Art and Culture

And now it's time for the arts and culture update with our Michelle Kim. I hear she went to an exhibition of artworks from Germany. So let's bring Michelle out to the studio to hear what she has in store for us today

Hello Michelle
[Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young
So tell us about the exhibition you went to.

Advertisement

[Reporter : ] Friday was the big opening day for the "German Now" exhibition at the Seongnam Arts Center. I was able to see a range of German artworks, from historical works to very recent ones, and it was interesting to see the distinct styles of each artist as well as the social and political struggles the country faced in the post-reunification era.


Much has changed in Germany since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Reunification has not only brought about historic changes in the nation's political and financial landscape, it has also had a major influence on its art.

Now, a new exhibition at the Seongnam Arts Center aims to illustrate how artistic styles and techniques have changed over the years.

[Interview : Dimitri Hong, Chief Executive Officer UNC Gallery] "German modern art has changed dramatically after the 90s and one of the main inspirations of the change was the reunification of Germany. During a period of time, critics claimed that German art was in a slump, but after the 90s, the public began to appreciate the traditional German art that infused with a more modern styleThe reason why we chose to hold this exhibition in Korea was that German art is not widely known here as it is in the U.S. or in Europe so we wanted to introduce the hottest German artists to the Korean public"

As Postmodernism took over in the 90s all over the world and the public distanced itself from the art world, the Leipzig School in Germany injected a renewed vitality to the art scene in both Europe and the United States with its direct yet artistic portrayals of society.

The painters of the Leipzig School had already gained fame in Western Europe in the 60s, with their realistic portrayals of fear, lust and the sense of helplessness felt by the German people.

These honest depictions of society allowed the public to more easily relate to many of their artworks, therefore increasing the desire for German artworks around the worldl.

From photographs to installation pieces, the exhibition offers a wide range of artworks for art lovers to enjoy.

Showing these artworks in Korea, the only divided country, conveys a meaningful message to Korean society.

The exhibition continues until September 2nd.

JUL 10, 2012

Reporter : dainee@arirang.co.kr

Art and Culture 2

It seems like the artworks convey some serious themes. Could you tell us a bit more about your experience at the exhibition[Reporter : ] Well, one thing I really liked about it was that the artworks were displayed according to era. My favorite painting was the most recent artwork by a 29-year-old German artist raised in the period after the fall of the Berlin wall. Given the political climate in the country when he was growing up, it seems he was influenced by capitalism and new media, which I think is something I was able to relate to most.

That sounds very interestingso what distinguishes him from the other artists in the show[Reporter : ] Well he paints people wearing very frightening masks, in order to portray the inner emotions of modern day man. I really liked that about his art, in contrast to the other ways the other artists in the exhibition depicted people.

Intriguing. But it seems like there is a variety of work on display for people who want to see many different styles, right[Reporter : ] Definitely. And visitors can also learn about the history of Germany by going through the exhibition, which I also thought was great.

That sounds interesting. And moving on, what else do you have for us[Reporter : ] Switching gears,.. I have an update on a concert tour that will continue across Asia for the next 4 months. Actor and singer Jang Keun-suk took the stage in Seoul on the 7th, when the tour officially began. Follow me for details on his concert.

Actor and Singer Jang Keun-suk kicked off his Asian tour in Seoul on July 7th, a date that also represented his 20th year in the entertainment business.

"The Cri Show 2" kicked off with a crowd of 3,500 fans, many who traveled to Seoul from all across Asia.

[Interview : Jang Keun-suk, Singer and Actor] "I don't want to be an entertainer who performs a pop show. The concert will be the one and only place where I sing songs with the stories I want to share. I also composed some of the songs myself. I'm confident about 'The Cri Show 2'."

Although his musical talent has already been recognized in Japan, with several top-selling singles and a newly released album called "Just Crazy", fans in Korea are not completely used to seeing him as a singer.

So for Jang to show off his musical talents in his home country was a significant event.

[Interview : Jang Keun-suk, Singer and Actor] "In South Korea, I'm working hard to pursue an acting career but now it's most meaningful that I am finally able to hold this concert in my homeland".

His tour will continue for 4 months, after which he will move on to hold concerts in Japan, China, Taiwan and Thailand.

The 25-year-old singer-actor made his debut 20 years ago as a child model and rose to stardom with his hit drama "You're Beautiful" in 2009.

JUL 10, 2012
Reporter : dainee@arirang.co.kr

Art and Culture 3

I remember seeing him on TV when he was young. It's so strange, and pleasantly surprising, to see what a successful entertainer he has become.

[Reporter : ] I know, and I hear that people in Japan absolutely adore him after his drama "You're Handsome" became popular there. I am very jealous he has become this successful at such a young age!

Well,.. it looks like his tour will be a success and I wish him all the best in the next four months as he tours Asia. And now to wrap things up, you have the events bulletin for us I believe[Reporter : ] Yes I do. There are three concerts coming up this month. Signer Yi Sung Yol is up first with concerts July 11th to 14th, British jazz-funk band Shakatak takes the stage on the 19th and K-pop group MBLAQ performs in Seoul on the 21st and 22nd. Here are the details.

[Reporter : ed: jenny] This bulletin features 3 events

Singer Yi Sung Yol will be holding a concert from July 11th to the 14th at Olympic Hall Muse Live. Yi made his debut in 1994 with the album "Nothing's Good Enough" and won the award for Best Modern Rock album at the 9th Korean Music Awards.

British jazz-funk band Shakatak will perform in Seoul at Ax-Korea on July 19th. The group was the one of the leading jazz/funk bands in Britain in the 80s. Its list of hits includes "Maniac and Cool", "Something Special", "Easier Said Than Done" and more.

K-Pop group MBLAQ brings its "BLAQ Tour" to Olympic Park on July 21st and 22nd. The concerts are part of the group's Asian tour, which began in Indonesia on June 30th and included concerts in Thailand and Singapore. The tour wraps with concerts in Japan and Taiwan.

Thank you for the update.

[Reporter : ] My pleasure.

JUL 10, 2012
Reporter : dainee@arirang.co.kr