[Weekender] ‘No boundaries in art, design and ideas’

“Art has no boundaries. The boundary of art is the boundary of ideas, and ideas have no limits. If you can think it, you can make it happen with lots of hard work. You can create whatever you imagine,” said Chris Riggs, creator of the art toy Dunny, in an email interview.“I plan to use more gold, silver and Barbie dolls in my new paintings and sculptures and I am currently using a Chanel bag with gold and silver bars coming out of it as an installation.”Riggs creates art with a single theme ― lo

Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014

[Weekender] ‘Designers should be socially responsible’

Designers should be more than a beautifier, but a person who makes improvements for the world, said Daniel Kim, principal of Daylight Design. By following the “design thinking process” to draw out user-based solutions, designers can improve the community, the environment and the world, said Kim, who heads the Asian division of the San Francisco-based design consultancy.Kim started his career at IDEO, the cradle of “design thinking,” moved on to work for online game developer Nexon America and th

Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014

[Weekender] Art toys dazzle kidults

Toys are no longer just for children. The website of Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, has separate pages for parents and collectors. Male adults go to Lego cafes where people can play with Lego sets and buy them.The designs of Barbies and Lego for adults are highly refined and precise to meet the grown-ups’ tastes. Such toys produced in small quantities by artists and designers are called art toys, or designer toys.Art toys are immensely popular among kidults, or adults with interests traditio

Arts & DesignNov. 21, 2014

[Weekender] When we are too connected

Young Seoulite Park Min-jun makes sure his phone battery is always fully charged. The last thing he wants is for his phone to die, cutting off his access to KakaoTalk ― the leading South Korean messenger app.“I always carry an extra battery with me,” the 30-year-old beauty industry worker said. “Also, whenever I see power outlets I charge my phone batteries. I feel really anxious when I don’t.”Park, who openly admits that he is a “smartphone addict,” is one of 40 million South Koreans who use th

Social AffairsNov. 14, 2014

[Weekender] Multitasking: No more than a mirage?

To members of modern society, swamped with chores and bombarded with distractions, the ability to do multiple tasks simultaneously has been touted as an essential skill. But recent research has challenged the idea of multitasking, even going so far as to claim that it is a myth.A popular theory, touted in the majority of these studies, is that a person’s brain has a limited capacity for attention, and can only focus on one task at a time to operate effectively. When people engage in what they be

TechnologyNov. 14, 2014

[Weekender] Brain needs time to ‘space out’

Overuse of digital devices could hamper proper development of the brain and character, according to Sungkyunkwan University professor of psychiatry Shin Dong-won. The brain needs time to “space out” to digest information, Shin said, but the constant inflow of information through digital devices could prevent the brain from carrying out this essential task. “The brain works by alternating between concentrating and taking a break, and concentrating means focusing on outside stimuli. For 30 to 50 p

TechnologyNov. 14, 2014

[Weekender] Visual thinking pioneer stresses the power of drawing

On Eun-ju, CEO of Social Frog, a South Korean start-up, was quick to name names that could help explain her specialty: Einstein, Da Vinci, Picasso and Jobs. She told The Korea Herald that she grouped these figures together because they represent the power of drawing. Though how much drawing played a part is arguable, it is widely thought that Einstein used visualization to come up with his theory of relativity. The same is true of Leonardo Da Vinci, an artistic genius who was also an expert engi

TechnologyNov. 14, 2014

[Weekender] Digital vs. analogue: How to live efficiently while staying cool

While the vortex of information overload is wearing out a growing number of people, evolving technologies also make today’s breakneck life easier by helping organize things and executing time-wasting chores in a snap. Ever-smarter mobile gadgets and software help cut costs and save time. They are getting better at analyzing users’ life patterns, tastes and even habits, sorting out and providing precise information. Smartphones and tablets lead the pack. Though some may call them the very culprit

Social AffairsNov. 14, 2014

[Weekender] The perks of using efficiency-boosting mobile apps

While it has become common to see people walking around with their eyes pinned on their smartphone screens, experts have been warning that spending 24/7 with such digital devices can be either a boon or a bane.But according to some IT industry watchers, smartphone or desktop apps can be efficient tools for time management and keeping things in order.Although the best way to exercise self-restraint and maximize one’s ability to focus may be to put down one’s devices, a number of apps have proven

TechnologyNov. 14, 2014

[Weekender] Designs for life

Nearly a decade after Seoul City’s urban beautification campaign, design has become an essential part of urban planning in Korea. In Seoul, flashy new buildings continue to pop up, creating some noticeable spots in its repetitive sprawl of cookie-cutter structures. Some even resemble a tsunami (the new Seoul City Hall) or a spaceship (the Dongdaemun Design Plaza). Although not as noticeable as the new edifices, traffic signs, bus stops and advertisements are being given a designer touch. Rooftop

Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2014

[Weekender] Seoul’s journey to forming its own cityscape identity

There is the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in New York and the Taj Mahal in Agra. But in Seoul? Many would still find it hard to think of such an iconic landmark.The South Korean capital has been struggling to come up with its own landscape identity since the late 2000s, after its dramatic shift into a major Asian city from the war-torn, poverty-stricken town. Its cityscape reflected just that ― the accelerated economic development that focused on profitmaking and industrializatio

Social AffairsNov. 7, 2014

[Weekender] Swanky food trucks rejuvenating neighborhoods

Vibrant food trucks are popping up in neighborhoods around the globe, serving up cleverly prepared and succulent on-the-go grub. Whether it is Korean fusion kimchi tacos, finger lickin’ good barbecue or one-of-a-kind gourmet sandwiches, food trucks have been slowly taking over the streets of major cities across the U.S. and other parts of the world. Some are even calling the States ― where the evolution of food vendors seems to be the most profound ― the “food truck nation.” With a no-limits att

CultureNov. 7, 2014

[Weekender] Urban renewal starts in the alleys

For the past decade, major urban projects in Seoul have centered on creating landmarks to achieve the ambition of making it the design capital of Asia. Old buildings and neighborhoods have been transformed into high-end locales designed by famous architects. While the Korean capital has gradually turned into an ultramodern city, the streets and alleys behind the landmarks have been left with indistinct buildings that still comprise much of the landscape.Recently, city planners and architects hav

Arts & DesignNov. 7, 2014

[Weekender] Star chef sees jang as part of Koreans’ DNA

Jang, a range of sauces or pastes made from fermented soybeans, is an important part of what makes Korean food unique, a renowned Spanish chef told The Korea Herald. It could one day dominate the meal tables of Europeans, who are incrementally accepting fermented foods, said Quique Dacosta, a Michelin 3-star chef, during his interview with The Korea Herald last week. “There is something about jang. You can add it anywhere and make a great Korean dish. Koreans cannot live without it and it has be

FoodOct. 31, 2014

[Weekender] Food, retail giants compete for Korean taste

Korean food and retail giants are competing to open modern hansik restaurants as Korean cuisine gains popularity among health-conscious foodies. Armed with enough cash to make hefty investments, big names in the food and retail sectors, including Shinsegae, E-Land and CJ Group, have thrown their hats into the ring in recent years with restaurants combining style and mass-market appeal.These restaurants are all promoting the use of fresh ingredients.A front-runner in the hansik restaurant competi

IndustryOct. 31, 2014

[Weekender] Korean firm supports globalization of fermented sauces

Korean food-maker Sempio has been supporting chefs in Spain in developing fermented Korean sauces, or “jang,” and dishes based on them as a way to penetrate the European market. The company teamed up with Alicia Foundation, led by chef Ferran Adria, in 2011 and developed 150 recipes marrying jang with modern Spanish cuisine. A “jang map” was developed, recommending different uses of jang according to the flavors cooks want to present.“We thought Spain was one of the most open culinary destinatio

FoodOct. 31, 2014

[Weekender] Restaurants seek to go high-end

At a glance, Korean restaurants may seem to be far from high-end. People often cram into hole-in-the-wall restaurants looking for wallet-friendly, everyday Korean meals. They are served a bowl of rice, soup and several side dishes all at once, for the whole table to share. In recent years, however, a growing number of Korean restaurants have been seeking to offer a slightly different experience.Among them is Poom Seoul, located on Mount Namsan, with floor-to-ceiling windows that allow diners to

FoodOct. 31, 2014

[Weekender] Modern Korean cuisine goes mainstream

Ha Jung-yun, 37, who enjoys exploring gourmet restaurants, has written more posts about Korean restaurants on her Facebook page over the past year. “It is fun to taste Korean fusion food, served at a newly opened restaurant with a modern look and at a reasonable price,’’ she said.Modern takes on Korean cuisine, better known as hansik, are a new trend in the restaurant scene here. “I like modern hansik because it is lighter and experimental, while using healthy and fresh ingredients,’’ Ha said.“T

FoodOct. 31, 2014

[Weekender] Celebrity chef eyes Korean-French fusion

For many Koreans, Leo Kang is a celebrity chef who gained overnight fame after appearing as a judge on food-focused cable channel Olive-TV’s culinary competition “Master Chef Korea.”His straight-talking style, exemplary career and eye-catching looks helped put him on the map. But what matters more for him than being a celebrity is finding the true colors of his foods. “I have tried to present the dishes that I imitated from world-famous chefs, but now I want my dishes to show my own colors,” Kan

FoodOct. 31, 2014

[Weekender] Bibimbap: Perfection in a bowl

Bibimbap, essentially rice mixed with meat and vegetables, often tops surveys on Korea’s signature dishes. It has been popular as a health food both domestically and overseas for quite some time.But the basic recipe of cooked rice with vegetables, beef, garnishes and red pepper paste is not all there is to it. In fact, bibimbap can be a whole lot more, according to “World’s Choice for Well-Being, Bibimbap,” a book that introduces 75 takes on the dish, written by Jhun Ji-young and published by Le

FoodOct. 31, 2014