Art and Culture

And now it's time for our daily arts and culture update with our Michelle Kim. It's almost summer break for pre-teens and teens here in Korea and I hear that Michelle will tell us about something the whole family can do together.

Hello Michelle

[Reporter : ] Hello Conn-young

What do you have for us today

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[Reporter : ] It's almost summer break for elementary school students and the theaters are flooding with animated films featuring animal creatures for families to enjoy. These cute cartoon creatures go through amazing adventures that families with children are sure to enjoy.

Amongst all of the foreign film offerings is a Korean film starring another creature from the sea.

"PADAK" tells the story of a mackerel who escapes from a sushi restaurant. The story is told from the mackerel's perspective and sees him attempting to rescue his friends.

[Interview : Lee Dae-hee, Director] "When you're sick and tired of life, I hope this movie can help you remember the fish flapping their bodies to survive".

You know, kids here in Korea are so busy with homework at such an early age, I feel like a family outing to the movies could be a great way for them to release their stress.

[Reporter : ] Me, too. When I was a kid, I used to be out at the playground all the time and our family used to travel a lot as well. It really wasn't like it is now, with all the emphasis on education. So I really hope these animated films can really give these children a good two hours of fun and relaxation with their parents and friends.

I really hope so as well. And now, moving on, I hear you have something for people in their late 20s and 30s[Reporter : ] Yes, I do. Most women have ideas about how they want to get married or who they want their partner to be. Now, a new exhibition ongoing at Gallery Toast in Bangbae-dong, aims to portray the worries and thoughts of single women in their 30s. It's just one of the exhibition previews I have for you today.

A worker with a stable job, a good-looking man with a Ph.D, and a humorous gentleman.

There seem to be a lot of men around, but no one seems to propose.

This woman goes to her friends' weddings, but never seems to catch the bouquet.

The artworks in this exhibition at Gallery Toast aim to portray the concerns of single women in their 30s who face constant pressure from their families to marry.

[Interview : Cho Jang-eun, Artist] "I tried to give new meaning and new energy to the realistic worries of single men and women living in this world".

Somewhere, someone determined the perfect age range for marriage. Although these people in their thirties have not met their significant other, they are moving on, striving to fulfill their dreams.

A tangle of thread painted in shades of red, blue and yellow
blends in exotic ways with the dense aluminum board.

With these intertwined threads, the artist wanted to portay the sad reality of North and South Korea to express the idea that although the two countries share the same blood, they cannot be together.

[Interview : Ahn Hyong-nam, Artist] "Just as North and South Korea are separated because they are too close to each other, I wanted to portray the sad history going on right now".

The artist's love for the Korean race and the longing of the Korean people is conveyed through his paintings and sculptures.

As a woman, I feel like I can relate to this exhibition, I'm sure it gets really stressful when your family, relatives, and even your friends sort of nag you about when you're going to get married.

[Reporter : ] But really, who made up this rule about the best age for marriage for women Haha, I agree with you on that one. But I do feel like it would be a great exhibition for single men and women to see just to enjoy the artworks. And now to wrap things up, you have the events bulletin, right

[Reporter : ] Yes. Multi-talented msican Mark Kozelek will be coming to Korea on the 20th, the Seoul Live Music Festa will be held in 6 venues around Hongdae for one night, and Ulala Session will have its first tour, starting with concerts in Seoul on the 25th and 26th of August. Here are the details.

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

Singer-songwriter-guitarist Mark Kozelek will be performing at the NH Art Hall on July 20th. He deubted as a singer in 2002 with the album "Down Colorful Hill". Later, he demonstrated his acting skills with cameos in the films "Almost Famous" and "Vanilla Sky".

Hongdae is the nexus of indie culture in Seoul and will play host to an indie music festival later this month. The Seoul Live Music Festa on the 28th takes place in 6 venues around the neighborhood, including Rolling Hall, Sound Holic, Freebird, Evans Lounge, Jammers, and Lydian.

After winning the top award on the hit reality audition program "Super Star K", Ulala Session will hit five cities across the nation in its first concert tour. The tour, named "The Beginning", will start in Seoul at Olympic Park's Olympic Hall on the 25th and 26th of August. From there, the band moves on to Busan, Gwangju and Daejeon, and the tour ends in Daegu.

Thank you for the update

[Reporter : ] My pleasure.

Reporter : dainee@arirang.co.kr