art

Seoul’s Hipster Hangouts: Sangsu

After exploring Hapjeong, one of Seoul’s most popular hipster hangouts, it’s time to move toward Sangsu, one of my personal favorite neighborhoods, thanks to its cool cafes, indie vibes and relative anonymity. As the sun sets and the crowds begin to fill the streets of Hongdae, let your stomach lead the way off the beaten path. …

Seoul’s Hipster Hangouts: Hapjeong

Although Hongdae will no doubt remain the go-to student neighborhood for funk and fun, a number of youngsters are beginning to disperse to Hapjeong and nearby Sangsu, bohemian locales on the outskirts of the rowdy neighborhood that caters to Seoul’s alternative crowd. Here, polished twenty- and thirty-somethings seemingly straight off the cover of Kinfolk sip …

Ben Heine: Penciling in Seoul

Multidisciplinary artist Ben Heine has been on the radar of art enthusiasts and contemporary artists alike for a few years now. He has proved himself to be one of the more unique artists of the decade with his unique ability to mix traditional mediums to create modern, visually striking images. In addition to photography and …

Urban Art and City Views at Naksan Park

There’s no question that Seoul is a city for art lovers.  From internationally renowned museums to obscure independent galleries, there’s a space dedicated to just about every genre and medium of visual art.  But it’s not only in galleries that masterpieces can be found in the Korean capital.  Urban art, also known as street art, is …

Cosplay and Cartoons at Seoul Comic World

There’s no doubt that cartoons are loved all around the world.  Comic books and animated television shows conjure up images of childhood, Saturday mornings, and spent allowances.  Yet, there are few places where cartoon culture is as prevalent as Eastern Asia.  In Korea, comics are taken to a whole new extreme. Manhwa literally means “comics” …

Action Drawing Hero: A Spectacle of Live Art

January 2015 Update: Action Drawing Hero is no longer playing. However, the new show, which is quite similar to the one reviewed below, will be running instead. Visit the show’s website for more information. Seoul has its fair share of non-verbal performances, and I’ve been to quite a few of them.  As the genre name …

Flies That Tweet and Computer Operated Artists

I won’t try to pretend that I’m an art enthusiast.  I’m not.  Sure, I enjoy going to museums and looking at paintings and sculptures and photographs, but I’ve always been the type of person that is entertained by these types of art rather than moved or inspired by them.  I wish I could say that …

Day Trippin’: Heyri Art Village

For a full, updated walking tour of Heyri, check out Seoul Searching’s three-part Seoul Walks: Enchanting Heyri Art Village series.  Less than an hour’s drive north of Seoul sits an enchanting community of artists. Envisioned and created by a well known book publisher, Heyri Art Village is now home to over 370 painters, potters, photographers, …