A Little Seoul

I'm finally getting to write about this a little late, but better late than never. Anyway, last weekend (seriously feels like a month ago) I went to Seoul with a new friend Lisa from the UK, where we met another foreigner from the UK named Paul. Our plan was to go to the Seoul Arts Center, which is basically a large art museum. The trip to Seoul is easy, only costing about seven dollars and lasting a little over an hour and half. Of course, both Lisa and I were going on about four hours of sleep and hung over so that was the only difficult part. She got shushed by a Korean woman in front of us which she found really annoying and I found a little funny, it must have happened to her before.

While there I got to revisit some of my favorite American foods. We made stops at a Subway, a Starbucks, a Mexican restaurant, and a Coldstone Creamery. There is this section of Seoul called Itaewon loaded with foreigners and you can find almost anything American there. The Subway was a little disappointing, mostly because I love the $5 footlong deal. I ended up paying 9k Won for a footlong turkey sub and a softdrink. Subway, here's a thought: All you have to do is write a catchy song just like in the USA.

A suggestion:

Five

Five thousand

Five thousand Won quarter meter!

I think it is almost as catchy as the US version, so you know, think about it.

I might as well just go to the photos then.

We were in a large shopping district near the arts center. The streets were pretty crowded here, and if you look closely you can see Lisa taking a photo as well as Paul in the red shirt.

This is the Seoul Arts Center, which was pretty great. The exhibits were a little pricey where you had to pay 8k Won for each small exhibit. We only did two: one with sculpture and one about photography. I'll just say that the photography one really blew and we were out of there in about 6 minutes. The next photos are from the sculpture and art section.

This is some cool fireman thing I really liked. It's life-size.

The exhibit running was all about superstars and icons, and art which captures them. Fittingly, here are the three major icons in America, at least I'm pretty sure they have each appeared on plates more than anybody else. These are made out of some paint and then the darker areas are actually fly paper where bugs were allowed to stick to it and form the image.

This was one of my favorites. Some artist paints trees that also look like superstars, featuring one of Jesus and an icon pictured here. I'll let you guess who it is.

I sniped this photo of Mr. Lazy (see t-shirt) at this area where you could act like you were getting press photos of yourself.

Since this was about icons, of course there is Mr. Jackson. I can faintly hear him going "He he he" while doing this crotch grab.

Near the entrance of the building are these giant wicker type figures. I found this cool angle where it's like he's inviting you in. Or trying to pick you up and eat you. Whatever.

Overall the trip was really fun, but a little short. Lisa wasn't feeling well due to getting very little sleep and the fact that the pollution can get bad in Seoul. Her sinuses may or may not have been about to explode. I liked the limited areas of Seoul I was able to see, and it's interesting to see how many foreigners are there. They are basically on every street corner. It is a very expensive city, though. I spent that 9k on Subway, about 20k for my chimichanga which wasn't very good, and 7k at Coldstone.

I do have to mention one more thing. The art exhibit about icons and superstars gave us a translated tour page which some very interesting interpretations of the art. I find this translated interpretation of the abstract art works extremely fascinating. Here are a select few:

"The general public have their own icons in mind. They compare themselves with the icons. It is kind of longing and wishes. This symptom spreads through people. The public are often satisfied with some aspects of stars which they don't have."

"Zou Cao confines his subject matter as a star within the frame of a fingerprint. Remember the fact the fingerprint is the one of the middle finger. He intends to reveal his sardonic laugh at idols and capital. This work shows and artist's creed to confront against the awe of a star."

"A Certain Silence: Who is the star?

As we are indulged in a star and intoxicated with luxury goods, we cannot be aware of the one who is opposite them. Or we just don't want to know. The public's devotion for stars is vain and fruitless. Aren't all of us the one who waits for Godot? [they might have meant God there] People surprisingly intend not to confront the reality. We turn away our eyes in front of the subject that should be treated as a superstar for good reason."

"Seeing Lee Jong Gu's cow, we come to confront the truth. Fields and farmers that still exist as clear as crystal have been obscured under the cloak of modernization. Nonetheless, who can deny that a cow gazing at us with its big eyes and farmers taking a rest to cool down deserve the name as a star? What is the point to wear the farmer a Hermes watch on his wrist who comes from the earth and wishes to go back to it."

"There are so many stars around us. We take courage and find new hopes from them. And sometimes we become depressed in spirit and despair because of them...........What should be recognized here is the elaboration and creativeness of the artists who drag a star into their subject matters. I hope you can find the pleasure of reading works of art and experience of self-reflection as well."