From a wide-ranging look at Korean music, art, TV and dance to a new production of an acclaimed Olivier Messiaen song-cycle to an outspoken political comedy, there is a lot to see and do in the Bay Area this weekend and beyond. Here is a partial roundup. Are you the type of person who’s psyched about the next season of “Squid Game”? Can you never get enough of pop groups like Blackpink and Katseye? (Not to be conflated as pinkeye.
) Even if not, anybody should have a blast soaking in white-hot Korean culture at the Asian Art Museum’s new show, “Hallyu! The Korean Wave.” The globe-traveling exhibition presents almost 200 objects and artworks from South Korean life, including music, film, art, fashion, food and fandom. Taken together, these things are known as “Hallyu” and, if you haven’t noticed, they’ve spread over the world like an experiential tsunami.
The show has production sets where you can pretend to be in a K-drama, and a virtual dance instructor who teaches you bouncy K-pop choreography. There are costume artifacts from Psy’s “Gangnam Style” video and Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” movie, as well as samples of saekdongot, Korea’s bright, stripey traditional garb. A mirrored optical illusion allows you to take selfies atop a Seoul skyscraper, and there’s even a playlist of essential K-pop hits to listen to on your phone, for fans who want to continue the fun after the show.
Friday through Jan. 6; Asian Art Museum, 200 Larkin St., San Fran.
