President Laurent Mareschal Explores Innovative Fusion of Traditional and Modern Sounds

Courtesy of Pohang City

In the heart of Nantes, Stereolux, a prominent cultural hub, draws 160,000 visitors annually. President Laurent Mareschal, known for seeking innovative art forms, is turning his attention to traditional Korean music for the Les Nefs Nantes festival in collaboration with the Korean culture festival Printemps Coreen.

Scheduled at Les Machines de l'Ile, Nantes, the event will be led by E’ Joung-ju, a geomungo player, as part of the Printemps Coreen. Mareschal aims to showcase Korean traditional music with a modern twist and is actively seeking artists who can contribute to this creative fusion. 

▲ Courtesy of Pohang CityIn an interview with The Korea Times on Nov. 9, Mareschal expressed his eagerness to bring non-European music to the event. He emphasized a preference for sounds that deviate from his accustomed musical palette, citing a fascination with the geomungo, a traditional Korean six-string zither with both stringed and percussive qualities.

Mareschal's focus on Korean traditional music over globally popular K-pop, represented by stars like BTS and BLACKPINK, stems from his appreciation for the unique vitality of traditional instruments. He believes that a single genre should not define a country's music, noting that Korean music extends beyond K-pop to encompass a rich variety.

Stereolux, established in 2011, houses two performance halls and an exhibition space. Committed to nurturing emerging talent, the cultural hub supports approximately one in three local artists from Nantes. Mareschal emphasized the profound role of art in human life, stating that it goes beyond infusing vitality into daily routines and adds an intriguing dimension to existence.

Highlighting the connection between humans and art, Mareschal noted that people across the globe, whether in Korea or France, seek to enhance the beauty of their lives through various art forms. He believes that art allows individuals to dream and anticipate the future, fostering hope and the ability to dream about something.

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Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com