Show goes on at LG Arts Center

Yun Yuh-soon,
CEO of LG Arts Center

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Head of LG Arts Center espouses no entry barrier to culture

By Kwon Mee-yoo

When Yun Yuh-soon, 57, was appointed CEO of LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul in January 2011, the news came as a shock. She had been the first female to become an executive at LG Group but she had no experience in the culture-related industry.

A year and half later, she has proven herself by making the theater known for its high-quality programs that offer special and different entertainment.

"When I took this office, I refused requests for interviews. It is not my style to talk about my ambition without any achievements ... It's been about a year and a half and I have sorted out my thoughts - now I know where my organization is and what I want to do", Yun said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

Yun appears elegant but determined and decisive at the same time. She is coping well as CEO of one of Korea's most prestigious theaters but this is her first role in the cultural community.

Yun graduated from Yonsei University and earned her master's degree in English Education and Ph.D. in Instructional Technology from Iowa State University. Before heading LG Arts Center, Yun was senior vice president of LG Academy, a corporate training center for LG Group.

"At first, I was surprised since I thought the position would be for an art expert. But I thought to myself how lucky as I secretly wanted to work in the cultural field", she said.

She was not burdened by the fact that she had to manage an organization without much experience in the specified area.

"We have great employees with expertise and I focused on running an organization as a CEO", she said.

LG Arts Center runs a yearly program called the "Contemporary Music and Performing Arts Season" (CoMPAS). It is known for bringing world-class artists to Korea and stands out in Korea where production agencies still tend to only bring over well-known orchestras. LG Arts Center also diversified the genre of performances staged from classical music and world music to modern dance and plays.

"Bringing in hot, popular contemporary artists or troupes to Korea was not easy, but LG Arts Center made it possible with investments from the parent company, the expertise of the staff and established networking", Yun said.

She recalled staging Japanese director Yukio Ninagawa's "Antony and Cleopatra" written by Shakespeare last November and how she sympathized with his thoughts on art.

"He thinks some artists abuse their power and give audiences headaches. For him, a play should capture the audience's attention in three minutes and remind them of what life is like at the end", she said. "I can't agree more with his idea of art".

Ninagawa is a top director but he was virtually obscure in Korea despite his worldwide name value. "The theater prepared for more than seven years to stage his play. However, ticket sales were not good since he was not known to the general public", she said.

So she asked all her acquaintances to come and they were deeply moved. "It was not easy, but I couldn't forget the show".

LG Arts Center also bridges the gap between international and Korean artists and supports Korean artists abroad. French choreographer Pierre Rigal will present a new piece "Theatre of Operations" with Korean dancers this weekend.

Pansori performer Lee Ja-ram premiered the original piece "Ukchuk-ga" in cooperation with LG Arts Center last year and director Koh Sun-woong is preparing for a new play to be performed at the venue.

The arts center is also known for not giving out complimentary tickets. Those who want to see the show have to buy a ticket, even if it is the chairman of LG Group.

"In Korea, going to the theater was a show of social status a few decades ago. Theater-goers received free tickets from the authorities and greeting people in the lobby was more important than the actual performance", she said. "Since we do not give away tickets, those who really want to see the show come to LG Arts Center and the artists are surprised by the audiences' reactions".

Yun's goal is to attract more people to the performances at LG Arts Center.

"Since we provide such high-caliber shows, some think the place is only for art lovers, but it is not", she said.

She wants to show a different side of life and make people's lives richer by watching a show at LG Arts Center.

"Please come and see a show. There is no entry barrier for coming to LG Arts Center and watching a show can be an eye-opening experience. When you fall in love with the charms of the theater, you can't resist it", Yun said.

Rigal works with Korean dancers

French choreographer Pierre Rigal will stage his new work "Theatre of Operations" at LG Arts Center in southern Seoul, on Friday and Saturday.

Co-developed by LG Arts Center, Compagnie Derniere Minute and Theatre Vidy-Lausanne, it portrays Rigal's feelings on the contradictions of war.

"War is a global issue and I thought it could be used as a dramatic element for a dance piece, though we cannot give the right answer to the question of why humans wage war". Rigal said. "There is a subtle distinction between violence and harmony, and harmony can be found in violent situations. I want to show the paper-thin difference between them".

The dance piece will describe a post-war world where a group of scientists carry out experiments on surviving creatures, neither human nor animal. These creatures will be transformed into something throughout the show.

The stage will be wrapped in metallic fabric to give it a futuristic twist and lighting and sound operators will be also onstage, disguised as scientists in the performance.

Rigal visited Korea in 2010 for a workshop at the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company and was impressed by its dancers. "Korean dancers have great technique, energy, flexibility and a strong will. It was also impressive that they enjoyed dancing", Rigal said.

The 38-year-old choreographer auditioned dancers last November and arrived in Korea at the end of July to rehearse.

Those participating were also interested in working with the Frenchman. Han Shin-ae said Rigal highlighted the characteristics of each dancer. "At first we did a lot of extemporization based on Rigal's ideas or suggestions. I was confused that it was different from dance movements we learned previously", she said. "Now I think what he did goes well with the overall concept of Theatre of Operations".

Kim Sung-won said Rigal makes the dancers understand why they have to move in a certain way, while connecting the movements smoothly in the context of the whole piece.

Rigal has a unique career as a dancer and choreographer. He was an athlete specializing in hurdles but had to give up due to injury. He began dancing at 23 and offered fresh, unconventional movements in his works, including "PRESS" (2008).

After premiering at the LG Arts Center, Rigal will tour 10 cities in Europe with "Theatre of Operation" and the original Korean dancers.

Tickets cost from 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com.