Presenting ‘Experimental Art’ Leading the Era

"Last year, as the first event, there were some shortcomings, but about 75% of the seats were filled, and several performances were sold out. I hope this year will also be a season centered around Sejong Center for the Performing Arts where people can have new experiences." (Ahn Hosang, President of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts)

Sejong Contemporary Season 'Sync Next 23' at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, which presents experimental and challenging works leading the contemporary era, will be held from the 6th to September 10th at Sejong S Theater. This year, Sync Next will showcase a total of 33 performances by 12 teams over 67 days. Along with music performances in various genres such as indie, R&B, trot, electronica, and rock, it will offer new artistic experiences that transcend conventional notions of stage performances, including street dance, installation art, and stand-up comedy.

In particular, the Sejong S Theater, where Sync Next is held, is a notable variable black box theater with non-fixed stage and seating. Through the variability of the stage, it is expected that artists will be able to newly establish the relationship between performers and audience based on their own imagination.

The opening performance of 'Sync Next 23' is the contemporary dance piece Mom-euro Momhanda ("Body Does with Body") (7.6~7.8). It is a stage weaving together three categories proposed by choreographer Kim Jaeduk?'Body Does with Body,' 'Body Speaks,' and 'Body Draws'?to explore contemporary dance and the body. Leading choreographers in the Korean contemporary dance scene such as Kim Jaeduk, Kim Mia, Kim Bora, Barinamo (Kim Bari, Joonamo), Sung Changyong, and Mool (Jo Hyeongjun, Son Minseon) participate together.

Monica, who participated as the leader of the crew Proudman in Mnet's 'Street Woman Fighter' Season 1, which sparked a street dance craze in Korea, will present Sswin Jeok Eomneun ㅅ ("The Unused ㅅ") (8.18~8.20) with electronic genre-based vocalist and producer CIFIKA. Together with the dancer group Proudman led by Monica, they will powerfully and sensually express emotions about the repetitive daily life of 8 billion people.

The contemporary dance new work Grimento (9.7~9.10) by director Jung Guho and choreographer Kim Sunghoon will close 'Sync Next 23.' Director Jung Guho, who has attempted modern reinterpretations of tradition through works like Ilmu, Sanjo, and Mukhyang, presents a sensuous modern aesthetic set against a gray classroom. Choreographer Kim Sunghoon creates dynamic yet restrained movements using desks and chairs as objects with 16 dancers. The piece expresses the theme of school violence through the language of the body, delivering a profound resonance to the stage and audience.

DJ and producer 250, a hot topic figure receiving intense attention from domestic and international critics and music fans, sold out the first solo stage Ajikdo Moreusinayo ("Still Don't Know?") (7.15) as expected. 250 fully dedicates his 30s to the album Bbong, showcasing a unique blend of kitschy yet sophisticated musical colors and ironic sensibility, fully unfolding on the theater's grammar.

Indie band Nerd Connection, popular among young audiences, will present a collaborative performance Terrarium (8.12~8.13) with media artist Z1 (Hyun Jiwon). They plan a visualization project that collects emotional messages from the audience before the performance and blooms them as flowers on stage. Their two-day performance also sold out early amid audience anticipation. The performance Wae Naega Neoui Chingurado Malhaji Anneun Geosinga ("Why I Don't Say I'm Your Friend") (8.8) by artist Lee Rang and artist More, known for their spectacular stage performances, also joined the sold-out lineup. Their voices, reciting daily life and art, abandonment and attention, are expressed in print through media, and the after-party following the performance is expected to leave a deep impression on the audience.

The most prominent aspect of this year's program is the richer variety of music genres. Seo Samuel, a singer-songwriter and musician known as a musician's musician covering R&B, soul, and hip-hop, and sign language artist Jihutree will present the lyrical yet charismatic stage Geureomyeon Sarang Yaegineun Nuga Haji ("Then Who Talks About Love") (7.28~7.30). In this era where love seems to have disappeared, they will communicate with the audience through their own romantic sound and gestures.

Alternative pop band Inalchi will present their first solo domestic concert Hihihaha (8.3~8.5) after recruiting new members. This standing concert offers a closer encounter with Inalchi, who will participate in major domestic and international festivals this summer, including the world-renowned performing arts festival WOMAD.

Seong Siyoung, a piri player of the Seoul Metropolitan Gugak Orchestra and member of the music group Namu; Lee Ilwoo, leader of the rock band Jambinai; percussionist Hwang Minwang; Kim Jihyun, saenghwang player of the Seoul Metropolitan Gugak Orchestra; and gayageum player Yoon Jihyun will present the crossover stage Gwanggwang, Gwenggweng (8.15), connecting past and present through light and sound.

Artist Baek Hyunjin, who has shown diverse facets and unique charm across film, drama, music, and contemporary art, will present an experimental play Baek Hyunjin Show: Gonggaebangsong ("Baek Hyunjin Show: Public Broadcast") (9.1~9.3) featuring the band 'Baek Hyunjin-ssi.' The performance combines music, performance, stand-up comedy, short skits (a type of very brief sketch comedy named by the writer), installation art, and video art to create a new type of stage.

Director Lee Jinyeop of the theater company 'The Elephants Are Laughing,' known for immersive performances combining community and place stories, attempts the first indoor performance of Muljil ("Substance") (7.20~7.23). A water tank filled with water appears in the center of the venue, and the audience sits around it on all four sides, experiencing a connection as one in front of the waves they face. Director Bae Yoseop of the research group 'Gungliso Mutda' will also present the first stage of the long-prepared creative project Uju Yangja Maeum ("Quantum Mind of the Universe") (8.24~8.27) at 'Sync Next 23.' Inspired by the improvisational nature of art and quantum mechanics, this work explores the principles of numbers in the universe and the beauty of nature, expressing them through language and gestures on stage.

This year, Sync Next also offers a partnership playlist with Spotify to provide audiences with a new dimension of performance experience. The exclusive 'Sync Next 23 Playlist' on Spotify features music curated directly by the participating artists of 'Sync Next 23.'

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