This wall at the elementary school introduces a friendlier multicultural world to young Koreans. Of course multiculturalism means something somewhat different in that the cultures come from outside Korea. But the rapidly increasing international population in Korea requires some sort of an explanation for children. My children’s school has several international kids and the number is increasing.
We had a fascinating seminar at the Paik Young Hae Gallery on June 13 (2011) on the topic: “Can there be a Renaissance in Seoul?” Ms. Paik brought together a group of Koreans and internationals interested in the arts for a discussion of what can be done in the arts here in Seoul given the remarkable transformation of the city. Adrian Smith of Kyung Hee University broke the participants into smaller groups for more focused discussions. Adrian has a unique knack for getting people to talk.
The premise was of the discussion was that the Renaissance took place in Italy because of a confluence of factors:
A dynamic cultural environment and outbursts of creative activity;
New advances in technology that permitted a new level of manipulation of materials and creation of unique structures such as the Sistine Chapel
Tthe influx of capital into Italy through new financial institutions, particularly the innovations for finance associated with the Medici family;
Tthe growth of a strong tradition of patronage for artists by the wealthy;
A strong salon culture that brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds to share their ideas and collaborate.
So then, turning to Korea today, we find that Korea has become a cultural center technology, finance less so patronage and salon culture, although the potential for salon culture sarang bang, is real. The discussion concerned how such an environment could be created, spilling over into a variety of individual discussions.
I confess that I proposed the topic, in part based on my reading as an undergraduate at Yale of Michael Baxandall’s “Painting and Experience in Fifteenth Century Italy.” The premise was simplistic, but the response quite exciting.
Some bus lines in Seoul now feature English, Chinese and Japanese in recognition of Seoul’s emergence as an international city. My kids take it for granted but for someone who has watched Korea for fifteen years, it is quite a striking change.
Yet another post about Korea’s amazing Seoul Metro. Of course I am most aware of Seoul Metro because I use it to travel every day, but I must say that Seoul Metro is one of the most creative efforts to make the daily commute of millions of people esthetically rich. The displays of art, the plants growing everywhere (including an amazing wall of green plants at Hanyang Station in the restrooms) and the music is most enjoyable. This special portal for children deserves special mention. In the rather cold modern city, some people are thinking about the commute from the perspective of children.
I am teaching English at my children’s elementary school on Saturdays. I have been quite impressed with the solidity of Korean elementary education and am enjoying working with the teachers. There is already one American English teacher who teaches at Changchung Elementary School. My class is meant as a comparison of Korean and American culture and habits. The students are quite responsive. Interestingly, they are broken up into six groups and I am supposed to give them points by groups for their participation. Some of the kids speak English quite well and many enthusiastically ask questions. Because we want to include everyone in the discussion, they are not required to speak in English to ask a question.
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The campuses of Korean universities are filled with these fliers for a new credit card from the Korean Foreign Exchange Bank targeting Chinese students. I have heard that Chinese students at Korean universities in many cases have more disposable income than Korean counterparts. The flier is entirely in Chinese and offers a variety of benefits including discounts at stores and restaurants. The financial world of Korea is being remade quite quickly indeed.
I am consistantly struck by the incredible innovation displayed by Seoul Metro. Seoul Metro is second to none in creating new concepts for public transportation as a continuum with art, education and daily life. I am planning to interview CEO of Seoul Metro, Mr. Kim Ikgwan, when I get back to Seoul.
This work of art, titled “My Face?” seems to speaking for Seoul Metro itself. Made up of the metro tickets previously employed by Seoul Metro arranged in the shape of faces, I found it most mysterious. It goes beyond the usual “feel good” designs of public transportation to suggest an effort at true artistic expression. Many such works are springing up in Seoul Metro these days.
Well now Incheon Airport is offering the very latest: automated immigration. That is right, when you pass to your international gate from the terminal, it will now be possible to show your passport to a machine that will confirm who you are and stamp your passport. I have not had the chance to try, but I will as soon as I can. One wonders whether passports and visa stamps are on their way to the ash bin of history.
After all, if we use Dr. Lee’s E-Positioning, we can make sure we know exactly where we are at any time. The key would be the effective integration of such systems with cyber-space representations.
Of course there are some implications of concern, but that for a later post.
Korea is a word leader in plastic surgery and only increasing its lead these days. There seems to be some unusual tie between technological change and plastic surgery, as if computer animation, movies, interactive social networks and plastic surgery were part of a continuum. Maybe the interest in avatars is spilling over into the alteration of one’s physical appearance. Or perhaps the full capacity of new innovations in IT and software is being most quickly applied to plastic surgery here in Korea. I stopped by a plastic surgeon myself the other day just to learn what could be done. I know I am getting a bit over the hill and could use some sprucing up. Well the range of options was mind-blowing and the enthusiasm, expressed was quite impressive.
These signs around Seoul indicate the latest in plastic surgery. Very intriguing.
The City of Seoul has launched several major initiatives to encourage citizens to become The City of Seoul has launched several impressive programs to make its citizens entrepreneurs. The hope is that with a bit of direction from the city, youth can rise to the occasion and become truly creative. As an American, I tend to be skeptical of such efforts, but Korea has a certain knack for surprising me.