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| Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Luis Henrique Sobreira Lopes, right, congratulates Brazilian-born designer Carol Ji-young Lee on winning a logo design contest, March 19. / Embassy of Brazil |
Joint logo launched to mark diplomatic relations
By Yi Whan-woo
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| A logo designed by Brazilian-born designer Carol Ji-young Lee to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brazil and Korea / Embassy of Brazil |
On March 19, Brazilian-born designer Carol Ji-young Lee received an award at the embassy for winning a logo design contest for the anniversary.
Also on the same day, the embassy hosted the opening ceremony for an art exhibition by Jeon Ok-hee, an office worker-turned-painter who has lived in Sao Paulo for 25 years.
Titled "We are one," the exhibition features 42 of Jeon's drawings that depict women in Bahia in Brazil's northeast, its children, countryside and rural lifestyle.
"The logo contest was an unprecedented joint initiative by the two embassies (in Korea and Brazil) to inaugurate the celebrations of the 60th anniversary in 2019," Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Luis Henrique Sobreira Lopes said after presenting Lee the award certificate at his office.
Lee also received a gift certificate worth 1 million won ($880).
Lee's design was among the 243 proposals submitted by 173 contestants from Brazil and Korea.
The logo highlights the number 60 inspired by a red and blue circle on the Korean flag and a blue disc, a yellow rhombus and a green field on the Brazilian flag.
The ambassador said Lee's design best symbolized the 60th anniversary "from an aesthetic and visual point of view."
"In addition, we considered that it was also an original and easily understandable symbol," he added.
The logo will be used throughout the year in Korea and Brazil for celebratory events and promotional goods.
Also joining the award ceremony was Jo Yung-joon, director-general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau.
Lee moved to Busan eight years ago.
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| Brazilian Ambassador to Korea Luis Henrique Sobreira Lopes, second from right, poses with artist Jeon Ok-hee, second from left, Director-General Jo Yung-joon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau, left, and Korea Brazil Society President Choi Shin-won at the opening ceremony of Jeon's art exhibition in the embassy's main hall, March 19. / Embassy of Brazil |
The opening ceremony for Jeon Ok-hee's exhibition took place at the embassy's main hall. The exhibition will run through May 19.
The ambassador noted that Jeon, through her works, "has been contributing to bringing Brazil and Korea closer" and therefore was appropriate for this year's cultural programs aimed at strengthening bilateral bonds.
In the first of four categories, Jeon depicts the simple life of women in Bahia concisely yet distinctively.
The paintings of Brazilian children highlight their purity and innocence by portraying them vividly while simplifying the scenery surrounding them.
Jeon expresses the bright and relaxing features of Brazil's rural landscape to help viewers feel comfortable and calm.
The last category portrays the quiet and natural aspects of Brazil's rural lifestyle.
The exhibition attracted other ambassadors, many from Latin America and the Caribbean, and Korea Brazil Society members including President Choi Shin-won.
Jeon formerly worked at Hankook Tire. She and her family decided to live in Brazil while working at the firm's branch office there.
Other major cultural programs this year include "Dear Amazon" contemporary art exhibition (May), "Rio Carnival" photo exhibition by Omar Montenegro (June), a concert by the Assad Brothers (July), an Independence Day festival (September), a sculpture exhibition by Jac Leirner (September) and a film festival (October).
Brazil has more than 50,000 Korean immigrants. In 1963, 103 Koreans went there to work on farms.
