Explore the Blue House with ‘Bluhaus’ live music and performances

Arts & Design

Published: 08 May. 2024, 14:34 Updated: 08 May. 2024, 14:34

Explore the Blue House with ‘Bluhaus’ live music and performances

Performers for "Bluhaus," an immersive arts production held at the Blue House's main building every Wednesday through July 10 [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

A series of art, music and media art performances will take place every Wednesday at the Blue House starting this week through July 10, under the title “Bluhaus,” to celebrate the second anniversary of the former presidential accommodation's opening to the public.

The “Bluhaus” series — co-organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Cheong Wa Dae Foundation, which oversees events held at the Blue House — is an immersive production consisting of a variety of arts including traditional Korean music, dance, jazz and instruments held in tandem with the “Handshakes for Freedom” exhibition.

“Handshakes for Freedom” showcases summit diplomacy efforts from the last two years in the sectors of science, technology, national security, culture and industry by mixing diplomacy records with media art. Large portraits of state heads, generated by AI, and diplomatic gifts they gave will be on display as part of the exhibition.

The collaborative “Bluhaus” production will allow guests to experience stories of ordinary people who became historic figures as their individual destinies and monumental events intersected at landmark points of history, according to the Culture Ministry.

Visitors will be greeted by a fictional character named Cheonghoin after they step in the main building’s central lobby. After watching a video art installment, the audience will be encouraged to explore the Blue House’s main building while performers play music and dance.

″Bluhaus″ will consist of a variety of arts including traditional Korean music, dance, jazz and instruments. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

The 45-minute “Bluhaus” production will start at 8 p.m. Up to 70 people can preregister for the production on the Blue House’s website on a first-come, first-served basis. Up to 30 spots will be held for walk-in reservations, which will be open until 7:50 p.m. on the day of each performance.

Ten-minute performances that do not require reservation will also take place on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. on the main building’s second floor.

“The production was planned with the aim of making the Blue House’s unique space vibrant through performance so that the place could become a more welcoming and friendly space to the audience,” Kang Nak-hyun, the director of “Bluhaus,” said.

“A variety of arts from different genres were combined to create a humorous atmosphere in which the audience can connect to the stories of those whose lives consisted of taking on challenges,” Kang added.

The Blue House first opened its doors to the public on May 10, 2022, after President Yoon Suk Yeol moved the presidential office to Yongsan District, central Seoul.

It has since hosted a string of cultural events to celebrate its second anniversary, including “Children Drawing Hope,” an exhibition of Ukrainian children's art, and a concert on Tuesday.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]