I dropped by Andong, on the way to go Gyeongju and visited Andong International Maskdance festival by chance. It is historic festival, more than 20 years long, since 1997.
It's first visit to Andong and I haven't even known this festival before, but It was more wonderful than I've expected.
Especially, most of the performance are free and only some receive admission fee.
What is 탈[Tal]?
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탈[Tal] is Korean traditional mask. Here are many Tals on this image.
It has religious meaning, expel the evil spirits by shamanism.
On the other hands, it is used to a kind of Korean traditional opera or musical, 탈춤[Tal-choom].
Actors on this musical wear different masks as their role, 양반탈[Yang-ban-Tal], 각시탈[Kak-si-Tal], and so on. The sculptures on the image on the top, shows each actor's 탈[Tal].
The facial expression is really funny, isn't it? The musical is also sarcastic and humorous while sneering caste system in old Korea, JoSeon Dynasty.
Andong is famous for which 탈[Tal]?
Andong is famous for 탈[Tal], especially 하회탈[Hahoe-tal], it is Korean representative mask.
It looks like laughing loudly and blessing that's why most of Korean likes it.
If you want more, look over this page.
하회탈[Hahoe-tal] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hahoetal
What I see on Andong International 탈춤[Tal-choom, maskdance] Festival
A stadium for International Maskdance
On this stadium, performs various international mask dance, around Japan, Vietnam, China, Turkey, etc. Unfortunately, I don't have enough time, couldn't see the performance. By hearing outside, it would be nice.
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Sculptures on the festival
The place for the festival is originally 탈춤공원[Tal-choom-gong-won, Tal-choom park]. It has many sculptures. Most of them are Korean Tal sculptures, and somethings looks like mask of Latin America or East-South Asia.
VIDEO: The Performance of 모내기 [Mo-nae-gi, planting rice plant]
It's video for the 모내기[Mo-nae-gi, planting rice plant] performance on outdoor stage, which means planting rice plant by Korean traditional method. Korean was tribal society for each village, people in the village cooperate when planting rice plant in spring. This performance express the way of 모내기.
VIDEO: Korean traditional Orchestra, 사물놀이[Sa-mool-nori]
It's Korean traditional Orchestra, 사물놀이[Sa-mool nori], make harmony with four instruments. I was impressed the players are enjoying the music and others are also joyfully dancing with them.
I also had concert when I was teenager. So I was very familiar with this rhythm and very excited. Maybe even it is the first time to here, you are addicted to the rhythm for minutes.
Why Andong International 탈춤[maskdance] Festival is special?
I was impressed that the actors for the performance are almost seniors. In Korea, the hero of the festival generally young people. In Andong International 탈춤[maskdance] Festival, the order performs by expressing their entire life. It was fresh stimulation in a way and deep impression to me. Even if I have short time seeing this festival, it was great.
Taxi driver said, "If you came Andong, you must go 탈춤[maskdance] festival, you will never regret to visit."
Period of Festival
Unfortunately, the festival for 2017 is already end up.
It was on 2017.9.29 ~ 2017.10.8
If you have a plan to visit Andong on 2018 and later, look over this official web page.
http://www.maskdance.com/eng/main.asp
There are detail information for the festival.
Experience and commemorative
You can experience some traditional arts like hand painting to ceramic. also buy some high quality souvenirs.
You can take pictures with them
I wonder what they are doing, and come closer to them. 3 people wearing 탈[Tal] have break time lying and seeing over the sky. Even wearing raincoat, she looks like astonished, so cute 탈.
Why don't you take pictures with this cute 탈?
