Renowned Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman is making his Seoul debut this week with his visually stunning contemporary dance work "Hammer," performed by GoteborgsOperans Danskompani at the LG Arts Center Seoul. Known for his signature blend of visual audacity and theatrical flair, Ekman aims to captivate audiences while provoking deep reflection on human nature and social connection.

"I'm a showman," Ekman declared during a press conference in Seoul on Wednesday. "I love a great show. I love entertainment. But for me, good entertainment means holding your attention. It's not about a specific genre or style; it's about the ability to keep your focus for a full performance, which is very difficult these days, especially now with our phones and all our concentration issues."

Ekman has built his reputation on creating works that blur the boundaries between performance art and spectacular entertainment. His previous productions have featured jaw-dropping visual elements: "Play" filled the stage with approximately 60,000 green balls, his interpretation of "Swan Lake" flooded the performance space with 5,000 liters of water, and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" transformed bales of straw into a surreal landscape that shifted between dream and nightmare.

"I always try to do what I myself want to see when I go to the theater," he explained. "When I go to the theatre, I want to be surprised, or wild, or captured by whatever is happening on stage."

Now one of the most sought-after choreographers by major theaters and dance companies worldwide, Ekman began his career in ballet before revolutionizing the contemporary dance landscape. After making his choreographic debut at just 21 years old with the Cullberg Ballet, he has gone on to create acclaimed works for prestigious companies including Nederlands Dans Theater, the Royal Swedish Ballet, and the Paris Opera Ballet.

"Hammer" itself is described as a high-energy, visually arresting piece that explores the complex relationship between altruism and egoism. "We often say, 'That person has such a big ego.' But what does that actually mean?" Ekman questioned. "When someone's ego becomes very cemented, when we're firm in our opinions, it becomes hard for us to meet, to connect, to exchange information. So the hammer is there to break the ego open."

Katrin Hall, the artistic director of GoteborgsOperans Danskompani, views "Hammer" as perfectly aligned with her company's mission to reflect contemporary society through dance. "We're a contemporary dance company with big ambitions," Hall stated. "We want to be a leading voice in our field. That means taking risks."

Hall emphasized her commitment to working with choreographers "who can move, touch and inspire both the audience and the dancers, who make us all think and reflect." She believes "Hammer" exemplifies this vision, noting that "it's exactly the kind of piece that represents our vision."

Having first collaborated with Ekman when he was just 24 years old, Hall has witnessed his remarkable artistic evolution. "He's developed enormously since then," she observed. "He's now one of the leading choreographers in the world, and this piece truly aligns with our artistic direction."

According to Hall, the power of "Hammer" lies in its sophisticated layering of meaning. "Yes, it's entertaining on the surface, but underneath that entertainment, there's a serious, thought-provoking subject matter," she explained. "That's something I consider essential – to confront the audience, to provoke reflection."

Following its Seoul performances at the LG Arts Center, "Hammer" will continue its Korean tour with shows in Busan scheduled for November 21-22, bringing Ekman's unique artistic vision to audiences across South Korea.