Carlos Saura Film restrospective - Seoul Cinematheque - Dec 16 - 31, 2008

See Cinematheque website for screening details.
After the Carlos Saura retrospective, there will be a Sam Fuller film retrospective til Jan 18, 2009.
Seoul Cinematheque is located near Insadong, in the Nagwon Arcade Building, 4th floor. (That's the strange old concrete building that straddles the road, containing all the music shops).

"Television 12" art cafe-Exhibition and jazz party - opening Dec 24, 2008

What: Art exhibition for 13 Korean artists.

When: Art Exhibition Opening - Wed. Dec 24, at 7pm.
Followed by Xmas Eve party - live acoustic jazz + cocktails - Wed. Dec 24, 10pm to midnight.
Exhibition continues every day through to Jan 04, 2009. Cafe hours: 11:00 a.m. - late.

Where: Television 12 cafe, near Hongik University, Seokyodong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. (see map & directions below). This is a nice art cafe to hang out in, nice design and spacious with some English language art books and magazines to read, fresh art on the walls, gallery upstairs, and offering a good range of tea, coffee, light food.

Contact: 02-3143-1210 (yes, they speak English)

email : televisioncafe@gmail.com

Directions:
Closest subways: Sangsu subway, Exit 2 - walk towards Hongik University front gate, and take a right when you get to the Starbucks corner. Television 12 is about 20 meters down the small street.
Or come out Hongik University Subway exit 5, walk to Hongik University front gate turn right and then take a left at Starbucks.
Click map to enlarge:

"Be-In" - Winter of Love 2008 - art + music, 1000/60 Art n Design Space, Hongdae, Seoul

What: "Be-In" art exhibition and jazz music performances. 2008 Winter of Love.

When: Dec 19 - 31 (excluding Sundays) 3:00 - 9:00 pm

Where: 1000/60 Art 'n' Design Space, Hongdae (see map & directions below)

Contact: 02-716-1163

email : T9play@naver.com

Websites : http://www.1000-60.com/
http://www.seosooc.net/
















Directions: About 1 klm from Hongik University on the main road towards Sinchon. After you pass the Sanwoolrim Theater, go over the railway bridge, and go down the steps at the left and the 1000/60 Space is just there.
Closest subway: Line 2 (Green line) Hongik University (Exit 4), or Sinchon (Exit 8).

Seoul Arts Center - "Humble Masterpieces" from the Museum of Modern Art, New York

What: a range of famous design icons from daily life. Did you know that Salvador Dali designed the logo for Chupa Chups?
When : daily til Dec 31, 2008 (not Monday Dec 29)
Where: Seoul Arts Center, Hangaram Design Museum
Time: 11.00 - 19.00
Ticket Price: free
Inquiry: 02-580-1495



Travel directions: Subway line 2 Seocho station , exit 3, or Line 3, Nambu terminal station, exit 4 or 5.
For detailed travel directions see SAC transport webpage
More info: Seoul Arts Center website

Click to enlarge info box below:

"New Generation Art Fair" Hongdae, Seoul Dec 17 -31

There is an opening at Sangsangmadang Arts Center, Hongdae on Wed night, Dec 17 at 6pm for 100 young artists in the "New Generation Art Fair". It's an exhibition across many venues in Hongdae running until Dec 31.


See website (Korean only): www.sangsangmadang.com



To get to Sangsangmadang Art Center, the closest subway station is Sangsu Staion (Line 6) exit 4, or Hongik Subway (line 2) exit 5).





See location map below.(Click to enlarge)

'Alegria' Cirque du soleil Seoul finishes Dec 27, 2008

Alegria - Cirque du soleil, Seoul finishes Dec 27, 2008.

"Alegría is a mood, a state of mind. The themes of the show, whose name means "jubilation" in Spanish, are many. Power and the handing down of power over time, the evolution from ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth—it is against this backdrop that the characters of Alegría play out their lives. Kings' fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats and children make up its universe, along with the clowns, who alone are able to resist the passing of time and the social transformations that accompany it."

See Cirque du soleil website
Last minute specila! 10% discount on 4pm weekday matinees! Dec 18 (Thur), 19 (Frid). Tickets start at 50,000 won. Call Interpark for English ticket booking service on 02-6923-5700

"Rare" Hongik University Painting department open studio, Dec 15 - 20

Hongik University Art Department (Painting) has an opening night for the exhibition of all students' end-of-year work next Monday evening, Dec 15 at 6pm.
The open studios are in F building, rooms F401,403,405, Seoul campus.
The exhibition continues through to Dec 20.

"I am an artist" Young Korean artists 2008, National Museum of Contemporary Art -til March 8, 2009

I Am An Artist
National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea
Through March 8, 2009
Entry fee: 3000 won

The Young Korean Artists 2008 exhibit features works by promising artists such as Sang Seok-ho, Kim Si-won, Wee Young-il, Lee Jae-hoon and Che One-joon.


Challenging and inspiring - it's worth the trip down to Seoul Grand Park to see this mixed media show. Especially noteworthy is the powerful installation and painting work of female Korean artist, Safranski Mackerel. (see image below)










Also showing until Dec 7, is a retrospective exhibition by famous Korean painter - Son Sangki.

For more information visit www.moca.go.kr or call (02) 2188-600002. The National Museum of Contemporary Art is located near Seoul Grand Park (Subway Line 4). For those who don't want to walk through the Grand Park to the Art Museum there is a shuttle bus every 20 mins from Exit 4 of the Seoul Grand Park subway.

Blake's Shadow: William Blake and his Artistic Legacy - Exhibition at Seoul National University Museum of Art

Date : November 14, 2008 - February 14, 2009
Venue : Museum of Art (MoA) at Seoul National University
Time : 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Tuesday through Sunday)
Tickets : 3000 won
For more Info. : 02-880-9504
Website : http://www.snumoa.org/


Directions
The MoA is located to the left of the main gate of Gwanak Campus, Seoul National University. Take the subway or a bus to the main gate and walk through the staircase of the amphi-plaza on the left of the gate. If you are driving, you can use the university parking lot (parking fees applicable).

Transportation
Bus: 5511, 5512 (previously 413), 5513, 5516 and 5518
Subway: Seoul National University Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, Exit No. 3 (use school shuttle buses, city buses (5511–3) or taxicabs)

* For more information regarding transportation, please refer to www.snu.ac.kr website.

Parking
Use the Grand Stadium Parking Lot or designated parking spots on campus.
Hours of operation: 00:00–24:00 (parking fees is applicable depending on time)
Parking fees: minimum 1,500 Korean won/30 min, 500 Korean won per 10 min thereafter.

Contact
Tel: 880-9504 / Fax: 886-9502
Administrative Office: 880-9503-5 / Curatorial Office: 880-9506-9
E-mail: info@snumoa.org
Address: MoA (Museum of Art, Seoul National University), San 56-1, Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742

34th Seoul Independent Film Festival, Dec 11 - 19

What : The 34th Seoul Independent Film Festival
When : Thursday, December 11st ~ Friday, December 19th, 2008
Where : IndieSpace, Sponge house, Joong-Ang Cinema, Myeongdong
Check out the SIFF website in English at: www.siff.or.kr/indexeg.php

MEDIA PRISM - Digital Media Design Graduation Exhibition, Dec 1 - 5, 2008, Bundang.

The graduation exhibition for Hongik University College of Design and Arts is being held at Korea Design Center at Bundang (Gyeonggi - 분당).
It's located near Yaktop station (subway, Bundang yellow line) - near Sungnam bus terminal. It's about 40 mins from Seoul downtown.



If you're interested in media art, communication design, installation etc. you can visit the website where you can see photos of all the student works. http://m-prism.com/
The website is in Korean (3 students did it as a graduation project) but, main navigation points are in English. Just click to close the pop-up poster on the first page to reveal the entry portal.



The exhibition is open everyday Monday Dec 1 to Friday Dec 5. until 10 pm except Friday. The exhibition finishes on Friday so it will be closed early around 4 pm on Friday Dec 5.







Click the map below to enlarge:
Korea Design Center, Bundang

Yaiza Nicolas - Exhibition opening Tue Dec 2, Gallery Van, Seoul

The Van Gallery is located 500m from Sinchon subway station, just around the corner from the Ssamzie Space in Hongdae. See map.

Scrapyard Challenge art project workshop, SangsangMadang, Hongdae Nov 27-29

Some New York artists are in town, Jonah Brucker-Cohen & Katherine Moriwaki and they gave a talk at Hongik University at Jochiwon campus about their upcoming public workshop.
There will be a free artist's talk at Gallery SangSangmadang in Hongdae on Thursday Nov 27 at 7pm.

The Scrapyard Challenge Workshops are intensive workshops where participants build simple electronic projects (both digital and analog inputs) out of found or discarded "junk" (old electronics, clothing, furniture, outdated computer equipment, appliances, turntables, monitors, gadgets, etc..) The MIDI Scrapyard version includes a mini workshop where participants build simple drawing robots or "DrawBots" with small, inexpensive motors, batteries, and drawing markers that can also be connected to Serial or MIDI interface. At the end of the day or evening, the workshop participants have a small performance, concert, or fashion show where they demonstrate and present their creations together as a group. No electronics skills or any experience with technology is necessary to participate in the workshops.

Scrapyard Challenge Workshop
SangSangMaDang Gallery, Seoul, Korea
November 27-29, 2008, 10am to 7pm
Today (27th Nov 7PM) there is an artist talk from Janah and Katherine. Please come to listen, if you have time.

From Nov 28, you can join the workshop as a participant or as an observer.
(There is fee to participate this workshop, from Nov 28 it will cost 100,000 Won for two days.
or you can just come by and see what is going on for a while as a observer.)

Contact:
Park Sohyeon (Soni)
Gallery Sangsangmadang
+ 82 (0)11 9922 7308 (Cell)
+ 82 (0)2 330 6224 (Office)
soni@ssmadang.co.kr

Go to www.scrapyardchallenge.com
or see http://blog2.sangsangmadang.com/gallery/category/English

Opening Live Lecture by John Bock 21 November 2008 6 p.m., Arko Art Center, Seoul

John Bock : 2 handbags in a pickle
22 November 2008 - 8 February 2009

Exhibition
"PARA – SCHIZO, ensnarled" Arko Art Center
Exhibition
"Films & Videos", Insa Art Space


Arko Art Center, Arts Council Korea
100 Daehakro Jongno-gu Seoul 110-766 Korea
http://www.arkoartcenter.or.kr

Insa Art Space, Arts Council Korea
90 Wonseo-dong Jongno-gu Seoul 110-280 Korea
http://www.insaartspace.or.kr





Press Opening November 21 2008 5 pm., Arko Art Center

Opening Live Lecture by John Bock 21 November 2008 6 p.m., Arko Art Center

Friday Film Screening 5 p.m. on every Friday from 5 December 2008 until 6 February 2009 Insa Art Space

Wide Floor Talk "Your Existoform" 12 December 2008 2 – 4 p.m., Arko Art Center


Arts Council Korea(ARKO)'s Arko Art Center(AAC) and Insa Art Space(IAS) introduce the solo exhibition and new production of John Bock first in Asia (b. 1965, based in Berlin).

This project was initiated from new film commission by ARKO to the German Artist, which is realized as 40 min. – long two channel video "PARA – SCHIZO, ensnarled"(2008) through an intense, organic collaboration throughout an yearlong period of time. In this project, the two institutions made their first joint venture of integrating two functions by the needs of each work phase. IAS performed itself as a production collaborator whose role was an intimate team player with the artist on the actual production site. AAC, as a communicating and distributing agent of the production, framed the artistic context of John Bock and the process of collaborative production by means of artwork presentation, artist archive composition, public talks and screening programs.

The whole project is composed of exhibitions at two venues, John Bock's live "lecture", a screening program of the artist's cinematic videos, and an accompanying workshop programs. The exhibition at AAC centers around a new film, "PARA –SCHIZO, ensnarled" that incorporates objects, performance, sculpture, costume as well as video. A live lecture is held on the opening day at the exhibition gallery. The exhibition at IAS features a selection of eight single channel videos and runs a separate screening program on every Friday for four long cinematic films by John Bock.

John Bock's New Film, "PARA – SCHIZO, ensnarled"(2008)
40 min., 2 channel video, PAL
Director_John Bock
Produced and presented by Arko Art Center and Insa Art Space of the Arts Council Korea
Courtesy_ Klosterfelde, Berlin; Anton Kern, New York

The work of John Bock is shaped in the process during which the intervention and action of the recipients become real and the energy generated in the interplay takes the form. His new production is the result of dynamic collaboration between two "handbags", the artist and institutions, artist (Germen film crew) and Korean film crew.

"Para – SCHIZO, ensnarled" is a sequence of situational frames that move along the principle of emotional and formal symmetry. It shows two figures who, leading two separate paths of quest in parallel, converge, clash, destroy and reproduce each other in a cycle of mutual interplay. Corresponding to this double narrative, the video is also formed in two channels, and the images and words in each channel are intricately composed as to be divided into a half or synchronized into a symmetrical whole. Each fragment of scene, while retaining the particular quality of John Bock's videos in its sensuous imagery, charged plot, dramatic action and poetic lines, are connected in a complex and multi-layered structure.

The exhibition title "2 Handbags in a Pickle", referring to John Bock's vocabulary, means two microcosms that are situated in another higher level of universe(system, individual, organism, structure, etc). The two immanent elements formulate an absolute, abstract symmetry, but never imply a certain relative values. John Bock sees the two elements as equivalent two's that generate energy in a series of mutual interrelationship between the two variations. What is essential for the artist in these two opposing elements is to observe dynamic mechanism of the relationship, in which each element develops an interaction, evolves and transforms respectively into a mutant. These two elements run as maintaining the parallel to each other, but also can be converged, intersected, and connected into a cycle of circuit. The structural aspect of these two elements therefore is transmittable and porous, not rigidly bipolar. Since this title is an archetypal sign that can be interpreted diffe rently in multiple kinds of contexts, it can be applied to, for example, to Korea's political situation, our general social relationship, our body - beings as a biological structure, the notion of self as psychological and philosophical existence, and even the relationships between the two art institutions.

John Bock does not make an artwork to represent a certain subject, but rather designs the project so that it can perform the subject in total. The metaphor of "two handbags" is repeated and expanded like an echo from the external level between the two institutions, through the internal level within the museum between the two gallery spaces, to another internal level inside of his own works between his object and performance, his performance and video, his video and installation. Each handbag, while also being a schizophrenic mutant running parallel, is "ensnarling at each other" within a Pickle of John Bock, that in turn cannot help but being another structured (pickled cucumber) microcosm instead of a raw cucumber.

For more information about the project and accompanying programs, please visit the website of AAC and IAS.

Platform Seoul 2008 exhibition til Nov 23, 2008

This contemporary multimedia international exhbition is held at a range of venues across Seoul - including the Art Sonje center, the old Seoul Station etc.


Click here to get a full program and guide maps to venues (PDF files)







Exhibition Period
25 October – 23 November 2008

Opening Time
11am–6pm (entrance until 5pm)
Closed on Monday

Admission Ticket
Artsonje Center:
6,000 won / student 3,000 won
Seoul Station Old Bldg.:
6,000 won / student 3,000 won
All Exhibition Pass:
10,000 won / student 5,000 won
Program Single:
6,000 won / Student 3,000 won
All Program Pass:
30.000 won / student 15,000 won
Free Admission Ticket:
40,000 won / student 20,000 won
* Free admission to all the exhibitions and programs except Great Journey of Princess Bari 2008 by Musical Theatre Baramgot

– Free Entrance in other galleries except Artsonje Center and Seoul Station Old bldg.
– University/college students included the discount fare

Docent Tour
Artsonje Center:
2pm / 4pm (Tue–Fri)
12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 pm (Sat, Sun)
Seoul Station Old Bldg.:
Daily 11:30am – 5pm
Every 30 minutes

Venues and Participating Artists

Artsonje Center
T. +82.(0)2.733.8945
– Salvador Dalí
– John Cage / Kim Soun Gui
– Kang-so Lee
– Jeppe Hein
– Tino Sehgal
– Jooyeon Park
– Vito Acconci
– Trisha Brown
– Dan Graham
– Allan Kaprow
– Robert Morris
– Bruce Nauman
– Yvonne Rainer

Gallery Yemac
T. +82.(0)2.720.9912
– Kim Soun Gui

Gallery SUN contemporary
T. +82.(0)2.720.5789
– Martin Creed
– Angela Bulloch

Kukje Gallery
T. +82.(0)2.735.8449
– Xijing Men (Gimhongsok, Tsuyoshi Ozawa, Chen Shaoxiong)
– Surasi Kusolwong
– Jan Fabre

doART Seoul
T. +82.(0)2.2287.3500
– Marina Abramović
– Xu Zhen
– Markus Schinwald
– contact Gonzo
– Dan Graham
– Keitetsu Murai

PKM Gallery
T. +82.(0)2.734.9467
– Luis Jacob

Weibang Gallery
T. +82.(0)2.720.8222
– Peter Fischli / David Weiss

Songwon Art Center
– Koki Tanaka

ONE AND J. Gallery
T. +82.(0)2.745.1644
– Ujino Muneteru

GaGallery
T. +82.(0)2.744.8736
– Manon de Boer

Lock Museum
T. +82.(0)2.766.6494
– Thoma Vuille

Seoul Station Old Bldg.
– Dong Koo Yun
– Jae Eun Choi
– David Lamelas
– Navin Party (Navin Rawanchaikul & Tyler Russell)
– Akira Takayama
– Hwayeon Nam
– Janet Cardiff
– Tino Sehgal
– Yang Ah Ham
– Gilbert & George
– Kim Soun Gui
– Kang-so Lee
– Play
– Saburo Murakami
– DaDao Live Art Festival
– Action in China
– Sora Kim

Contact
Artsonje Center
www.artsonje.org
T. +82.(0)2.733.8945
SAMUSO:
info@platformseoul.org
T. +82.(0)2.739.7067 / F. +82.(0)2.739.7069

The Circle - multi-media performance by KoPAS

What: A non-verbal image performance staged by the famous Korean group KoPAS (Korean Performance Art Spirit).





When: December 5-7, 2008
Time: Friday Dec 5 at 7.30 pm, Sat Dec 6 at 4 pm and 7.30pm, Sunday Dec. 7 at 4pm (running time - 60 minutes)
Where: Nowon Art Centre. (tel. 02)3392-5721~5) (see map below)
Cost: 20,000 won (full), 10,000 won (concession)
Contact: KoPAS (02) 323-6812


Map to Nowon Arts center:

Juliette Clovis - French pop artist exhibition - Art Monde Art Center, Gallery VIEW, Seoul

What: Juliette Clovis - French pop artist exhibition
Where: Art Monde Art Center - Gallery VIEW, Changjeondong, Mapogu, Seoul, (opposite Ssamzie Space - near Hongik University). See map below.
Dates: 2008.10.27(mon)-2008.11.27(thu)
Website: www.artmonde.com


Click map for larger view:

The Next of Russian Art - exhibition Gallery Loop

Exhibition: The Next of Russian Art

A collection of works from contemporary Russian artists - sculpture, installation, painting, photography, video.

Where: Gallery Loop, Hongdae (see map below)


When: Opening Nov 7 - Nov 28


Website: www.galleryloop. com








Click on map for larger view

SSamzie space - Danish artists group AVPD- exhibition opening and talk

On Friday November 7, at 4.30 pm at Ssamzie Space there will be an artist's talk by Danish interdisciplinary art group AVPD.
The exhibition opening is at 6pm, Friday Nov 7 and will continue until Dec. 31, 2008.

AVPD have innovative approaches in dealing with space, and their interdisciplinary work crosses boundaries between architecture, design and fine arts. They present 5 new multimedia installations expressing their view on human perception/ space/ and the real/virtual.

Ssamzie Space is located in Changjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul. (Not far from Hongik University)
Tel: 02 3142-1693
Website: www.ssamziespace.com
Email: ssamziespace@ssamziespace.com
See map for directions:

Gwangju Biennale finishes November 9.

You have only 7 days to see " Annual Report: A Year in Exhibitions", the 7th Gwangju Biennale.

Travel Note: You can get to Gwangju easily from Seoul by KTX in under 3 hours. A one-day trip is very possible. There are free shuttle buses running between Biennale venues.

Under the artistic direction of Okwui Enwezor, (and co-curated by Hyunjin Kim and Ranjit Hoskote) the exhibition is “a report on the distribution system of artistic and cultural forms and a reflection on the intermediary gap between artists, producers, practitioners, and audiences.” Annual Report includes 127 artists from 36 countries, visit the Gwangju Biennale 2008 website for the complete list.

The Biennale is developed around three components: On the Road, a series of exhibitions from 2007 and 2008; Position Papers, a series of curatorial proposals and experiments by curators working in Southeast Asia, North Africa, South Korea, and the United States; and Insertions, a series of new and independent projects, either commissioned specifically for the biennale or invited as proposals into the exhibition framework. The Biennale spans five venues: Biennale Hall, Gwangju Museum of Art, Uijae Museum of Korean Art, Cinema Gwangju, and Daein Traditional Market.

You can watch a video in English about the exhibition here:
www.gwangju-biennale.org/2008gb/eng/about/Movie.html

According to the website:
“The importance of the Gwangju Biennale is, at least, twofold: on the one hand, it is one of the key international cultural institutions to emerge from Korea’s unique modern, national, and historical experience, and linked to the dynamism of Asia in the 21st century…At the same time, the Gwangju Biennale has evolved into one of the few pioneering international exhibitions to engage in the task of analyzing the impact of globalization on the field of contemporary art, and to challenge an older system of international exhibitions based on the outmoded system of national pavilions. In so doing, Gwangju Biennale has provided the space in which to explore the changing nature of international artistic networks, and to examine new modes of artistic subjectivity and conditions of contemporary cultural production that extend beyond national borders or focus on regional modes of identification.”

Gallery LOOP exhibition-opening Oct 17, 6pm

Just to let you know that there is an Art Exhibition opening this Friday Oct 17, 6pm at Gallery LOOP, Hongdae.
The artist is from India - Justin Ponmany, and he uses installation, photos and painting with holographic pigments.
The exhibition runs from Oct 17 to Oct 31, 2008.
Free entry.
See website: www.galleryloop.com

See location map below (nearest subway station Hongdae - green line) :

Seoul International Media Art Biennale - Turn and Widen

A highly recommended contemporary exhibition:-
Seoul International Media Art Biennale - 'Turn and Widen'
Venue: Seoul Museum of Art (near City Hall)
Date: 2008. 09. 12 ~ 2008. 11. 05
Cost: Free entry
This media-based exhibition has something for everyone - from fun interactive computer and video art to thought-provoking installations. Entry is free so you can visit as many times as you want to experience the different aspects.
For details see the website:
www.seoul.moa.go.kr
You can see a 6 minute video introduction to the exhibition at Art on TV website by clicking on Art On View.

'Candle night' Solstice festival Seoul, June 21

On June 21, Summer solstice, the Korean Women' s environment network will host a "Slow Life" festival in Seoul.



See the Candle night website


Date: Saturday June 21
Time: 6pm - 10 pm
Place: N Seoul Tower (Namsan) Square

Candle workshops, exhibitions, environmentally friendly lifestyle information, unplugged concert by candlelight.
Please email Miwon at: kwen7944@hanmail.net

MODAFE-International Modern Dance Festival in Seoul

The 27th International modern dance festival (MODAFE 2008) is held from May 27 - June 7, 2008.
Top overseas and Korean artists will present a range of performances and seminars.
The program includes some interesting interdisciplinary pieces from international choreographers such as David Zambrano, Jan Fabre, Benoit Lachambre and Philippe Combes.

You can see the performance schedule on the MODAFE website .