요즘 저의 삶은...
꽤나 롤러코스터를 타고 있는 듯한 날들의 연속입니다.ㅋ
하루 비가 막 쏟아졌다가 또 며칠 해가 쨍쨍한 날씨부터 시작해서...
들쭉날쭉한 통장잔고,
회사 내에서의 지각변동,
1년만의 기러기 가족의 합체까지!ㅎㅎ
그러고 보니 블로그 방문자 수도 200명쯤 되었다가
어제는 갑자기 7천명이 넘었다가 지금 와보니 오늘은 또 2천명 대인..ㅋㅋ
(이건 정말 무슨 일인지 모르겠다는 ^-^;)
정신없긴 하지만...그래도 지루한 나날들 보다는 역시!
저는 다이나믹한 삶이 좋습니다 >▽< 히히히
내일은 주말!ㅎㅎ
다들 즐거운 주말 보내세요♥
일본에 실제로 있는 롤러코스터라네요 +ㅁ+
완젼 재미있을 것 같다는!!!!! 꺄아~~~
안데르센의 동화 "백조왕자"...
만약 막내 공주가 오빠들을 구하지 않기로 결심했다면?!
아니면...
하이힐 굽이 말 다리라면?!ㅋㄷ
Fun sculptures let imaginations run
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In Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale "The Wild Swans," the princess knits clothes with nettles picked from graveyards to free her brothers-turned-swans from their evil stepmother's curse. The original story, of course, ends with a happy ending where the princess and her brothers - who all return to human forms except for the last one who retains one swan's wing instead of an arm - all live happily ever after.
But what if the princess had suddenly decided not to rescue her brothers?
At the exhibition "Funny Sculpture! Funny Painting" underway at Gallery Sejul, visitors can find out what might have happened next.
This is the 8th installment of the exhibition, which the gallery has held every summer to support young and talented artists. Nine Korean sculptors and painters showcase their whimsical works this year.
Among the artists, sculptor Sohn Jung-hee is the one who imagined the twist in Andersen's story.
She made a sculpture of the princess lying on her stomach with a mischievous smirk, holding eleven leashes.
The princess had not freed her brothers but instead leashed them while they were still in the form of swans. The poor brothers, not knowing what to do, are panicking.
"She decides to keep her brothers as pets. Sohn wanted to tell the story about a girl who knows how to take advantage of others' weaknesses," said curator Lee Soo-kyung.
Kim Min-hyung, another sculptor, added tiny horse legs on women's shoes instead of heels.
"One day when I saw a woman running in her high heels, the image of a horse crossed my mind. The looks and the noise of the heels resembled a horse's hoofs," the artist said in a statement.
The shoes are lined up as if they are in a chic boutique but ironically and amusingly, looking from behind, they just look like a bunch of horses lined up in a row.
The exhibition runs through Aug. 14 at Gallery Sejul in Pyeongchang-dong, central Seoul. Admission is 3,000 won for adults and 2,000 won for students. For more information, call (02) 391-9171 or visit www.sejul.com
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
Artist turns classics into fantasy
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About forty years ago, a teenager had to give up his dream of becoming a baseball player due to injury. To cheer him up, his father sent the boy to learn from a famous Korean painter who lived next door. The painter was Lee Sang-bum, one of Korea's most celebrated artists.
Slowly but passionately the boy discovered his talent for art. After learning from Lee for six years, until the teacher passed away, the boy was ready to create his own style of art.
The lucky boy was Suk Chul-joo, who is now an artist famed for his experimental Korean paintings.
Perhaps it was the dramatic event at an early age that made Suk so open to everything -- from art materials or themes to even fashion. The artist, who will turn 60 next year, still dresses and looks as if he is only in his late forties.
"I have to grow my beard to look old," he said with a chuckle, in a press conference this month.
Although Korean painting is one of the most conventional genres of art, Suk was at pains to diversify the themes. He showcased the "masked dance" series in the 1980s, "pottery" series in the 1990s and his "plant image" series in the early 2000s.
Another notable thing about his art is that he uses western acrylic paint for his Korean paintings instead of the Chinese black ink.
"I create images on the canvas by erasing it, not filling it up. You can't erase Chinese ink because it soaks into the canvas. That's why I use acrylic paint. It has been more than 20 years since I started to use the material," Suk said.
He first paints the canvas with different colors of acrylic paint and erases parts of it with white paint or water. The point is to do everything before the paint completely dries out.
So the artist has to lift the gigantic canvases up and down to let the water flow well, stand up and crouch down to paint -- for eight to 10 hours straight once he starts working.
"My style of work requires lots of labor. For that, I went through knee surgery two years ago and had to quit working for several months last year because of my aching shoulder," he said.
The results of the hard labor can be found at his solo exhibition currently underway at Hakgojae Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, Seoul.
This exhibition, showcasing about 50 of Suk's paintings, is divided into two sections -- one which represents fantasy and another which represents reality.
In the first section, visitors can find the latest versions of Suk's famous fantasy-like landscape paintings. He has strikingly reinterpreted classic masterpieces by the old masters of the Joseon Dynasty including An Gyeon's "Scenery in dream."
Painted in pastel tone colors, Suk's "New Scenery in dream" appears closer to a fantasy land than the original, which was done in black Chinese ink.
The other section showcases paintings more grounded in reality, such as ceramics or green fields.
Suk used a more aggressive form of his erasing method for these paintings -- he scraped some of the paint off for delicate depictions of the grass, for example.
"The spaces that appear while it is being erased, I think those are what we call 'the beauty of the margin' in oriental paintings," he said.
The exhibition runs through Aug. 20 at Hakgojae Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul. The gallery is closed from Aug. 1 to 10. For more information, call (02) 737-4435 or visit www.hakgojae.com
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
Museum presents 'ethical clothes'
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With fashion trends changing by the minute, even during the worldwide economic crisis, many no-so-rich fashion addicts have only one choice: fast-fashion. Led by Zara, H&M and Mango, fashion brands started to provide cheap but extra trendy clothes that would last for usually just a single season.
The plan -- to buy a skirt, enjoy it for the season, throw it away and buy another one next year -- sounded perfect, until fast-fashion's harmful effects on the environment were revealed. Clothes, which are usually made of synthetic fiber, can take forever to degrade.
As an alternative, the Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art is hosting the exhibition "Fashion Ethics 'Wear Good.'"
It is the second of the museum's cross-genre exhibition series that seeks new artistic possibilities through interactions with genres other than pure art. The first was on architecture.
From six different countries, fashion designers, contemporary artists and even architects got together to present some "ethical clothes" at the current exhibition.
"'Ethical Fashion' refers to clothes made of organic fabric or recycled materials, or those that are produced with third world labor recruited through fair trade. It has recently become a key issue in the fashion industry," said exhibition curator Hwang Rock-joo.
The pavilion looks like something in between a fashion show and a contemporary art exhibition. Most of the exhibits are fanciful, but no more than the designer-labeled clothes are on runways.
French designer Ana Paula Freitas made bags and dresses made of recycled aluminum can lids. They were all handmade by ladies from a local community in Brazil named "The Cia Lacre."
The silver shiny bags were so perfectly sewed -- complete to the inner pockets -- that people would probably never guess that they are looking at a bunch of can lids unless they were told.
Mark Liu from England showcased his "zero waste designs." Realizing that 15 percent of fabrics are wasted just in the cutting process of making clothes, he decided to create a design that uses 100 percent of the prepared materials.
"I noticed that eastern designs like Japanese Kimono or Indian Sari doesn't waste any of the fabric. I tried to create something like that in western styles, something that also have contemporary looks," Liu said at the press conference last week.
Pure white wedding dresses displayed at one corner of the exhibition will catch the eyes of many young women. Lee Kyung Jae made them of alternative fiber from eco-friendly materials such as corn or nettle.
Some designers gave ethical and modern touches to Korean traditional designs. Shoe designer Lee Kyum-bie is one of them. Lee transformed Korean traditional straw sandals into sophisticated high heels.
An actual fashion show was held at the opening day of the exhibition.
Twenty-six amateur models consisting of artists, critics and professors such as artist Nancy Lang and photographer Jeong Yeon-doo, strutted down the runway wearing their own ethnic clothes.
The exhibition runs through Oct. 4 at Gyeonggi Museum of Art in Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. For more information, visit www.gmoma.org or call (031) 481-7007~9.
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
사실 정통 패션쇼와는 거리가 먼 패션쇼였어요.
재활용품이나 자투리 원단을 사용한,
아니면 공정무역으로 만든 옷이나 신발, 가방등을 전시하는
일명 "윤리적 패션" 을 보여주는 쇼!
경기도 미술관에서 열고 있는 "패션의 윤리학" 전시의 오프닝때 한 거랍니다.
전시장 중 일부의 사진이예요.
저도 경기도 미술관은 처음 가봤는데,
(광화문에서 왕복 다섯시간 걸렸습니다 ㅠ-ㅠ 안산이 그렇게 멀줄이야;;;)
꽤나 큼지막한 공간이 여러 곳이 있는데,
다들 신기한 옷과 가방, 신발등으로 채워져있습니다.
정말 한 눈에 봐도 "윤리적" 패션 임이 티가 나는 것들도 있는 반면,
절대 티 안나는! 바로 백화점에서 팔아도 될 것 같은 옷들도 있었어요.
패션쇼에 참여한 낸시랭.
꼭 프로페셔널 모델이 아니라
미술인, 교수, 사진작가 등 유명인사들이 모여서
자신들만의 "윤리적 패션" 을 선보이는 쇼였는데요,
어머니의 20년 넘은 옷을 입고 나온 분도 계시고,
직접 만든 옷을 입고 나온 분도 계시고..
낸시랭 옷은 사실 딱 보기엔 특별히 윤리적일 것 같다는 느낌보다는
그냥 백화점에서 산 옷 같이 보였는데..나름 다 윤리적인 사연이 있다고들 하네요 ^-^
아, 낸시랭 바로 뒤에 있는 저 부풀어오른 드레스는 신문지로 만든 것!!!
작품들 중에 개인적으로 이경재 작가의
재활용 가능한 무공해 천연 원단으로 만든 웨딩드레스가 눈길을 끌었는데 +_+
사진이 안올라가네요;;흑
무용가 홍신자 교수는 덩실덩실 춤을 추며 나오심. ㅋ
그 외에도 사진작가 정연두 그리고 변정수씨 등도 패션쇼장에 등장하셨답니다 +_+
전시에 대한 자세한 설명은 앞으로 나올 기사 참조 >▽<
소수자의 설움이 많이 느껴졌던 전시.
가장 인상깊었던 것 중의 하나:
북한여권을 가지고 있다는 이유만으로
스파이 취급을 당해야했던 유학시절을 들려준 재일교포 김애순작가.
참다못해 남한여권으로 바꾸고나니 인간대접을 해주시더라는 -_-
본인은 분명 똑같은 사람인데,
사실 종이 조각에 다름 없는 여권이 본인을 정의한다는 사실에 화가나서
두루마리 휴지에 본인의 북한과 남한 여권을 번갈아 찍으셨대요.
하나하나 일일이!
그렇게 만든 두루마리 휴지가 백개도 넘는 듯 했어요.
영국에서 전시했을 땐 실제로 화장실에 설치해놓고 관람객들이 사용하게 하셨다네요.
Korean Diaspora paints against discrimination
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Millions of Koreans were displaced to foreign countries since the mid-1860s. The peak was during the Japanese colonization from 1910 to 1945 when many were forced to work overseas. The emigrants and their descendants currently living in China, Japan or central Asia, who number roughly seven million, are what we call today the Korean Diaspora.
The National Museum of Contemporary Art organized the exhibition "Korean Diaspora Artists in Asia" to empathize with them through their artworks.
More than 180 paintings, sculptures, photos and installations by 31 Diaspora Koreans who had to leave the country between the mid-19th century and the mid-20th century are on display.
"We hope viewers can empathize with the artists' sensibilities, which were built through the hardships they underwent while living as outsiders," said curator Park Su-jin.
The exhibition is divided into three sections - Japan, the Commonwealth of Independent States, China - and each section is organized chronologically so that visitors can feel like they are traveling in different countries as well as in time.
Although they are all Koreans, their artworks show completely different tendencies based on the cultures they grew up in.
Artist Cho Yang-gyu's works are the first ones that visitors will meet in the Japan section.
Cho, who was a teacher in Korea, was smuggled into Japan in 1945 in opposition to the establishment of the government. Contrary to his expectations, he lived as an outsider there, doing physical labor. Disappointed, the artist sailed into North Korea in 1960 wanting to fit in, but it is not known what happened to him after that.
"We don't even know how he died. The artist is not even included in the artist dictionary North Korea publishes," the curator said.
The workers with black faces sitting droopingly in front of a warehouse in his painting implies the hard life Cho had lived, not being able to adjust to any society.
The younger generation of contemporary artists living in Japan, also expresses confusion about their identities.
"I have many friends, Korean and Japanese. They all ask me, 'Why do you stay in Japan and suffer as a 'gyopo'?' Yes, I am one of the minorities, but I think everyone, in some sense, is a minority somewhere. It could be for many reasons, like for being a woman, old, or young," said artist Kim Young-suk.
Kim realized this when one of her friends, a Korean resident in the United States who used to work for one of the world's top investment banks, told her about the glass ceiling at her work that she could not break, due to being Asian.
To complain about the discrimination and also to express how much Westerners and Easterners share in common, Kim thought of rice.
She collected rice from all over the world - from Bangladesh to California. By using a magnifying glass, one can take a closer look at each type of rice and also read the tiny explanations Kim wrote about them.
"In the eyes of westerners, all Asians might look the same, but if you look closely, by holding up the magnifying glass, each one of us is unique," Kim said.
Another Korean artist residing in Japan, Kim Ae-sun revealed the mortifying experiences she had while studying in England, on toilet rolls.
It all began when she took her North Korean passport to England. Her action did not have any special reasons - she simply had to get a Korean passport for her first-ever flight, and it happened to be a North Korean one. It was a natural thing for the gyopos living in Japan. But others did not seem to think so.
"Everyone treated me as if I was a spy or something. I had to go through all kinds of inspections. I could not take it anymore, so I changed my passport to a South Korean one. Unbelievably, everyone started to treat me like a normal person," Kim said.
Kim could not understand why a piece of paper, which was nothing more than toilet paper to her, could define her. To prove that she was always the same Kim Ae-sun despite the different passports she had, the artist printed the images of both her passports on toilet rolls.
In a previous exhibition in England, she even installed the rolls in actual toilet stalls so that visitors could use them.
The second section shows paintings by artists living in the Commonwealth of Independent States. The works do not show a significant trend but have diverse tendencies.
Among them, Kim Sergei's "Cage" depicts Korean workers, some dressed in prison uniforms, busily working under surveillance of the local police behind green bars. Taking a step back, viewers will be surprised to see that the green bars form a gloomy face. The painting makes you wonder who is really behind the bars.
Most artists living in China painted portraits, as the country often used them for educational purposes. It is only recently that the Korean artists there started to diversify their paintings to better express their confusion about their identities.
Artist Piao Guangxie's humorous series of "humans floating in a pink bubble" signifies the suffocating modern society where individuals cannot easily find their true identities.
A weird thing about the works showcased in the last two sections: Despite the artists' possible resentment toward the countries, most of the workers that appear in the paintings have smiles on their faces.
"It is because the artists lived in socialist countries. They were educated that labor is always a good and beautiful thing," explained the curator.
The exhibition runs through Sep. 27 at National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Admission is 3,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2188-6000 or visit www.moca.go.kr
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
-자전거 정책 개요,
-지방자치단체들의 개별적인 노력 (공용 자전거 대여 등)
-자전거 산업 육성 약속
-국제적인 자전거 축제 주최방안
-BUT 문제점들 -_-
[Green Growth: Korea's New Strategy (61)] Making Korea a bicycle-friendly nation
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The following is the 61st in a series of articles focusing on the Korean government's "green growth" strategy. The series will also introduce the increasing efforts of major advanced countries to promote a green economy. - Ed.
By Park Min-young
Skyrocketing prices and air pollution are suffocating Korea. While there seems to be no easy solution, bicycles are regaining popularity.
The government says it is devoted to making the nation bicycle-friendly.
"Bicycles are a partner of green growth. A green way of life is the call of our times. Reinstating carbon-free bicycles as a major means of transportation is a must," President Lee Myung-bak said in his bi-weekly national address broadcast via radio in April.
The remarks came amid the government's nationwide drive to promote one of its so-called "Green New Deal" projects. Based on the national vision of "low-carbon, green growth," the main points of the project are to establish more bike paths nationwide, improve safety for riders and nurture the related manufacturing industries.
The Ministry of Public Administration and Security announced in January that it would complete a 3,114 km bicycle-only network of paths by 2018.
All 12 metropolitan cities and provinces, and 80 districts will participate in this 1.25 trillion won ($956 million) project.
Three-meter-wide paths will run throughout the country. Starting from Haengju Bridge over the Han River, a circular route will pass Incheon west of Seoul, go down along the west coast to Mokpo in South Jeolla Province and complete the circuit via Busan, Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province and Goseong in Gangwon Province.
That circuit will be connected with other bicycle paths that are currently under construction by different local communities.
The government is also pushing for a road development plan to create more space for bikes. Bicycle parking lots will be made available, and some roads will be smoothed out for riders' safety.
For these projects, the ministry plans on investing 124.5 billion won every year until 2018, funded 70 percent from the national budget and 30 percent from local budgets.
This year alone, 69 billion won is earmarked for about 170 kilometers of model cycle lanes.
"The bicycle paths will ... make the use of green transportation more prevalent in our society," said Jeong Chang-seob, assistant secretary of the Administration Ministry.
Officials also expect that the infrastructure projects will create jobs and help residents of less developed areas to vitalize their local business by attracting bike riders.
"We expect that this project will produce ... 8,268 in total," Jeong said.
Support from local administrations
Only 1.2 percent of commutes are done with a bicycle in Korea, in comparison to 14 percent in Japan and 10 percent in Germany. The government aims to raise the percentage to 5 percent by 2012 and 10 percent by 2017.
Some local communities have already joined in the government's efforts to encourage commuters to use bicycles.
Busan city announced on July 14 that it will install bicycle-only cars in the city's metro line number three.
The decision came after research showed that although 32.9 percent of Busan's citizens own bicycles - a percentage nearly two times higher than the nation's average of 16.6 percent - only 1.2 percent cycle to work.
Assuming this is caused by bumpy roads and Busan's many hills, the city's administration decided to designate some subway cars for cyclists.
The pilot project will run from September.
Changwon city in South Gyeongsang Province launched the NUBIJA plan, a public bicycle rental system, last October. The name is an abbreviation for "Nearby Useful Bike, Interesting Joyful Attraction."
One-thousand two-hundred bicycles are placed at 101 NUBIJA terminals in the city so that its citizens can easily have access. As of July 15, about nine months after its launch, more than 22,000 people have registered as members. Nearly 13,000 bikes are picked up every day.
Daejeon is another city that is also running a public bicycle rental system. The city recently showcased its unmanned bike rental system on July 14, which the city co-developed with the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute.
The system has an antitheft device and provides voice guidance services. Small display devices are put on the bikes so that bikers can know how long and how far they have rode the bicycles and also how much energy they have consumed.
The city will install the system in 100 bike parking lots throughout the city and run 1,000 public bicycles.
Jeju city, one of most attractive spots for tourists visiting Korea, announced on July 10 that it will create 370 km of bicycle-only routes throughout the city by 2018. The total cost will be 100 billion won.
Considering the island's rainy weather, the lanes will be laid with special material that helps prevent the bikes from slipping. The surfacing will be a different color from the main vehicle lanes.
"The bike-only routes will not only give convenience to the travelers and many bikers who visit Jeju, but will also minimize air pollution caused by exhaust and improve the city's clean image," said a city official.
Kick-starting bicycle industry
Lee also pledged to boost the domestic bike industry so that it can become one of the world's biggest bike exporters within the next five years.
"When the bike network is completed, the nation will need 10 million to 20 million bicycles. But how deplorable it will be if we have to import all of them," he said, also in his April radio address.
Korea imports more than 2 million bikes annually, mainly from China, the Netherlands and Canada.
Due to many manufacturers relocating overseas to cut labor costs and the importation of cheap foreign products, there are just 20 to 30 domestic companies producing no more than 20,000 bicycles each year.
To support the struggling industry, the government recently announced plans to encourage businesses to produce quality products including high-end mountain bikes, bikes with wireless navigation systems and commuter-style hybrids with a battery-charged motor that kicks in when going uphill.
"I hope to see more and more Korean companies begin to make bicycles soon. They should be able to develop core trend-setting, green technologies and apply them in manufacturing high value-added hybrid bikes for both domestic use and export," Lee added.
International bike festivals
The government is eager to host domestic and international bike festivals.
To start with, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism held the "Seoul Bicycle Festival" last December. More than 2,000 people gathered in Yeouido Park with their bikes on a chilly morning.
Starting from Yeouido, thousands of bikes went over Mapo bridge, passed Mapo and headed toward Gwanghwamun. Turning at Sejongno, the parade continued past Seoul Station, crossed the Han River again over Wonhyo bridge and finally returned to the starting point.
With the help of the police, two traffic lanes were used.
Some unique bikes were at the event: a bike with one wheel half the regular size, a bike ridden while lying down, and a bike with a baby carrier attached.
At a corner of Yeouido Park, a flea market was opened. Participants could receive bicycle repair services at the service center, and exchange bike parts with other participants at the bartering marketplace.
"The festival is aimed to make citizens healthy and decrease the expense of fossil fuels by encouraging the use of bicycles in the community," said Park Byeong-jin, head of the Sports for All Division of the Culture Ministry.
In April, a nine-day nationwide bicycle festival sponsored by the government took place.
More than 30,000 citizens participated in "The Korea Bicycle Festival" which was composed of cross-country race, downtown parades and other events to encourage bike riding.
"The festival is aimed to encourage wider use of bicycles and develop bike industries," said Administration Minister Lee Dal-gon.
The festival began with a cycling race starting at the Olympic Park in southern Seoul, having about 150 racers bicycling off to Changwon through two courses, east and west.
A cycling parade then proceeded from the park to the central part of the city, with more than 5,000 citizens participating. A bicycle industry fair was also held at the venue.
Incheon, Suwon and Jeju also held similar parades and events on the day, and major cities including Jeonju, Gwangju, Daegu, Ulsan and Busan held their own events in time for the arrival of the race.
It is likely that these festivals will turn into annual events.
The Culture Ministry plans on hosting the "Seoul Bicycle Festival" annually, starting next year.
The Administration Ministry also aims to host the "World Bicycle Expo" in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province next year, a "Bicycle race along the four rivers" in 2011 and an international bicycle race, "Tour de Korea" in 2012.
Policies need improvements
Despite the government's efforts, however, many point out that the policies show some significant shortcomings.
The Road Traffic Authority said that the pace of constructing the bicycle-only routes is not keeping up with the increase in the number bikers, leading to many accidents.
Of the 728 kilometers of cycle paths in Seoul, only 123 km are for bikes only.
According to the authority, the number of bicycle accidents increased 37 percent from 7,922 in 2006 to 10,848 last year. The number of people injured or killed riding a bicycle also shot up 38 percent from 8,291 in 2006 to 11,425 last year.
The augmentation is notable, especially considering that the number of car accidents decreased during the same period. Between 2000 and 2008, car accidents decreased by 26 percent while bicycle accidents increased by 71 percent.
The biggest cause of the bike accidents were the bikes crashing with four-wheeled vehicles on main roads or narrow alleys.
Bicycles are classified as cars according to the Road Traffic Act, so bikers have to use the main carriageway instead of the sidewalk when there are no bike-only routes.
A lax attitude toward safety among bikers is another problem.
It is hard to spot bikers wearing helmets in Changwon, the city of NUBIJA, including the city's mayor. Naturally, accidents are increasing the area.
"The head is the first thing that hits the ground at the moment of an accident, so riders should at least wear helmets. The number of cyclists is increasing nationwide, so now is the time to start considering whether wearing helmets should become mandatory," said an official of NUBIJA.
Insurance companies started selling bicycle-linked plans last month, in step with the government's new policies. Many customers, however, say that the products are useless.
"All car insurance plans provide compensation when the car breaks down or gets stolen. It doesn't make sense that bike insurance does not provide any such compensation," wrote a member of the internet community "Jachuljok," which means people who commute on bikes.
Current bike insurance does not offer compensation for theft or damage. It is one of the reasons that fewer than 10,000 people signed up yet.
Insurance companies say that it is hard to find out what had exactly happened to stolen or damaged bicycles because they are not registered like cars are. The companies are worried that some might just subscribe for the insurance after their bicycles are already broken or simply throw away their old bicycles and demand compensation.
"If the insurance plans cover all theft and damage, the fees will have to be more expensive, probably over 100,000 won per year," said an insurance company official.
The average bike insurance premium is currently around 30,000 won per year.
It is not surprising that the nation has little ability to prevent bike thefts.
Many cyclists say that the government should think of a way to prevent bike thefts before making it mandatory to install bicycle parking lots in newly built apartments, referring to the government's announcement on July 13.
According to the government, regular buildings that are to be built from August should dedicate at least 2 percent of the total area (about 20 percent of the parking lot), and apartments at least 5 percent (enough for 1 bicycle per two households) of the area to bicycle parking.
Some noncyclists are also opposed to this new policy. They say that there are not yet that many cyclists in the city, and the space will only take up already-scarce parking space available to motorists.
(claire@heraldm.com)
미술 쪽 취재하다보면 유명한 작가들은 참 좋겠단 생각이 들어요ㅋ
아무런 시간적 공간적 제약 없이 자유롭게 이것 저것 하시다가
(물론 그렇게까지 되기 위해서 피나는 노력을 하셨을 거고 ... 최소한 대부분은;;
지금도 열심히 공부를 하고 또 작품 구상을 하시는 거겠지만!
매일매일 한 곳으로 출근하는 문외한이 볼 때는 아무래도 여유로워 보인다는 ^-^;ㅋ)
한 번 작품을 쫙 만들면 --
관계자들은 무조건 바로 간담회열고,
또 실제로 대중들도 '그 사람 작품이다'하면 무조건 관심있어하고 좋은 건 줄 알고...
반면에 좀 덜 유명하고 작가들은
아무리 좋은 작품을 만들어도 기사 게재는 커녕 갤러리 하나 빌리기도 어려울 테니깐요.
그런 작가들을 후원하기 위해 한다는 전시도 결국엔 뽑는거니깐,
누구를 어떤 기준으로 뽑은건지 정확히는 알 수가 없고;
하긴 ...
또 지금 아무리 유명하다고 한들,
어느 순간 가격이 똑 떨어질 수도 있겠고,
또 지금은 좀 인지도가 낮더라도
갑자기 확 블루칩작가가 될 수도 있겠고 ...
요즘에 진짜 좋은 작품이다 하는 작품이 과연 진짜 좋은 작품인건지,
아니면 그냥 사람들이 그렇다고 하니까 그렇게 된건지+_+
갑자기 궁금해집니다.
장푸르베, 조지 나카시마 등 유명 가구 디자이너의 가구들과
데미안 허스트, 아니쉬 카푸어 등 또 쟁쟁한 현대미술작가들의 작품을 함께 놓으면?!
아니면...
그 자체가 작품인 가구들?!
(숟가락을 휘어서 만든 듯 한 의자라든가, 고무줄을 칭칭감은 테이블이라든가,
온도에 따라 색이 변하는 가구들이라든가ㅋ)
흠...나도 언젠간 얘네들을...?!
>▽< ㅋㅋ
Chic art seeps into furniture
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High-quality art is filtering into our everyday goods day by day. Collaborations between famous artists and fashion brands (or carmakers) are now a familiar thing. Two galleries in Seoul suggest, "Why not apply the trend to furniture?"
Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong introduces various ways of decorating your home with chic furniture and hot artwork.
"This show will give viewers tips on how art collectors display their collections at home," said curator Lee Seung-min.
The gallery's first and second floors are filled with more than 50 pieces of furniture and lighting by famous designers, including Jean Prouve, Charlotte Perriand, Serge Mouille, Le Corbusier, Georges Jouve and George Nakashima.
Perfectly matched with artwork by world-renowned artists such as Damian Hurst and Anish Kapoor, the exhibits look like they have popped out from interior magazines.
For those who do not have a knack for decorating, Nefspace in Samsung-dong offers some furniture which itself is art.
Curious-looking lighting made of chairs light up the exhibition room where tables made of bended nails or colorful rubber bands stand. Some chairs change their colors according to the temperature.
"These artists no longer think that art is just to be hung on the wall. They've created unique furniture so that people can enjoy art in everyday life. The most attractive point is that there exists only one of the pieces each," said curator Lee Dae-hyung.
Among the exhibits, Chae Eun-mi's chair is eye-catching. Inspired by spoons, she bent what looks like a giant silver spoon to make a chair.
Although it looks too bony, the chair is very comfortable since it supports the sitter's back, Lee said.
Still, viewers should keep in mind that not all of the exhibits are usable.
"Some experimental works focus more on being art than comfortable furniture," Lee admitted.
"Interiors" runs through Aug. 7 at Kukje Gallery in Sogyeok-dong, central Seoul. For more information, visit www.kukjegallery.com or call (02) 733-8449.
"Mad for Furniture" runs through Aug. 8 at Nefspace in Samsung-dong, southern Seoul. For more information, visit www.nefs.co.kr or call (02) 3460-8150.
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
특히 세 번째 사진,
둥둥 떠있는 박선기씨의 작품이 개인적으로 가장 마음에 들었습니다♥
가까이서 보면 까만 단추처럼 둥둥 떠있는 숯인데,
멀리서보면 저런 모양이 +_+
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Who ever said that sculptures have to be big, heavy and stuck to the ground? The Soma Museum of Art in Bangi-dong challenges conventional concepts of sculptures through its three exhibitions currently underway.
The first, "Drawing Sculpture: Build House in the Air," shows that the sense of volume, which is known as one of the key ingredients of sculptures, may not actually be such an essential point.
The title of the show implies how the six participating Korean installation artists and sculptors tried to lift their works up in the air like drawings ready to be hung on walls.
Most of the exhibits are not on the floor but float lightly in the exhibition rooms, as if they defy the law of gravity. Of course, the materials had to be quite a bit lighter than usual.
Take Bahk Seon-ghi's "An Aggregate" as an example.
Bahk connected black charcoal on nylon thread and let it hang from the ceiling, making it appear like little black buttons sewed in the air. Seen from a few steps back, viewers will be surprised to realize how the whole thing forms a picture of a threaded needle entering a big black button.
Another artist, Jeon Kang-ok, literally experimented with gravity by carefully placing some stones on fine threads which look like they are pulled out from nylon stockings. The zigzagged threads sparsely fill a box-like-space about as tall as a person.
"If someone jumps beside it, the stones will surely fall down. So the whole sculpture is filled with tension. The artist wanted to capture the moment right before gravity acts on the stones," commented Go Chung-hwan, an art critic.
The next exhibition and also the third in the museum's drawing show series of this year, "Drawing Now 03 -- Wood Meets Paper" showcases Spanish artist Boris Curatolo and American artist Mary Sullivan's collaborative work.
Curatolo, who usually works with wood, and Sullivan, who is well-known for her unique use of paper, have been working together on the "Wood Meets Paper" project for several years. They have shown their work in Brooklyn and Madrid before coming to Seoul.
Curatolo bends soft poplar trees and Sullivan covers them thinly with her specially made Abaka papers. The duo's squiggly works laced all over the ceiling and walls are reminiscent of musical notes, giving the whole a musical feel.
"Lightness and playfulness are the key point of the work," said Curatolo.
"Some people actually started to dance a little bit while looking at it in Brooklyn. Of course, there was always music present in the studio when we made the work."
"Shoebox," the third exhibition currently underway at the museum, proves that small sculptures can be just as meaningful as big ones. The show is actually a traveling exhibition hosted by the University of Hawaii Art Gallery. It has opened in various spots in the world every three years since 1982, and Seoul is its 10th venue.
"For the ease and economy of a traveling exhibition, all works were ordered to be made small enough to fit into shoeboxes," explained chief curator Elyn Y. Park.
This time, the exhibition displays 81 sculptures by 81 artists.
Despite the size, or perhaps thanks to it, the sculptures demonstrate the artists' endless creativity. The works feature full-range themes, from personal experiences and humor to political and social issues.
"Shoebox" runs through Aug. 16 and "Drawing Sculpture: Build house in the air" and "Drawing Now 03 -- Wood Meets Paper" runs through Aug. 30 at Soma Museum of Art in Bangi-dong, southeastern Seoul.
Admission for all three shows is 3,000 won for adults, 2,000 won for adolescents and 1,000 won for children. For more information visit www.somamuseum.org or call (02) 425-1077.
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
한동안 침체되어있던 고미술이
경매에서 다시 현대미술을 압도하고 있다고 하네요 +_+
Show to help revive Korean antique art
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Korean antique art was pushed into the background of major auctions during the last few years while Western contemporary art ruled the market. Market insiders assumed that continuous forgeries of antique art were the main reason. According to the Korean Antiques Association, 52.7 percent of the 1,885 items that asked for expert analysis between 2006 and 2008 were judged as fake.
This year, however, antique art seems to be back on track, proving the old belief that "contemporary art flourishes amid a bullish market and antique art prospers during a depression."
"Now is the best time to collect antique art. Its price, which has slumped during the last few years, is recovering. Antique art has even been surpassing contemporary art in auctions this year," said Kim Jong-chun, president of the Daboseong Antique Shop.
"Antique art contains the culture and history of our ancestors, which contemporary art does not have. We will continue to support the popularization of antique art," he added.
To celebrate its 25th anniversary and to boost up the antique art market, Daboseong Antique is holding "Special Exhibitions of Antique in Life" in its gallery in Gyeongun-dong, central Seoul.
Daboseong Antiques first opened in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul in 1984 and moved to the current address in 2000. For the past 25 years it has collected and showcased various antiques from commoners' everyday craftworks to ceramics used in royal palaces.
This exhibition showcases more than 300 national exhibition-level antiques from the period of the Three States to the Joseon Dynasty.
"These are very valuable pieces. Some will surely be given 'Treasure' titles by the government if we register them," explained Kim.
The exhibits, ranging from wooden shoes for rainy days, to women's delicate accessories, to fish scale-decorated-tables and gilt bronze towers, attract not only antiquers but also outsiders.
Among the exhibits, the "Hwagaksibjangsangmunham," or the "Ten longevity symbols-engraved-horn work box" from the Joseon Dynasty stands out.
The 10 colorful longevity symbols including cranes, pine trees and deers made of cow horns are brilliantly, yet delicately engraved onto the 46 cm wide, 31.5 cm long and 25 cm tall box. None of the patterns, which are packed on all six sides of the box, are duplicated.
Some paintings by legendary artists such as Jang Seung-up -- a 19th century painter who was featured in 'Chihwaseon,' a movie that grabbed best director award at 2002 Cannes Film Festival -- can also be found at the exhibition.
Jang painted a flock of wild geese flying over a field of reeds on his way to Japan with some envoys. He named the work "Noando," taking the letters 'No,' which signifies reed and 'an' which signifies wild goose.
As "Noan" altogether means "Comfortable life at old age," the painting was a hit in the late Joseon Dynasty.
The exhibition runs through July 28 at Daboseong Antique Gallery. For more information, call (02) 730-7566 or visit www.daboseong.co.kr
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
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If you want to be the best dresser at your next party, consider wearing hanbok to it.
"Conservative but graceful" might be the usual stereotype about hanbok, but designer Park Seon-ok and photographer Bae Ji-hwan have proved that it can be just as fun and sexy as other party clothes.
At the fashion show-like exhibition "Space captured by HANBOK" underway at Insa Art Center in Gwanhun-dong, 20 super-hot hanbok and 10 photographs of top models such as Jessica Gomez wearing them are on display.
The exhibition starts with some antique hanbok that were actually worn in the 1950s through the 1970s. Park reproduced ones that were in too bad a shape to be showcased.
Visitors who thought hanbok at that time only came in black and white or with some basic colors should be ready for a surprise.
The materials vary from chiffon, velvet to mesh and the colors put to use seem unlimited.
"There has always been a trend in hanbok, just like the clothes nowadays," Park said.
"For example, hanbok became more showy and gorgeous in the 1970s and 80s when Western culture started to influence Korea. Meanwhile high quality silk hanbok has always been the steady outfit for important occasions."
These days, hanbok is rising as a hot item for parties, said Park.
Seeing the rest of the hanbok at the show, viewers might wonder if they can really be called hanbok.
The "jeogori," or the hanbok jacket, is made of materials that scarcely come to mind when the word "hanbok" is used, such as spangles, denim or lace. Short jeogori that reveal most of the breast or see-through dresses are also showcased. Models pose in high heels wearing hanbok in the photos.
"The striped spangles take the motif from multicolored hanbok, and the short jeogori is inspired from the ones Korean women used to wear few decades ago. My works might seem too 'partyish' but they are all actually based on our traditional hanbok," Park said.
The exhibition runs through July 14 at Insa Art Center in Gwanhun-dong, central Seoul. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.insaartcenter.co.kr or call (02) 736-1020.
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
장마시즌이자 저의 생일 시즌(?) 을 맞이하여 ㅋㅋ
우바로 향했습니다 ㅋㄷ
이름은 들어봤으나, 심지어 가보기도 했으나 거기가 우바인지는 몰랐던 나 -_-;
장소와 이름을 매치시키지 못하는 길치;도아니고 이건 뭘까요 ㅋㄷ
흠- 암튼 날이 날이니만큼 괜히 더 예뻐보이구 좋구 그렇더라구요 ♥
꺄아아~
가장 좋아하는 깔루아나 베일리스를 찾아서 별생각없이 주문한 baby buzz!
그렇데 요렇게- 우유병에 나왔습니다 >▽< ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
완젼 왕귀엽!ㅋㅋㅋ
맛과 완젼 200% 어울리는!ㅋㅋㅋ
첨엔 마시기 민망하기도 했으나, 조금씩 마시다보니 흥에 겨워 민망한지도 몰랐다는 ㅋ
짧은 시간이었지만 요 우유병 덕분에 내내 깔깔대며 시간을 보냈답니다♥
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It has been about six months since Lee Young-sil, a 26-year-old Chinese teacher, started going horseback riding at an equestrian club in Paju city, Gyeonggi Province every Saturday. She does not have her own horse, but there is one that she usually rides on. After gently combing the horse's hair, Lee hopped on for her lesson.
Her trainer stayed right beside her for the first few months, but Lee is now skilled enough to run around the track by herself. Still, her trainer is nearby to help whenever she needs it.
"I started out of curiosity, and the need for diet. Now I don't think it is any different than other sports, but maybe better, because it is great for making your body. Look, my belly got flat," Lee said patting her stomach.
Horseback riding, which used to be considered a sport for the wealthy, has become more familiar with the public in Korea lately.
"The population that wants to learn horseback riding increases as the national income rises. They say that after golf, comes horseback riding, then yacht and then light aircraft. Korea is now on its beginning steps for the horseback riding boom," said Hyun Sang-hun, director of You-eal Leisure Town, one of the equestrian clubs in Paju city, Gyeonggi Province.
In Japan, for instance, the horseback riding population shot up 89 percent in 1989 when the country's per capita income topped $20,000.
To meet up with the rising demand, You-eal Leisure Town started a coupon system which is open to everyone. Before, the club was exclusive for members only.
"We started the coupon system so that horseback riding can be more popularized, and yes, riders increased since we started the system," said Hyun.
One can purchase 10 coupons and use it within two months. One 45 to 50 minute-long lesson costs a coupon.
About 10 different types of horses - from miniature types of below 100 kg to full-grown males of over 1 ton - are ready at the club. Riders are recommended the horses that best fit their sizes.
"Anyone can enjoy horseback riding, from little children to the elderly, if one does not have any serious health problems. Riding a horse not only helps lose weight but also makes you healthier," said Hyun.
The Rural Development Administration and a Jeju National University research team released their study results in May that horseback riding helps reduce body fat and grow muscle strength.
The team surveyed 10 riders including five obese women for the past six months. During the period, the riders enjoyed horseback riding two times per week.
Their anaerobic threshold value, which is the core index in measuring aerobic exercise abilities, increased 25 percent, oxygen uptake per heart rate increased 36 percent and maximum oxygen uptake per 1kg body weight increased 21 percent.
Body fat and abdominal fat each decreased by 7 and 2.2 percent and their level of satisfaction regarding work and life each increased by 6.7-12 percent to 3 percent.
Hyun also mentioned that the sport is actually used as a way to cure patients with autism or detrimental spinal conditions.
"Horses are live animals, so this sport requires communication between the rider and the horse. The rhythmical stimulation and the mutual connection while riding on the horse are good for the patients. There are special horses trained for the job," Hyun said.
Like babies or puppies, horses love being touched and cared. As one gets more intimate with a horse, the horse will feel more comfortable around the person and the ride will go smoother.
"Women are better at caressing the horses like a baby and communicating with them," Hyun added.
There are currently about 200 equestrian clubs in Korea and some 1,200 farmhouses are breeding more than 25,000 horses. Around 20,000 people are enjoying the sport.
To boost the horse-related industry and popularize horseback riding, the government plans to put in some 270 billion won ($213 million) by 2012.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries presumed that Korea's horse-related industry is worth 4.860 trillion won, and announced that it will support horseback riding business which is worth 260 billion won.
"We will establish a base to better breed and distribute horses through encouraging horseback riding and the consummation of horse meat. Then we will strengthen our international competency by improving local race horses," said No Su-hyun, an official at the ministry's livestock policy bureau, at a symposium hosted by Korea Racing Authority on May 21.
KRA is actively participating in this plan.
"We will increase the number of equestrian clubs to 500 by 2012 so that at least 2.4 million people could have experienced the sport by then," said Lee Jong-gu, a KRA official.
KRA has given free horseback riding lessons from January through February to promote the sport. People learned at insured private equestrian clubs and KRA supported the tuition fees.
The program was a hit, with more than 1,200 participants. The second season of the program, which runs from June through July, has already started in 40 clubs throughout the country.
Horseback riding, however, is still getting some cold stares for being quite a pricy hobby. The price varies per clubs but 10 coupons cost between 500,000 and 700,000 won.
It is not just the matter of money, however, golfers, who are more at ease affording luxurious sports, are not so excited about horseback riding either.
"The equestrian clubs are too far away from the city. Yes, golf courses are far away too, but at least there are some golf facilities in the city where beginners or ones who have only little spare time can practice at," said Park, a 51-year-old male golf fan.
Some point out that horseback riding is dull compared to other competitive sports.
"You just walk around and around the club on a horse. It won't get much fun unless you are good enough to compete on a race course," said office worker Shin, in his 40s.
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
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The scorching sun or the pouring rain can be tiresome, but summer vacation is too short to waste on the couch.
If a trip to the beach is too much, why not head for an exhibition underway in Seoul?
Many are starting this week, from blockbuster shows all the way from far away continents to very Korean exhibitions filled with oriental paintings. The choice is yours. Enjoy!
"Miffy at the Museum"
Our beloved childhood character Miffy has visited Seoul for the summer. Taking place at the Seoul Arts Center, "Miffy at the Museum" is the character's first official show in Korea.
Miffy's creator Dick Bruna, who still draws the character six days a week at the age of 81, displays some of his original drawings. Visitors can also see 2,000 pieces of his earlier work as a book designer before he came up with the hit character.
Korean contemporary artists also participated in this exhibition through reinterpretations of Miffy. Whimsical sculptures, installations and exciting works of interactive media greet visitors.
One-hundred celebrities, including movie director Bong Jun-ho and actress Choi Yeo-jin also designed their own versions of Miffy for the show.
The exhibition runs through Aug. 30 at Hangaram Art Museum at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets are 15,000 won. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1705~5.
"Voyage to the World of illustration"
Anyone who has enjoyed fairy tale books will be happy to find hundreds of illustrations displayed at the first floor of COEX this summer.
More than 420 works by 55 renowned illustrators from all over the world are showcased at the exhibition "Voyage to the World of illustration."
The genres vary from fairy tale illustrations to advertisement illustrations.
Most of the participating artists are world-famous, including Anthony Browne, Barbara McClintock, Herve Tullet, John Burningham and Robert Ingpen.
Anthony Browne in particular is popular among Korean mothers. Visitors can find the original drawing of Browne's famous fairytale book, "Gorilla."
The exhibition runs through Aug. 23 at COEX in Samsung-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets range from 5,000 won to 10,000 won. For more information, visit www.illust2009.co.kr or call (02) 6000-0030.
"Funny! Funny! Performance Art Gallery"
"Funny! Funny! Performance Art Gallery" at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts offers a full-course show from looking at paintings, enjoying performances to experiencing various art programs.
With "Light" and "Color" as its basic theme, the show features more than 30 impressionist paintings, a play about Jean-Claude Monet and many playgrounds where kids can learn how to paint like Monet and Georges Seurat.
The paintings at the show are not original but certified copies, so kids can feel free to touch them.
The show runs through Sept. 27 at Sejong Center near Gwanghwamun, central Seoul. Tickets are 15,000 won. For more information, visit www.thinkbridge.co.kr or call (02) 578-0262.
"Hello. Into. Ink, Paper. 2"
If you are tired of all the Western art, how about some Korean paintings for a change?
Hello Museum introduces Korean paintings by seven young Korean artists at the exhibition "Hello. Into. Ink, Paper. 2."
"There are many blockbuster exhibitions for famous foreign artists but exhibitions for Korean paintings are rare. Children only get to learn about Korean art in school. This exhibition can give them a chance to meet Korean art," said museum director Kim Yssac.
"Kids can find it difficult to understand ancient paintings for the first time. So we prepared works by contemporary Korean painters."
The paintings are familiar, easy and fun. Among the exhibits, a nice-looking tiger gives a broad smile, showing all of his bright white teeth. Named "Happy Hoya," this painting can teach children about the importance of health.
Reservations are obligatory to receive a docent tour. It takes about 70 minutes, and is provided by professional curators who majored in art education or children's education. Following the tour, children not only get to see art but participate in various experience programs. The tour is also available in English.
The exhibition runs through Sep. 30 at Hello Museum in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets for the docent tour and full one day experience are 20,000 won for kids and 2,000 won for parents. Regular admission to the museum is 5,000 won. For more information, visit www.hellomuseum.com or call (02) 562-4420.
"Junk Art: From Trash to Green Art"
Samsung Children's Museum will offer the exhibition "Junk Art: From Trash to Green Art" to teach children about environmental protection.
The winning works of the Junk Art Contest, hosted by the Korea Environment & Resources Corporation, will be on display. Art made of various recycled goods such as broken down motorcycles, old bottles and newspapers are original and interesting.
Some of the works will be hidden here and there in the museum to make it more fun for the kids. Children will receive a kit at the exhibition which will help them find the hidden works and also think about the environment. Kids who complete the kit will be given an eco-friendly gift.
The exhibition runs from July 14 to Aug. 30 at Samsung Children's Museum in Jamsil, southern Seoul. Tickets range from 3,000 won to 5,000 won. For more information, visit www.samsungkids.org or call (02) 2143-3600.
"Mommy, Photography is Easy!"
Ever wondered what "limited edition" really means in photography? Gallery Kong is holding the special exhibition "Mommy, Photography is Easy!" to tell visitors many secrets about photography.
Divided into five sections, the exhibition explains from A to Z about color photos, black-and-white photos, printing technologies, know-how in making photography and editions.
The actual works from the gallery's collection by many local and international photographers are used as examples.
It runs through July 31 at Gallery Kong in Palpan-dong, central Seoul. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.gallerykong.com or call (02) 738-7776.
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
정말정말 신기한 아침이었어요+_+
출근하는데 하늘이 컴컴하고 몬가 기운이 우중충한게,
툭 건드리면 비오겠다 싶었는데 안오더라구요. 몬가 아슬아슬.
버스를 타고 가면서 항상그렇듯 푸우우욱 잠이 들었는데,
내릴 때쯤 눈 떠보니 땅이 축축!
버스 탄 새 비가 왔다가 갠거예요+_+
물 안 튀기게 조심조심 뛰어서 회사에 들어왔는데,
자리에 앉으니까 조금 이따부터 또 천둥번개 우르릉쾅쾅 난리가 나는거 있죠+_+
(사실은 어제밤부터 천둥번개치고 계속 비오고 했다던데,
워낙 푹 자는 터라 그런 건 모름-_-;)
비가 마구마구 오는데 뽀송뽀송하게 실내에 있으려니까 기분이 뭔가 묘한 ㅋㅋ
비 완젼완젼 쏟아지는 날 뽀송뽀송하고 상쾌한 집 안에서 초 깨끗한 이불 덮고
김치전같은거 해먹으면서 좋아하는 책 보고 티비보고 전화하고 그런♡ㅋㅋ
실제로 그랬었는지 항상 그러고 싶었던거라 그랬다고 생각하는건지는 모르겠지만;
암튼 그런 생각이 두둥실 떠오르면서 갑자기 센치해짐ㅋㅋㅋ
이때 중요한 것은 '안 나가길 잘했다'싶을 정도로
챠~~하는 소리를 내면서 비가 내려야 한다는 것ㅋㅋ
(너무 이기적인가-_-)
생각해보니 초등학교때 쯤 그런 날이 있었던 것 같기도 하고....
(고등학교때는 학교에 있느라, 대학교 때는 노느라 집에 없었겠죠?!ㅋ)
방학맞이 어린이 전시들 모아서 기사쓰는 중이라 그런 것 같기도하고...
문득 이것이 떠올랐습니다:
ㅋㅋㅋ
애들 사이에서 탐구생활을 두껍게 두껍게 만드는 경쟁이 붙어서
막 전기콘센트까지 만들어서 붙인적도 있었는데 ^-^;ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
요즘도 있으려나, 탐구생활?!ㅋ
아아, 아무튼 오늘은 야근하는 날ㅋㄷ
Botero invites viewers into Latin culture
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Are all Latin people this fat? Colombian artist Fernando Botero's paintings make viewers wonder.
Plump South Americans dressed in colorful clothes stare directly at the viewers with expressionless faces. Contrary to the dull figures, the rest of the details on the paintings are surprisingly delicate - one can easily find out the figures' social statuses or the relations between the figures through them.
"No, I don't paint fat people," said Botero at a press conference in Seoul on Monday.
"I was greatly inspired from the Italian style of art which emphasized volume since the 13th century. I too, simply try to arouse sensibilities by expressing volume."
Known as the "aesthetician of corpulence," Botero is one of the best-selling artists in the world and is recognized as the representative of Latin art of the current era.
To see his works, Korean fans can head to National Museum of Contemporary Art in Deoksugung, which is currently hosting the artist's solo exhibition.
More than 90 pieces of Botero's paintings and sculptures from the artist's own private collection are on display. Most of the works were completed from 1985-1992.
The exhibition is divided into five parts - "Still Life," "Versions," "Latin Life," "Latin People," "Bullfight" and "Circus." Three sculptures are installed outdoors, in front of the museum.
Among the exhibits, the paintings at the "Versions" section will look awfully familiar. Botero parodied some masterpieces of old masters like "Infanta Margarita Teresa of Spain in White Dress" by Velazquez and "The Duchess of Osuna" by Goya. Botero then kindly named the works "After Velazquez" or "After Goya."
The figures, however, have gotten some "Botero-ish" twists and appear much more stout and somehow more "Latin" than the original.
"I want my paintings to have roots, because it is those roots that give the work a kind of meaning and truth. But I want everything I go though to be permeated with the soul of Latin America," explained Botero.
In the rest of the sections, viewers can take a peek into South American lives.
Botero vividly highlights the typical Latin cultures such as passionate dances, soccer games, bullfights or circuses. The various races of the figures presented on the canvases through different skin colors add to the reality.
"My works do not require much explanation. They are universal, as they basically show diverse meanings of life. I hope Korean viewers will get to sympathize with my paintings," Botero said.
The exhibition runs through Sept. 17 at National Museum of Art, Deoksugung in central Seoul. The museum is located inside Deoksugung, near City Hall station in Seoul (subway lines 1 and 2). Tickets range from 4,000 won to 10,000 won. For more information, visit botero.moca.go.kr or call (02) 368-1414.
(claire@heraldm.com)
By Park Min-young
