Thai handicraft has been known for its high level of craftsmanship passed down for generations. Made in all parts of the country using natural materials, small pieces such as embroidery and ceramics have been must-buy souvenirs for tourists. But now firms are combining ethnic Thai handicraft with contemporary design to make functional, sophisticated home interior items. Modern Thai interior design products are now being showcased in Seoul for the first time in a dedicated exhibition. “Live Chic

Amid high anticipation and skeptics, a collaborative art exhibition with G-Dragon opened Tuesday at the Seoul Museum of Art, presenting some 200 artworks reflecting the world of the young K-pop idol.The exhibition is the first mega collaboration between a Korean celebrity and contemporary art in Korea. The exhibition, co-organized by YG Entertainment and the Seoul Museum of Art, commissioned 14 teams of artists to create collaborative pieces with G-Dragon. Even before the opening, it emerged as

In 2008, a North Korean leaflet flew under the front door of South Korean artist Ham Kyung-ah’s home. Ham never thought she would see the propaganda leaflets on her doorstep as they were not frequently seen in cities as they were in the 1970s. The propaganda leaflets instantly reminded the 49-year-old artist of her elementary school years during which schools awarded kids who brought North Korean propaganda leaflets to school as part of the anti-communist education campaign in the 1970s. “I coul

A hot, steamy bowl of rice was long considered an irreplaceable staple in Korean breakfast. “You manage a day with the power of rice,” Korean moms would tell their kids, encouraging them to finish their meal. This centuries-old, typical morning scene is changing rapidly now. Bread, which arrived in Korea through Japan only in the 19th century, is fast emerging as a tasty and convenient alternative to rice. At a Seoul branch of French bakery Gontran Cherrier, croissants and champagne with walnuts

A painting by Kim Whanki was sold for about five times more than the highest estimate, leading the sales of Korean art at Christie’s evening sale of Asian works Saturday and Sunday in Hong Kong. Kim’s “Montagne Bleue (Blue Mountain)” was sold at HK$13.8 million ($1.8 million), more than five times its high estimate of HK$2.5 million. It was the highest sale price of the 43 works of Korean artists on offer on the weekend. Kim’s other painting “Montagne” was sold for more than double its top estim

“Careful in speech, yet enough to reveal the entire world, and follow murkiness and clearness from time to time. Its emptiness may allow it to fill all things, and its whiteness in quality may reveal its nature.”The poem written on a 17th-century white porcelain work of art decorated in underglaze iron sums up the neo-Confucian virtues of austerity, humility and purity that Joseon scholars upheld. The milky white body, minimal decoration and voluptuous simple curves of white porcelain were some

The high-ceilinged studio of artist Yun Suk-nam is filled with images of women. Her signature paintings of women painted on wood blocks occupy one side of her spacious studio in a scenic, rural village in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. “I’m making new pieces for a very nice exhibit at Baengnyeonsa Temple in Haenam,” the 76-year-old artist said enthusiastically. “I’m going to surround the walls of the temple with these wood paintings.” Yun Suk-nam (Yoon Byung-chan/The Korea Herald)Yun is a pioneer

Up & Coming is a series of interviews with emerging artists in various fields of arts and entertainment. ― Ed.Threads and needles were playthings for artist Jo Ha-na during her childhood. She grew up stitching leftover pieces of fabric her grandmother gave her after making hanbok, or traditional Korean dress, outfits at home. She stitched the fabrics together to make miniature hanbok or clothing for her dolls.  Bags created by artist Jo Ha-na. (Yeol)Sewing is now her secret weapon to make unique

The site of Korea’s first electricity plant was found during an archaeological excavation at Gyeongbokgung Palace, the Cultural Heritage Administration said on Wednesday. According to the state cultural heritage agency, a year-long excavation effort found the site of the first electricity plant, established in 1887, during the late Joseon period (1392-1910). “It’s a great achievement that gives us an understanding of electricity development in Korea,” said Min Byeong-geun, curator of the Korea E

Around 1247, Empress Hampyeong of Goryeo (918-1392) commissioned an artisan known for his skilled silver engraving to inscribe patterns of clouds and lotuses on a bronze vase in a prayer for the well-being of her family and country. It was after her two sons were sent away as punishment for attempting to remove a general who took power in a coup d’etat, while her daughters had to marry his sons. The vase, made for use as an incense burner at a Buddhist temple, is now considered to best represent

When Paul McCartney was planning a visit to Korea for his first concert in Seoul on May 2, he requested his team to find a hotel with a room that comes with a balcony.In the overpopulated business district of Gangnam, a hotel room with a balcony is rare. When everyone was curious where the 72-year-old rock star stayed, his fans on a hunt to spot their star found out that McCartney was staying at the Ritz-Carlton, Seoul, located just 5 kilometers from the concert venue at Jamsil Sports Complex. L

Seoul Fashion Week announced Wednesday that it had appointed veteran fashion designer Jung Ku-ho as its first director. Jung will oversee Korea’s biggest fashion event for a two-year term, orchestrating and revamping fashion shows and related programs. “I will try my best to make SFW Asia’s representative fashion week that leads the fashion trends of Asia. If anyone wants to know about Asian fashion, they will have to come to the SFW,” Jung told The Korea Herald before the appointment ceremony i

Actor-filmmaker Ha Jung-woo is to hold his second solo exhibition in New York. The exhibition, featuring 24 new paintings, will be held from May 20 to June 9 at Able Fine Art NY. Themed “Friends,” it will showcase diverse portraits Ha created as reflections of lonely people in the city. “Ha offers consolation and comfort to isolated people in the city. Through these portrait images, the artist represents each of their different inner sentiments,” said Kim Jeong-hee, curator of the exhibition at

Ten thousand runners raced from Hongdae to Yeouido Park on Sunday, passing landmarks and trendy spots.The run, jointly organized by Puma and Herald Corp., publisher of The Korea Herald, and sponsored by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, kicked off at 5 p.m. in Hongdae. Popular celebrities, including Hyeri of Girl’s Day, Korean-Japanese singer Kangnam, actress Park Ha-sun, model Yoo Seung-ok and singer Jang Jae-in, joined the race.Participants ran along the Hangang River and crossed Seogang Brid

Major works of Korean art are now available for online viewing in ultrahigh definition on Google’s cultural content platform. The Google Cultural Institute, a nonprofit affiliate of Google devoted to digitization and online publication of cultural content around the world, announced Thursday new additions to its online collection following partnerships with 10 Korean museums, including the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, Horim Museum, Modern Design Museum and Ewha Womans U

Celebrity producer Na Young-seok’s new-concept reality show “Three Meals a Day” was a sensational hit when it aired last year. Based on a simple premise of making your own meal from scratch, two urban men, who happen to be an A-list TV actor and a K-pop idol, struggled with rural life in the middle of nowhere.Following on the huge success of its inaugural season and a spin-off, the show returns Friday with the original cast ― actor Lee Seo-jin and singer Ok Taec-yeon ― joined by a third member,

Italian luxury fashion house Ferragamo collaborated with Korean artist Lee Sea-hyun for its collection of silk, cashmere and wool accessories. Lee is known for the “red landscape” images that depict North and South Korean scenes in delicate washes of crimson orange, reflecting Korea’s sociopolitical reality. His paintings have been exhibited internationally in the U.K., Switzerland, Amsterdam, New York and Seoul. The first partnership between Ferragamo and Lee began when the brand’s Asia-Pacific

No outfit is complete without shoes. But when it comes to the hanbok look in modern times, a vital part has been missing. Platform heels or loafers have replaced shoes traditionally matched with a hanbok. A team of academics and an artisan shoemaker launched a rare project to rekindle the tradition. The project, launched by the private cultural heritage foundation Yeol with sponsorship of GRI Korea ― importer of Nine West and Steve Madden ― revived 30 pairs of shoes worn by kings and nobility du

The Chanel Cruise collection for 2015/16 was a tribute to Korean aesthetics. Models wore large braided wigs, or “gache,” a key accessory for women of noble birth during the Joseon period. The elegant decorations traditionally worn on the wigs were reinterpreted as brooches and accessories that added a Korean character to each look.  Chanel Cruise Collection 2015/16 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on Monday. (Chanel)Drawing on Korean traditional aesthetics, Karl Lagerfeld filled his latest co

Nestled at the foothills of Mount Inwangsan, Cheongun Literature Library is an emerging tourist draw in Seoul.In a rare architectural style for a public building in Korea, the library’s faade exudes a traditional feel, in harmony with the surrounding mountain landscape. The Cheongun library is one of the latest architecture projects of the district office of Jongno. Starting from the restoration of Bukchon hanok village, the district has been spearheading efforts to popularize hanok in modern li