Music and art mingle at Klimt exhibition

Hwaum Project at Alternative Space Loop. Provided by the organizer.

For art lovers, seeing a Gustav Klimt in person may be enough. For others, having a piece of classical music as a “side dish” may add another layer of meaning.

This is exactly what Korea’s Hwaum Chamber Orchestra intended when it launched its “Hwaum Project” in 1993. The chamber ensemble plays existing pieces and new compositions alongside works of art in galleries or museums. In Korean, hwaum means chord. In Chinese, the character hwa means art and um means music.

“I think it’s a perfect name,” said Park Sang-yeon, the group’s artistic director. “It reflects our innovative and futuristic side.”

Over the years, the group has performed at many venues such as Artsonje Center and Insa Art Center, and has worked with more than 40 composers.

The Hwaum Project will work their magic once again for the exhibition “Gustav Klimt in Korea 2009” at the Seoul Arts Center. To accompany Klimt’s “After the Rain” and “Judith 1,” the group will play pieces by Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) and Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951). Schoenberg lived in Austria when Klimt lived and worked there.

“Visitors will be able to feel Klimt in a fresh new way, 100 years later,” said Kim Hye-seon, who is with the concert organizer.

The Hwaum Project will perform every Wednesday from April 15 to May 13 at the Hangaram Exhibition Hall at the Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5. Tickets are priced at 30,000 won ($22). For reservations, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.

By Kim Hyung-eun [hkim@joongang.co.kr]