If you visit the National Museum of the Philippines, beware that there probably won't be any toilet paper. However, you will find this painting.
We saw the Yayoi Kusama exhibition "A Dream I Dreamed" at the Seoul Arts Centre.
Both the art and crowd were a trip.
The de Young Museum, a rather strange and ominous structure in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, was one of my favourite galleries in California. In fact, it may be one of my favourite art spaces, with great natural light and an intuitive layout. I didn't take any indoor I'm particularly happy with, but here's one of the sleek exterior.
I joined a docent-led tour. The group was so small (myself and an elderly, local couple) that I had a lots of opportunity to talk about the pieces with the knowledgeable docent. She even reversed the order of the tour, starting with the modern stuff because I prefer it!
No photos of the art either. Instead, here's a tasty lentil salad I had for lunch.
I reckon the Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Seoul is worth a visit. The permanent collection admission fee is a touch steep by Seoul standards, but you can expect some celebrity-artist art (Damien Hirst, Matthew Barney, Andy Warhol, and more!) and some celebrity-architect architecture.
And it's close to Itaewon. Score.
798 is a big art district in Beijing. There are numerous galleries housed in what used to be an industrial complex. As a result many of the space are quite large. UCCA stood out to me.
The Prada Transformer is now open to the public. Currently on show is a retrospective of Prada skirts called Waist Down.
There are some beautiful pieces on display and each has an informative description provided in both English and Korean. If that's not enough, the exhibition staff are super-knowledgeable and helpful.
A lot of thought went into the displays themselves: skirts are illuminated, spun around (at speeds individually calibrated to show off each skirt's ideal shape), magnified, and sashayed side-to-side by windshield-wiper motors.
Also included is a set of skirts designed by various Korean schools. Each inspired by a traditional Korean elements (palace roofs, Korean origami, traditional windows, etc.)
There is of course the Transformer itself. Designed by OMA and Rem Koolhaas, the venue will be lifted by four cranes and turned onto a different side for each upcoming event: a film festival (co-curated by Alejandro González Iñárritu, an art exhibit, and a "Special Event" (fashion show?).
Waist Down will be in Seoul for a month. Admission is free. Reservations are apparently required, although we did not make any.
PS. popseoul has photos of celebs at the Transformer.
Directions: Line 5 / Seodaemun Station / Exit 4
View Map: 'B' marks the spot
We went to the Nam June Paik Art Center about an hour outside of Seoul. Their current exhibition The First Stop on the Super Highway is well worth the bus trip, as is their permanent collection of work by Nam June Paik and other Fluxus artists.
It was a lot of art to absorb.
Coincidentally, Sato Yukie was there setting up for a performance. (Bulgasari I think?) No purple poncho this time though.
We went to the ArtSonje Center and mostly lounged in their bookstore looking at pretty things. Yeah, we checked out the art too.
Went gallery and shop hopping with new blogFF! It was art and clothing overload you guys.
