Animal prints have been in style for years, adding a chic and bold edge to modern women’s clothing. As much as today’s women enjoy wearing prints, Koreans of yore appreciated them as art. The leopard skin-patterned painting made in the 18th century amazes viewers with its sophisticated composition of black leopard prints that look more chic and slick than any other animal patterns featured on today’s fashion items. “Many people are surprised to find out the animal print was a feature in old pain

Performance June 26, 2013

Young Korean designers caught the eyes of fashion hunters at a prestigious Italian menswear trade show, receiving large orders and an offer of store space. Three menswear clothing brands ― Bastong, Westage and Instantology ― and eyewear brand grafik plastic showcased their designs to international buyers and press during Pitti Uomo, the world’s largest menswear trade show, from June 18-21 in Florence, Italy. The total amount of orders is expected to be $270,000, according to the Korea Creative C

Arts & Design June 25, 2013

The plain two-dimensional animation images created by Japanese animation film director Hayao Miyazaki have continued to fascinate viewers even after the arrival of the dazzling three-dimensional images by major studios. It might be the scene in which the young witch Kiki leaves her home to explore the world in “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” or Totoro waiting at a bus stop holding a small umbrella that barely covers his head that brought up nostalgia in viewers who have fond memories of growing up wa

Performance June 24, 2013

An overweight 20-year-old man with breasts and “unattractive facial features,” as well as a 30-year-old woman suffering from excessive hair growth due to a hormonal malfunction boasted that they have found a second life. They each went under the knife and were strongly driven to shed the weight. And when they walked out into the “world” with vulnerable hearts, hundreds of thousands of people gave them the “victory” sign and applauded them for looking “unbelievably great.” These were the lucky tw

Culture June 23, 2013

The first in-depth examination of Korean monochromatic painting is being published by an American art history professor in July, shedding new light on the Korean modern artistic movement that shaped what people view as today’s Korean abstract art. “Contemporary Korean Art: Tansaekhwa and the Urgency of Method,” written by Joan Kee, an art history professor at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, offers a fresh interpretation of the movement’s emergence and meaning that sheds new light on the hi

Culture June 20, 2013

Young Chinese artists born in the 1970s and 1980s are often viewed as less politically engaged than their predecessors who experienced major political events such as the Cultural Revolution and Tiananmen Square. Although their works may seem to focus more on their emotions and feelings than their predecessors’ politically oriented art, their works are grounded in reality and bound to the problems the new generation faces. “There are more works that are embedded with artists’ personal opinion on

Performance June 20, 2013

Just as many people wish to escape from the usual routine and travel to remote places, many artists travel far in search of inspiration and a new style. But for artist Roh Choong-hyun, the place where he lives is what motivates him to paint. Since 2005, the artist has focused on portraying what most people would find mundane and familiar ― landscapes of the capital city of Seoul ― for his series “Prosaic Landscape.” “I have always wanted to paint the Hangang River Park where I often go for walks

Performance June 18, 2013

Korean green tea has been traditionally well known for its taste and quality thanks to the clean water found in Korean nature, according to Park Kwang-ok, director of the eastern Seoul office of the Korea Tea Culture Association. “The quality of water and temperature affect the taste of tea. Korea is known for the clean water, one of the important factors for making a good-quality tea,” said Park in an interview with The Korea Herald. “The high quality of tea has affected the tea ceremony of Kor

Culture June 14, 2013

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) ― It’s cruise season in Alaska, with more than 1 million cruise passengers expected between April and September in port towns from Ketchikan to Seward.Cruise passengers who sign up for shore excursions can spend hundreds of dollars, if not more in the case of families, in each port they visit. Taking a helicopter to see Juneau-area ice fields can easily run $1,000 for a family of four for a one-hour trip. A nature tour near the tiny town of Ketchikan can run $89 for adults an

Travel June 14, 2013

Filipino food is easy on those who try it for the first time. The style and cooking share elements with other cuisines such as Malaysian, Spanish, Chinese and American.“Food is very diverse in the Philippines because we were colonized by Spanish first, Japan and then the U.S. We have also Malaysian and Chinese ancestors. It’s hard to define what Filipino cuisine is about,” said Sau Del Rosario, executive chef of F1 Hotels and Resorts in Manila, in an interview with The Korea Herald during his fo

Food June 14, 2013

Masterpieces of the French post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin are on exhibition in Seoul. The exhibition, which runs from Friday to Sept. 29 at the Seoul Museum of Art, is the first-ever comprehensive survey of Gauguin’s artistic career presented to a Korean audience. It showcases about 60 artworks on loan from 30 major museums around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Musee d’Orsay in Paris and the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum in Moscow.  The exhibition focuses on

Performance June 13, 2013

Walking on Ganghwado Island never leaves you bored of the view. South Korea’s fourth-largest island, located at the northwest end of the country, has a variety of landscapes that reflect its dramatic history. Several times a key place where Korea resisted foreign invaders ― not always successfully ― the island features well-preserved historic remains, in the downtown area, rural villages and along the coastline. The island is also a place where hikers can get a close look at North Korean territo

Travel June 12, 2013