A master’s paintings brought to life on stage

Actors perform in a scene from “Kim Hong-do,” which premiered last December and will run again starting July 8. Provided by The National Theater of Korea

A production detailing the life of legendary Joseon Dynasty painter Kim Hong-do returns to the stage next month in an encore production by the National Theater of Korea.

“Kim Hong-do” will run from July 8 to 16 at the National Theater of Korea’s Main Hall Hae in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul.

The play premiered last December and will be presented once again as the closing performance of the World Festival of National Theater, which will be at the NTOK in October.

Kim Hong-do, also known as Danwon (Kim’s pen name), is renowned as the first late Joseon Dynasty painter to extensively and realistically portray scenes of the daily lives of the common people.

Using the paintings of the legendary painter, the play incorporates traditional Korean music such as pansori (narrative singing) and dance. The production also features projected images of Kim’s paintings to give audiences a deeper understanding of the artist’s work.

The play is directed by veteran Son Jin-chaek and written by playwright Bae Sam-sik, who also produced “Snow in March” together.

“The work will try to bridge East and West in its music to reach both domestic and international audiences,” director Son Jin-chaek said. “The composition of the play, which shows the transition from an imagined world to reality via the paintings, is what makes the play stand out.”

The music will be played live by the National Orchestra of Korea and a group of invited Western musicians.

The play is set in 1850 in Hanyang (present-day Seoul), and follows two friends, Kim Dong-ji and Son Soo-jae, who love the paintings of Kim Hong-do. Together, they embark on a journey to look for the painter.

As the two characters continue on their voyage, scenes and characters from the paintings are brought to life on stage through the projections on the screen.

The paintings that serve as the backdrop are some of the Joseon Dynasty painter’s most acclaimed works, such as “Mudong” (“Dancing Boy”), “Ssireum” (“Korean Wrestling”), as well as the rather obscure piece “Chusungbudo,” which is believed to have been the painter’s last work before his death.

An exhibition in the lobby of the theater that will be open before and during the show will display these and other works featured in the play.

The cast includes two theater veterans. Kim Dong-ji is played by actor Park Cheol-ho who won the Korea Musical Theater Association’s first best actor award in 1996 and Son Soo-jae is played by actor Sung Ki-Yun who won the best supporting actor award at the Korea Musical Awards in 2007.

“This performance is all about the paintings of Kim Hong-do,” said Sung Ki-Yun, who stars as Son Soo-jae in the play. “I hope that audiences will feel as connected to Kim Hong-do’s paintings as I was while I was acting.”

*“Kim Hong-do” will run from July 8-16 at the National Theater of Korea’s Main Hall Hae in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul. The performance starts at 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays and at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets range from 20,000 won to 70,000 won. Go to Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 2 or 6. For more information, call (02) 2280-4115~6 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.

By Chang Hae-wonContributing writer [estyle@joongang.co.kr]

한글 관련 기사 [아주경제]
국립극장 국가브랜드공연 ‘화선, 김홍도’

국립극장은 내달 8일부터 16일까지 국립극장 국가브랜드공연 ‘화선, 김홍도’를 국립극장 해오름극장 무대에 올린다.

‘화선, 김홍도’는 한국적 노래와 춤, 음악, 연극이 어우러진 가무악극으로 국립극장의 3개 전속단체 국립창극단, 국립무용단, 국립국악관현악단이 참여한다.

마당극 및 연극의 대부 손진책 연출, 흥행 보증 작가 배삼식, 대한민국 작곡상에 빛나는 작곡가 김대성, 대한민국을 대표하는 안무가 국수호, 양악과 국악을 넘나드는 엄기영 음악감독, 무대미술 디자이너 윤정섭 등의 제작진이 함께한다.

‘화선, 김홍도’는 김홍도의 그림이 중심이 돼 이야기가 전개된다. ‘무동’ ‘씨름’ ‘나룻배’ 등 김홍도의 풍속화첩을 주요 모티브로 한다.

그림 속 인물들의 이야기와 음악, 춤이 현대적인 무대와 영상 메커니즘과 접목돼 18세기 김홍도의 이미지 세계를 21세기 공연형식으로 새롭게 표현한다.

박철호, 성기윤, 류창우, 왕기석, 정미정, 김금미 등 출연.