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Exhibitions and performances to enjoy during the weekend; exploring Hangeul's artistic beauty
  • November 16, 2020

Exhibitions and performances to enjoy during the weekend;
exploring Hangeul's artistic beauty

Updated: 2020-11-13 17:18:42 KST
 
 
It's finally the end of the week and that means our arts and culture correspondent Kim Bo-kyoung is live in the studio to enlighten us about the world of exhibitions and performance.
Welcome to the show, Bokyoung.
The air is getting chilly already which means a hot cup of tea and hitting the museum for an exhibition makes the perfect weekend at least for me.
What do you have for us this weekend?

Hi Conn-young, You know how the Korean writing system Hangeul has received praise for its functionality. Now, it's also been turned into art. Let me give our viewers a peek at an exhibition that explores various aspects of Hangeul, including its artistic beauty.

The Korean writing system, Hangeul, has long been recognized as a language but seldom as a form of art.
While Hangeul dates back to 1443 when it was invented by King Sejong the Great, these days, its design can also be seen as contemporary art.
At Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum in Seoul Arts Center, the exhibition 'The Moment of Gieok' opened this month 'Gieok' being the first letter of the Korean alphabet.
The creation of Hangeul was meaningful as just as King Sejong stated in the 'Hunminjeongeum Manuscript', it helped common people who had difficulty understanding Chinese characters learn a language.
And as if to show that Hangeul succeeded in this regard, a document written by servants from the Joseon period can be seen on display.
Korea's alphabet was also a way for people to show their true identity.
A group portrait depicting 12 Joseon people stranded in Japan due to a shipwreck, is first shown in Korea.
The fact that a poem expressing their homesickness is written in Hangeul, when the original was written in Chinese, tells us how people considered Hangeul as a way to show who they really are.
But these are not the only aspects of Hangeul the exhibition presents.

"Until now, only calligraphy and typography artists have been using Hangeul as the subject of their artwork. But Hangeul can actually be seen as a form of contemporary art design, so we are exploring that aspect."

Contemporary pieces of art using Hangeul consonants and vowels as abstract designs are attracting visitors.
Kim Tschang-yeul's work with Hangeul letters as a backdrop shares a similar concept with that of well-known artist Lee Ungno's paper collages the perfect combination of contemporary art and traditional Korean calligraphy.
Kim Whanki's masterpiece depicts the sound of spring on canvas. And installation art by Oh Inhwan uses powdered incense to show the harmony Hangeul can bring among other letters and numbers.
The exhibition is welcoming visitors until February 2021.

There really must be something about Hangeul as the Korean alphabet has been the subject of many different forms of contemporary art and fashion.
Now, what about for those who prefer musical numbers?

Sure, musical lovers might be interested to hear that 'Notre Dame de Paris' by the original French production team is on at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu District.
The updated version was made to celebrate 20 years since its French premiere in 1998.
Seoul Metropolitan Opera presents one of Puccini's three masterpieces 'Tosca' in Sejong Grand Theater until this Sunday.
Set in Rome in 1800 after the French revolution, the tragic love story reveals the beauty of the Italian composer’s best-known lyrical aria.
Those into classical music won't want to miss piano virtuoso Kun-woo Paik play Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 2 and 4 with the KBS Symphony Orchestra.
Over at the Seoul Arts Center, Park Sang-won stars in a monodrama based on the play 'The Double Bass' by the German writer Patrick Suskind.
At COEX in Seoul, 'Urban Break Art Asia' presents a variety of urban art including London scribbler Mr. Doodle and, for the first time in Korea, work from anonymous graffiti artist Banksy.
And for those who want to stay in this weekend, Seoul Performing Arts Festival brings its 17 shows from this year online on Naver TV for a price of a little less than five U.S. dollars.

As always, thank you for sharing what we can enjoy during the weekend.

Thank you.