Simple, abstract sculptural objects by American artist Donald Judd are on display in Seoul, shedding light on one of the most significant artists of the postwar period. Though widely associated with minimalism, Judd (1928-1994) objected to this term, saying that it was a generalization and misinterpretation of his philosophy. He created his own term, “specific object,” for his thought that every component of an object including materials, form and colors can be used to explore space. It’s also t

SEOUL/JEJU ― The Tap-dong area was once a bustling entertainment and shopping street in Jeju City. Located just 4 kilometers from Jeju International Airport, the neighborhood was one of the most expensive places in Jeju with movie theaters and outdoor markets drawing people from all over the island. But with the creation of a new downtown in Jeju City, the neighborhood lost its vitality and the number of visitors and residents dwindled. Kim Chang-il, CEO of Arario Group and one of the top 200 co

Thanksgiving roast Turkey at The Westin Chosun Seoul Vecchia e Nuovo, the Westin Chosun Seoul’s Italian Bistro, offers the whole roasted turkey and Australian prime rib prepared with peppercorn sauce for Thanksgiving and year-end parties from Nov. 10 to Dec. 31. The essential Thanksgiving side dishes such as mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce will be offered with roast turkey with chestnut stuffing. Reservations should be made at least three days in advance. Delivery is available during

Artist Noh Sun-tag’s work resembles that of a photojournalist. He has taken pictures of tense and sometimes violent protests.Most recently, he was on the site of protests in Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, against the construction of a high-voltage power transmission tower there. Over the last decade, Noh has captured highly charged scenes including protests against U.S. troops and mass labor strikes.“In the beginning, I visited those places out of pure curiosity to figure out something that

French-born Philippe Vergne, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, has spent most of his career in the U.S. In pursuit of the “American Dream,” Vergne arrived in Minneapolis 17 years ago and worked as a curator for a decade, working his way up to top positions in art in New York and Los Angeles. He served as the director of Dia Art Foundation in New York for more than five years and took the helm of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles earlier this year. Vergne has been

Lotte Hotel Seoul invites Michelin-starred Korean chef Lotte Hotel Seoul’s Mugunghwa is hosting Hooni Kim, owner-chef of the Michelin-starred Danji and the acclaimed Hanjan in New York. The celebrated chef has been invited to present the creations he serves at Danji and Hanjan. The lunch menu, priced at 95,000 won, includes New York-style cold spicy sea bream soup with seaweed and fumet sherbet, Korean beef tartar with natural pine mushroom, butterfish simmered in soy sauce or Hooni Kim-style sp

This is the first in a weekly series that examine the expanding role of design as the run up to the Herald Design Forum 2014 on Nov. 26. -- Ed.The Herald Design Forum 2014, a celebration of creativity and innovation in design, will explore the changes that design will bring to life in its fourth edition in November.Under the title “Design Spectrum, Expanding the Definition of Design,” the forum, organized by Herald Corp., will discuss the influences of design in various fields, including archite

Japanese architect Toyo Ito speaks at the Herald Design Forum in 2013. Herald Design ForumHerald Design Forum has established itself as one of Korea’s leading platforms to discuss design.The forum has shed light on the growing role of design in contemporary life since it was first held in 2011. The significance of design has been stressed by a number of key figures in design from around the world. It is the speaker lineups of world-leading designers that put the forum on the map.In 2012, the for

Just by placing a fingertip on a pad, you can create your own virtual city out of the labyrinth of a fingerprint and drive through your “fingerprint city” with a joystick. The interactive work on display at the Museum of Art in Seoul National University, employs the “City Engine” technology by Esri R&D Center-Zurich, a 3-D content developer from Switzerland. Visitors to the museum can also get a glimpse of the ambitious Human Brain Project by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne

The marching band of the historical Kyungbock High School in Seoul, founded in 1921, was disbanded in 1979 after a complaint was filed that the trumpet sound coming from the window might be a disturbance for the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae, a few meters from the school. “It was the time when the U.S. President Jimmy Carter was visiting. It was a historical visit,” recalled Kim Hak-myung, 59, one of the former band members. The school reacted to the anonymous complaint by dissolving the

Kim Young-jun was a star stock manager in the 1980s and 1990s when the Korean economy was on the rise, registering strong growth. He gave financial advice on TV and radio, and also wrote two books on stock investments. “I was a celebrity in finance,” said Kim. His advice proved worth heeding most of the time. The rule was, he said, invest when others don’t. Then, suddenly, he realized that all his life was built around the hollow world of the stock market. “I felt like I was a robot chasing mone

‘Hip flask cocktails’ at Park Hyatt SeoulThe Timber House at Park Hyatt Seoul is serving “hip flask cocktails” in the whisky bottles that people put in their pockets to heat them with body temperature during the cold season. The Timber House is presenting the unique experience of enjoying cocktails in these hip flasks. The hip flask cocktails come in five different kinds. “Talking to Myself” has a bittersweet flavor from a blend of rum, Campari liquor and orange essence. “Butterfly Effect” has s

LONDON ― Visitors are greeted by a variety of compelling contemporary artworks that defy the perception of an art fair as an art sales venue. Intriguing performances are held throughout the annual Frieze Art Fair that brings some 160 leading contemporary galleries from around the world to Regent’s Park, London. With the influx of high-spending collectors, Frieze London is also one of the most successful art fairs in the world, and its sales have been increasing. Damien Hirst’s 1993 fish cabinet