Yue Minjun

Yue Minjun is a Chinese artist, most well-known for his association with the artistic movement called “cynical realism”. When I first saw one of his signature smiling portraits hanging on the corner of an exhibition held in Seoul, Korea, I immediately felt uncomfortable. There was something about the texture and the brush strokes of the…

#SakuraSunday2017

This Sunday I had the chance to go to the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival. It was an interesting experience, and it definitely gave me the chance to think about cultural appropriation. The combination of good weather, cute shiba inu dogs, and the lively Japanese culture really made my day. It’s an annual event held in Philly,…

(Kapa)City of Stars

  Hey, this is Sammie! I just wanted to share my (latest) illustration I have been working on (and low-key let you guys know that I will be performing in a Korean rock band at Penn called Kapacity as a bassist on April 14 haha). It is obviously a parody of La La Land’s poster,…

Korean Album Art

Good music is definitely important when it comes to discussing the quality of an album, but making the cover of the album visually attractive is also crucial. Album art visually represents and illustrates what the artists want to convey through their music. These days, more and more artists are putting more effort into album art….

Jason Rhoades’ Installations

When I visited the Hauser & Wirth gallery in LA, the colorful and playful neon signs and funky installations immediately caught my attention. Stepping into Rhoades’ politically charged, taboo-highlighting space and actively interacting with his art was definitely an interesting experience. I personally couldn’t figure out how I felt or what I was supposed to feel when I…

Young-Il Ahn, Water

Over spring break, I had the chance to go to LACMA. The Urban Light sculpture, which is the hot Instagram place for tourists, was definitely worth looking at, but I came back that day excited to have encountered the works of a Korean artist, Young-il Ahn. From a distance, his works (the Water Series) seemed like…

In the Mood for Love (2001)

If you are in the mood for some strong colors and great music, you should watch “In the Mood for Love,” a film directed by the highly acclaimed Hong Kong director, Wong Kar-wai. Every step the protagonists take, and every scene the camera captures is full of sophisticated colors and emotions. Together, Wong Kar-wai makes a…

Art in Unexpected Places

Over the weekend, I went to the Fisher Fine Arts Library and picked up a random book from the shelves. It was Art in Unexpected Places: The Aspen Art Museum and Aspen Skiing Company Collaboration. Aspen Skiing Company has been collaborating with artists and illustrators all over the world, including David Shrigley and Murakami, providing people the…

Tokyo Story (1953)

Black and white films might not be for everyone, but Yasujirō Ozu’s film Tokyo Story might be able to change your mind. Tokyo Story deals with the meaning of life and family, but it leaves you with a much deeper and a much more powerful message at the end. This is also the movie to watch if…

Perpetual Revolution: The Image and Social Change

The old saying “one picture is worth ten thousand words” can never be truer in the image world we live in today. Every single day we encounter new images carrying new messages, which create exciting, diverse, and at times frightening conversations. The exhibition being held in ICP explores these powerful media images and their connections to social…

Jean Jullien, The Power of Images

Jean Jullien’s illustrations are simple, but powerful. His unique, playful interpretations of the people and situations around him made him the popular French illustrator he is today. -Jullien, Albert His themes vary from reactions to things that happen in our everyday lives to more political current events. Jullien is also well-known for his visual commentaries, and he definitely…

David Shrigley: Cynical Pun-shionista

During winter break, I came across David Shrigley’s exhibition held in Seoul. Shrigley’s artworks constantly challenge the commonly shared notion that there is some kind of fixed definition of “art”. He deals with topics of our lives in a crude, cynical, and humorous manner, and his art is self-descriptive. Highly recommended for aspiring cynical pun-shionistas.