Visiting the Big Bambu’ : Met, NYC

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So one of recent hottest days, the Monday the July 5th, Emiliano and I headed over to Met to see the “Big Bambu’”. By the way, NYC was pleasantly empty and easy to get around! It always feels like bit of luxury not to have too many folks in the city. Anyway, The Bamboos? Awesome. I wish we were here when they just had installed these. It must have been beautifully green and felt more true to Bamboo that what I think it is in my head. But still awesome. So this cool idea has been built since April and it’s supposed to be actually daily project that more bamboo poles get to added bit by bit till October. You can take a guided tour to the top (which we didn’t know about), and if you like to do so, then you need to buy a ticket at the ground level. No open toe shoes or skirts or kids under the 10 years old are allowed.

What do you call it..? A beauty in massive chaos? The artsy geometry of shade created by bamboo poles felt amazing in a hot day like this. Artists Doug + Mike Starns teamed up with Rock Climbers to create this complexity and energy of this ever changing living organism. Yes I missed the beginning of this organism, but I’ll catch the end.

We are going back to see more completed “Big Bambu’” in October and I’ll wear a good pair of Rock Climbing shoes!!! Can’t wait to experience the height and whole another view from the top. Friday night roof top turns to a bar, and I saw millions of light fixtures hanging from the bamboo poles, so It should be quite beautiful at night. Maybe able to see the sunset too? Of course Emi got all inspired to build something on our roof top now. Maybe the next Spring.

Here, read more about the Bamboo Project! www.metmuseum.org/home.asp

Mastering Shapes

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Packing Dress: Isabel Toledo, Spring 1998

Yeohlee, Infanta Dress, 2005

Yeohlee, Mercury Bellows dress, 2007

Isabel Toledo, Apron Dress, silk chiffon, Spring 1997

Jean Yu, Deeper Gown,2008. At Museum at F.I.T Museum Purchase.

Charles James, Clover Evening Dress, 1953, Museum at F.I.T Museum Purchase.

Isabel Toledo

The Joyful Heart Aching Walk: The 40 years’ YLS Retrospective, Paris

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I like to Thank to Kelly for arranging our tickets to be rushed to our Hotel, So we could watch YSL Retrospective just in time! The door opens at 10:00 am and I highly recommend you to purchase the ticket before you get there due to the popularity of the show you may end up standing for a long time in the line to buy the ticket.

God, I felt so Nervous waiting and getting one step closer to Petit Palais’ Grand Entrance and the exhibition. Just like when I was 5 years old, the Santa came to our daycare. I remember my 2 sweaty little palms rubbing over my little pleated skirt. I was about to go say hi to him!

Entering and My heart beating fast!

The initial of the First room: Yves Saint Laurent 1936-2008. There are total 15 rooms through out the exhibition housing 300 haute couture models with a selection of pictures, drawings and films. This Retrospective was made possible under the patronage of Madam Carla Bruni-Sarkozy: The ex-super model who worked closely with Yves Saint Laurent and the current first lady of France.

His general approach to Fashion and Leading ahead provoked me to think about what I do and what I contribute as a designer and also as a simple human being. How much Do I Push Myself to loose fear in general and pour my guts and soul out in creative way? A big question.

Room 2: Dior Years.

The Modern shapes: Cynthia and I were talking about how modern these looked. The head wrap and tunic, You can put these on and step right out today and will look so chick.

The boxy cropped boy cut with sexy drapy blouse. Quite beautiful. The over sized pockets are fabulous!

Saint Laurent was a leader. He initiated brand new things. He gave answers to need. He drove the fashion world and a new life style: “Pants” for Women, New Tuxedo= the Smoking, City Safari and so much more. He said, ” Fashions come and go , style is eternal”

The room 6: Catherine Denevue, Respect and admiration at First sight. Quote from the walking guide. ” In 1965 she walks into the boutique on rue Spontini with a model cut out of “Elle”. The actress is 22 years old and already a symbol of French womanhood. Two years later Yves Saint Laurent will create her wardrobe for the film she makes with Bunuel. ” She has a marvellous heart” he used to say. This room was set up to remind her closet. Small and intimate. No Mannequins. I loved it.

Room 11: Imaginary Journeys. There are total 44 models inspired by his traveling through Spain, Russia, India, China, Japan and Africa, especially Morocco. As all of us know Morocco has been his love of Life. Morocco was a only country he visited repeatedly. He ended up purchasing a house called Villa Mabrouka, or House of Luck in 1998 with his partner Pierre Berge. Yves Saint Laurent later said about his Russian collection was a very important break through for him as a designer. The Russian collection really brought him his best creativity to work through the entire collection working with every single colors from the paintings and experience and emotions he had from Russia.

The room 12, Through The Looking -Glass of Art: This room really struck me. It took my breath away. It was the moment to witness Yves Saint Laurent enlightening his work to another level by attributing his masterful Haute Couture to his well respected Artists as Mondrian( the first Art actually he owned), Matisse, Bonard, Pablo Picasso, Tom Wesselman, Jean Cocteau, Georges Braque, Vincent Van Gough, Serge Poliakoff and Bambara Art…

My heart started moving in pieces and my eyes became teary…

A tribute to Georges Braque, also you can find this photo on the page 325 of the Hard cover book published with the Exhibition: Yves Saint Laurent

The Tribute to Mondrian and Tom Wesselman.

Knitted Wool Wedding Dress, 1965: It reminds me of Russian doll. You can find much better photo on page 250. the dress in the exhibition led the public to the Room 13, The Last Ball room and Room 14 or i rather call ‘The Smoking Wall”.

The room 13, The Last Ball Room : Puccini in my year, Yves Saint Laurent at my heart. I just broke down. I was deep into this unbelievable beauty and style created by one and only Yves Saint Laurent and the Era I never have been. The room also offered lovely velvet covered bench along the wall so you can sit down and enjoy the grand view of this room.

In year 2002, The Last Runway show of Yves Saint Laurent himself: The Retrospective. The Exhibition is featuring every piece from this runway. And right outside of the entrance to the first room had videos running for the public.

His Last Bow. 2002

Walking out of the Exhibition, I felt like Julia Roberts in the film, “Pretty Woman” where the Scene she breaks out in tears watching La Traviata by Verdi in the box, opera house…. It was unbelievable feeling to have.

Break your piggy bank. Skip your bag of the season. This YSL Retrospective is one enough Single reason to be in Paris. The show runs till August 29 this year.

And I pay a huge credit and respect to Petit Palais who executed this beautiful exhibition with all the right lighting, well thought out innovative layout, different and exiting dynamic from the room to room. I can’t just imagine seeing this exhibition in any other place!

The court yard of Petit Palais

Like a little girl in front of a candy shop.

Creative Overload: Leaving Berlin

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5 days in Berlin. It’ is so not enough time to do everything. The City has so much to offer. I still haven’t been to a museum like “Bauhaus Archive”, or a swanky Bar like “Newton bar”. But it was enough time to clear my head out, catch up with Daniel. A short visit but I was able to say hi to Alexa, Zoe and Teo. And most of all, I got to finally see Berlin. The City creative overload. It was a trip so worth to do and it was definitely a breath of fresh air to lift my busy and hectic life back in New York. A Creative Lift.

Promising myself to come back to Berlin in this summer with Emi, here are some of my souvenirs from the city I felt in love with.

From the top; BerlinTegel Airport, color inspiration in the city, the alley, Daniel’s home, beautiful public space, million posters, vintage shops, supermarket Keiser’s, 1950’s cosmetic salon turned into a cool bar on then Communist marching alley, curry dog, the theater experience, old beer bar, a tasting meal with Kelly, amazing and organic kid playgrounds, beautiful hotel: Casa Camper, Oberholz, progressive design, kicking Graffiti, the Berlin wall, the train rides, the lamp and gallery level shops, the Mauerpark Flea and people watching, amazing Vietnamese food in the city, the view of Mitte and Jaehee in Berlin. And more…

No More wars, No more Walls, A United World: The Berlin Wall.

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Before Kelly and I started some more shopping, we headed out to see the Wall. Yes the Berlin Wall where everything stopped and re-started. Honestly, I have been anti- reunification of North and South Korea for No specific reasons, or from the fear of uncertainty. But after my visit to Berlin, I have a hope. We can do this. It was a touching moment for me. For my people back in Korea, and for the people here in Germany. And most of all, for the World.

Despite my early morning unsexy jet legged puffy eyes, Here I am standing in front of the Berlin Wall. Wow. I can’t believe I am here…!

The concrete barrier built by the German Democratic Republic ( GDR, East Germany) existed from 1961 to 1989. Almost for a 30 years. A euphoric public and souvenir hunters gradually chipped away parts of the wall; the governments later used industrial equipment to remove most of the rest. And now since the wall broke down, it has passed 20 years! After the Wall came down in 1989, hundreds of artists from around the world gathered and transformed the eastside of the Wall that had been untouchable up to now, with their paintings, giving the Wall a new face in a new time. This remain wall has been used as blank canvas for about 106 Artists and called as ”East side Gallery” which houses the longest remaining Berlin wall of 1.3 Km , which makes it the largest open gallery in the world.

Between Oberbaumbrücke (Oberbaum Bridge) and the Ostbahnhof, along the former borderline that ended at the Spree and Mühlenstrasse, stretches a unique picture palette that marks a sign of overcoming inhumanity.

berlin-wall The Berlin wall getting built: 1961. Below is Oberbaum Bridge next to the site and the view from the bridge.

Armory Arts Week, March 4-7, NYC

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www.armoryartsweek.com

ksa_poster

LA VENUE (The Terminal Stores Ground Floor)
608 West 28th Street, between 11th and 12th Avenues
http://koreanartshow.com
March 3: 11 am – 7 pm
March 4: 11 am – 10 pm
March 5 – March 7: 11 am – 7 pm

Coqui Coqui, Valladolid, Mexico

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I had written up a small blog about Coqui Coqui, Tulum from our last trip in December ( You can “search” our blog page on the left top corner). I do think most of you already know about this place. At least many New Yorkers would since many of us come down to Tulum. Emi has been telling me we should check out Coqui Coqui in Valladolid this time, so we did. Boy! What a place they have!! An exquisite perfumery carrying through their passion and love for the life with style and 1 drop dead gorgeous room with a balcony up for your swanky stay.

Here, feed your eyes with beauty of Coqui Coqui at Valladolid.

From the top: the entrance, reception area with Perfumery ( by the way this place well reminded me of Merci in Paris and Darr and Butter in Brooklyn), connecting entrance from the perfumery to the clothing and jewelery shop, the shop carries well edited local textile, hats and others, the view to the perfumery from the garden, the 1 and only room for rent; ahhhh I love it!, the terrace, the view to the street from the terrace, a little cafe and the lush garden with a pool.

Valladolid diary, Mexico.

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Beautifully painted in rich Spanish colonial flavor, Valladolid is a Must Visit to taste a Maya city culture in modern day and the first signs of the Mexican revolution of 1910. Located at about a half way from Tulum to Merida’ ( the capital of Yucatan), Valladolid offers lots of laid back charms as colonial era cathedral,Cathedral of San Gervasio in the heart of square, a hustle and bustle local market filled with colorful fruits and flowers and amazing food that represents the town’s history. And also new additional perfumery of Coqui Coqui ( amazing Taste!!) just add more reason to pay a visit to the town!

Cathedral of San Gervasio. Cathedral of San Gervasio is 1 of 7 churches in Valladolid along Convent of San Bernadino. I just love simple yet beautiful charm of this church. The 2 palms are placed just perfectly. I find the color of the fence around the church changes time to time whenever we visit here. A typical elder lady in Valladolid with a signature scarf on. I think only the elders wear this. All hand made in silk.

A house of culture in square: beautiful ceiling and tiled passage way and the typical court yard. The house offers various claases for cultural dances, music and more.

On a way to the market. You will see many old school Beatles and more old mobiles around the town.

Near the market, awesome barber shop.

The vibrant market! These are hand made bee wax candles. It smells delicious! 10 pesos each ( about $0.85). We got 5 of them. Below from the top; Jicama, Banana leaves and 10 pesos a bag mixed fruit. yum!

How amazing is this Barber/tailor/fruit shop!! My favorite is #4.

Fried Yuca balls with home made honey. Again 10 pesos for the whole bag. They are delicious! And the big brown things with holes are caramelized squash.

Now it’s our lunch time! This 17 century Spanish colonial hotel, El Manson del Marques on the square is absolutely gorgeous with amazing court yard and a beautiful and exquisite restaurant Hosteria del Marques, which serves regional specialties. Love!

Planton de La Casa: Plate of the House which gives you a chance to taste variety of regional food. Mexican chorizo, pork, turkey and egg. It was more like a enlightened experience of Mexican cuisine. It’s far way more than rice and beans. Well balanced seasoning with great texture and layers of flavor. Amazing.

Another amazing dish and the specialty of Hosteria del Marques: Stuffed cheese stew with capers, olives, pork and chicken, almond, raisins and secret spices. A powerful bursting flavor in your mouth with just a spoonful first sip. It killed me.

Yes. We loved it and We cleared it! It was ammmaaaazing! Mmmm, Happy….!

I put 40 photos in this blog but I still have 150 more. It’s a quick trip so well worth to do. You will have a great time. Be inspired. Valladolid.

Study of New Shape: KIMONO

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Speaking of and working with “NEW SHAPES” with my dear designers these days, this book came across just in right time for me. God, my last Thursday horoscope (Leo) just nailed it by me visiting the Barnes and Noble’s on 5th Avenue, NYC. Quoting from my memory from Horoscope.com on Thursday: An object from a different culture will arouse feeling of getting inspired …then something something… goes on. Then I thought “What are they talking about ..?” but I think now that it meant I would find this book on that night…? Anyway…

My shy and shallow knowledge of Kimono I had was completely challenged by this simple yet down to core of what Kimono means in terms of structure foundation, shape and cultural relationship to where Kimono stood then and stands now. Origami and Kimono completely crosses over I believe after this book and now I have a fun project to share with Gael studying his “Origami airplane book” we always play with in depth. We will be soon making Origami Kimono. A million shapes you can create simply by folding and flipping a piece of paper. A Book, “Kimonos” by Sophie Millenovich. Hopefully You can have a glimpse of what this book contains and is talking about through below photos.

Tokyo Sketch 2: Harajuku

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You all have seen photos of Japanese barbies, fashionistas, shops and whatever that is of Harajuku. And yes they are real and true and you can’t imagine Tokyo without them.

Now I have found the real one.

Kimono Flea across from the Harajuku Gap.

You know what Obi is, right? A Beautiful and very long rectangular textile that functions as a belt and also stylizes the volume and the line of entire Kimono in maximum. I think Obi is the most important part of the Kimono. Like a good coat can define your look, good obi completes the entire look. Did you read the Memoir of the Keisha yet? Such a beautiful book.

An entrance to one Sweet shop.

Harajuku Girls!

Harajuku Subway Station. I always like to take subways of the city if there is one. It’s the best way to see the city. At least once. If you don’t, you are missing it out.