli told the press. "But although modest in size and price, some of these objects are true masterpieces of the art and design, and deserve our admiration."

Antonelli first held the exhibition in 2004 in a warehouse in Queens, New York, while the MoMA building was under renovation. The budget was tight and no pamphlets were prepared, but the exhibition turned out a success. It showcased several times more in the United States and in Europe after that, but this is the first time in Asia.

In an effort to provide visitors with marvelous stories behind these little objects, MoMA did a lot of research.

"Some items with famous back stories were easy to collect, but for some, it took about a year. But it was all worth it," Antonelli said with a grin.

The rule was to pick something that is inexpensive, acquirable somewhere in the world, well-designed, and environment-friendly. It also helps if it has an interesting story behind it.

"When you explain the stories behind them they are even more beautiful," Antonelli said. "Did you know that the hole in the Bic Pen cap is there so that you won`t suffocate when you swallow it by mistake?"

Antonelli said the story behind the "I § NY" logo was her favorite. "I love it because it came out of necessity. In the 1970s, New York was under economic crisis. The city was dirty and there were no tourists. An ad company was hired to promote the city, and there, the famous graphic designer Milton Glaser just scribbled `I § NY` on a paper. The city did not license it, hoping that it could be used everywhere in the world for free."

Antonelli has also found some unique designs in Korea.

"T-money is something I definitely want," Antonelli said. "The suggestion box we put in at the New York exhibition was so overflowing with suggestions that it had to be replaced every three days. Let me know about Korean designs so that I can include them in the next exhibition."

Antonelli expects that this exhibition will be a way people can understand designs from a new perspective.

"People know designs and love designs. You just have to show designs in another way, with respect," she said.

Antonelli has another personal hope. "After seeing the exhibition, I hope children will come home, go into the kitchen and say `do you realize that we have a museum at home already?`"

"Humble Masterpieces -Everyday Marvels of Design" runs through Dec. 31 at the Hangaram Art Museum at Seoul Arts Center. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)